Circus Jack - Chapter 7. The Hippodrome

Hi, this is Richard London, and you're listening to Circus Jack on Clear Tales Podcast. Clear Tales is a podcast of narrated stories written and produced for adult listeners that have mild to moderate dementia.

To follow along with the narrated books on this podcast, I suggest you download the book of the same name, Circus Jack. You can find Circus Jack on Apple Books. It's available globally as a download or as a printed book. In the U.S., this is only $2.49. That's a great price. For you folks in the UK who have been listening to this podcast, the e-book can be downloaded for only £1.99. That's good too. Please like this podcast and subscribe. New episodes come out weekly. Now let's get back to Circus Jack.

 

Chapter 7. The Hippodrome

With his new home, Peppy was confused and disoriented. Just ten days ago, joyful on a loving farm with loving people, his world made sense. Then dognapped, he plunged into darkness on a cart and nearly escaped from two bad men. Now here, ten days later, in a strange place with a woman who says she is his new best friend. He didn't know what to think. But Sweetie, a professional animal trainer, knew the first steps to make a bond with this new dog and let him acclimate to a new place while setting boundaries and expectations.

Peppy, I will earn your trust through my actions, she said, and we will create a partnership here at the circus that will make history. Peppy peered up at her smiling face from his chicken crate. Today will be your first day, she said in a high voice, triggering Peppy's tail to wag. Sweetie opened Peppy's crate and stepped back six feet, making room for his hard-earned freedom. His crate, with its wood bars of dull gray, glistened from the dew in the morning light. He hesitated to exit on the slick ramp leading to the ground.

That's a good boy, she said, holding out a treat that caught his eye. He shook himself, tossing any remaining droplets of dew off his fur. He then came out of his crate and walked to Sweetie for his treat. There you are. That's a good dog. We will be best buddies. Her words sent a second bolt of energy to his tail sweeping side to side. Peppy's body, stiff from the long trip of confinement, also had a belly that growled for food. Now let's have a great first meal and take a look around so you can see your new home and extended family.

Sweetie said, slipping a leashed. Collar loosely around his neck and giving him another morsel of meat. He focused his attention on Sweetie as she led him through the encampment toward an area where animals grazed and slept. The smell of freshly cooked meats and vegetables wafted through the air, fueling his excitement. Workers looked up from smoking fires and smiled at Peppy, who wagged his tail in response.

Bobby, can you set up a good first meal for our next big act? I sure will, Bobby responded, turning to his camp kitchen. He grabbed a bowl from a tall, small wooden field pantry, scooped out a helping of beef kibble, piled it high enough to satisfy a small dog, added water, and set it down. Peppy ate like a wolf in the wild. If a dog could sit it at a table and push back his plate with a belch fully satisfied, he would have done so when he finished moments later. He lay down in the grass with satisfaction.

After some rest, sweetie led him down the main walkways of the camp the circus grounds seemed vast like a small town with colorful trailers parked behind the big tent and signs to guide people each trailer had its own unique design and theme pots and pans hung out in the air and clothing put out to dry in the sun busy human activity was everywhere cooks worked over hot stoves in their field kitchen preparing preparing meals for the performers, while show mechanics maintained equipment for upcoming shows.

The animal quarters were a short walk, as Sweetie led him past stables filled with animals he had never seen before. The massive stamping of feet from these animals rippled through the ground and traveled straight up through his paws to his chest. These must be new animals for you. I bet you've never seen these before, she said, looking down at him, his eyes wide and tail stiff.

Then she brought him to a creature the size of a house. Massive, gray, slow-moving and weathered, with a long, flexible hose hooked up to its face, sweeping side to side. Feet as large as a dinner plate, and lidded eyes with long, black lashes looked down at Peppy, while its flexible snout extended down to him, touching and smelling the fur on his face. This is Bumble's our circus elephant, said Sweetie.

As they made their way down the concourse of fields adjacent to the creek, Peppy recognized horses similar to those from his farm home. They didn't appear as muscular as those back home, but more beautiful, graceful, and taller, with flawless white hair groomed to perfection. Their large black eyes and black mane stood in sharp contrast. A roar shattered his thoughts and set his bones to shaking. His eyes darted about to find the source of this foreign sound.

An animal in a vibrant orange coat adorned with bold black stripes and a mouth full of sharp teeth stared at him. The magnificent creature moved with a calculated grace, its muscles rippling beneath the sleek fur. His eyes, pools of amber intensity, surveyed the surroundings with a mix of curiosity and a touch of longing for the wild.

Finally, Sweetie walked Peppy to a large area where dogs of all shapes and sizes played together free from humans and protected from other animals. Welcome to canine camp, Sweetie announced with a grin, unsnapping the leash from his neck and gesturing for him to enter of his own free will. This is where all the dogs stay when they're not performing. You'll have plenty of new friends here, she said, closing the gate behind her. Peppy ran in and didn't look back.

Thanks for listening to Circus Jack. We look forward to seeing you in the next episode. And remember that whether it's a cloudy day or a sunny day, it's always a good day. Make it yours. See you soon.