Creepy the Clown

He hated his job. He hated children. He didn’t use to hate children, but he hated them now. He was tired of trying to amuse them at their snooty rich birthday parties. He was sick of the adults snickering at him. He really hated his job. He knew he was better than this humiliating gig, but he couldn’t seem to find anything else right now. God knows he had tried.1

He stepped up onto the bus just as the downpour started. He dropped his tokens into the slot. He was getting good at managing the tokens while wearing his gloves. He felt the familiar stares on him as he dropped into the first open seat. His wiry red wig was making his head itch. He set his oversized clown shoes in the seat beside him and removed one white glove. As he shoved a finger between the latex and his hair to scratch, he got a whiff of the pancake white makeup and powder that covered his face. It made him want to vomit. He hated this job. 2

That was when he noticed the stare of a small child sitting in the seat across from him.3

He leaned in, glared at the little boy, and growled “What, you’ve never seen a clown before?”4

The little boy coward at first then said, “Why is your mouth painted black? Clowns are supposed to have happy mouths that are painted red. How’s come yours is black?”5

“I ran out of red paint,” the clown snipped.6

“You need a cheery color if you are going to make people laugh. You are not very cheery, you know. You should paint blue around your eyes. Your eyes aren’t very friendly, either.”7

The clown ignored the little boy. 8

The little boy continued, “Why are you carrying your clown shoes? Why are you wearing flip flops? Didn’t you know it was going to rain? Your feet are going to get all wet.” The boy was right; the rain was pounding at the windows of the bus. 9

“You need to mind your own business, twerp!” the clown grumbled while staring straight ahead. He fixed his eyes on the windshield wipers that were rhythmically slapping at the rain. Then without moving his head, he seethed “Have you ever tried going up bus steps in clown shoes?”10

“No. No, I haven’t. My name is Jehosephat. What’s yours?”11

The clown continued to stare straight ahead. The skies were booming and lighting up from the storm. 12

“I have a bunny. I am taking him to the vet. He is sick.”13

The clown was determined not to look over at the boy. If he ignored him maybe he would leave him alone.14

“My bunny’s name is Funny. He’s not very funny, though; but I still like him. Do you have a clown name?” the little boy chattered.15

Thoroughly annoyed now, the clown whipped his head around to the little boy and said “Yes, I have a clown name. My clown name is Creepy! Creepy the Clown! I like to go around and give little kids like you the creeps! It makes me laugh!” He uttered his creepiest guttural laugh and watched as Jehosephat smiled. 16

“That is a very good creepy laugh,” Jehosephat replied.17

The bus came to a stop. Several brave people got off to face the rain and several saturated people got on. A perky little girl sat directly in front of him. Water splattered on the clown as she shook her sopping wet umbrella. When she turned around to straighten her rain coat, she saw him. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. Her expression changed from pleasant to appall as she considered his kinky, red hair and the black painted mouth and eyes. Tears started welling up in her eyes. She reached for her mother’s hand.18

Jehosephat said, “This here is Creepy the Clown. He’s not very amusing. He doesn’t talk much and when he does he tries to sound real mean. My name is Jehosephat and this is my bunny, Funny. He is sick. I am taking him to the vet. What is your name?” 19

“My name is Macie,” she whispered while still keeping one eye on the clown. “I don’t like that guy. He is creepy.”20

The clown roared his scary guttural laugh at this and then smirked at Macie. Macie grimaced. The clown roared even louder. 21

When the clown’s roar died down, they heard Funny. He was making a whimpering noise and then became quiet. Jehosephat, Macie, and the clown looked startled. 22

Jehosephat started nudging Funny and cuddling him, but he wasn’t responding. Macie got up and went to him. “May I?” she said as she removed a Celtic cross from her neck and placed it on Funny’s back. She chanted a strange prayer. As she finished, she scratched Funny behind his ears and kissed him on top of his head. Funny lifted his head and twitched his cotton ball of a tail. He looked up at her with sparkly eyes. 23

Jehosephat wiped a tear from his eye and asked her what she had just done. She replied that her Celtic cross was given to her by her grandmother from Ireland and it seemed to have special healing powers. She showed him the Endless Knot that circled through the middle of the cross. She explained that it symbolized life and unity. 24

The clown watched as Jehosephat and Macie stroked Funny. He couldn’t believe what he had just seen. He remembered that he had had a Celtic cross necklace when he was a child. He remembered that he used to believe in its powers and good luck. He remembered that he, too, used to believe in life and unity. His eyes were stinging and as he touched them, he smeared his black scary makeup. He stared at the black traces on his fingers and suddenly, desperately, wanted to get the ugly makeup off. He had been a fool. He had been a fool to become so tainted and mean. He had been a fool to lose sight of what was most meaningful in life. He used to love children. He used to love animals. He used to be happy. He used to love life. He realized that he had become a fool and there was no better day than today to reconcile his foolishness: it was April Fools day. 25

The bus pulled up to the next stop. The clown gathered his clown shoes and shuffled towards the door. As he was about to step down, he paused and looked back at Macie and Jehosephat. He smiled and said “Thank you.” 26

Neither of the children tried to hide their look of confusion. 27

The rain had slowed to a drizzle as the clown stepped off the bus. A ray of sunlight broke through the clouds. The clown looked up, smiled, and headed on down the street. 28