The Circus Affair

Chapter 1-2

By the end of their first day, the four girls sat at both ends of the caravan. Melissa and Lisa on the bed by the door, Wendy and Sarah on the other, admiring their accomplishment. The entire trailer had been scrubbed inside and out, articles of clothing and personal belongings had been crammed into the overhead cupboards, tiny wardrobe, and equally tiny bathroom. New bed linen adorned the two makeshift beds and an oscillating fan took pride of place on the kitchen units, trying its best to waft slivers of cool air in the girls’ direction. The suitcases had been stored in the `belly box´- a metal container purposely built under the van for storage. It was strategically placed next to another box which was also under the caravan. Wendy had explained to her rapt audience that this was a tank to collect any waste from the bathroom toilet and shower. If the circus camped on `hard ground´, for example, a car-park, then they would need to use it. In a field, holes would be dug to conveniently catch all bodily functions.

“This is a nightmare!” Sarah complained as they sat drinking wine out of four mismatched drinking receptacles they had found in the cupboards. “We’ll end up killing each other if we have to live in these close conditions for the remainder of the contract.”

“I feel the need to keep the door and windows open all the time,” Lisa admitted. “When we are all in here, it feels so claustrophobic.”

“Here, here!” Wendy confirmed. “Now do you all understand what I meant when I said that you each need to find a man who will not only let you stay in their caravan but will let the rest of us crash there too?”

“Someone with a good-sized trailer,” Lisa added, making a mental note.

“Yeah, a good size trailer with hot water, so we don’t have to keep boiling pans full of water like we’ve been doing all day long,” Melissa said.

“Someone who can afford to take us out to eat and get us away from the show for once in a while,” Sarah replied.

“Challenge accepted?” Wendy asked, raising her glass towards the centre of the caravan.

“Accepted,” the three girls replied. They all clinked glasses. Each deep in thought and each with varying levels of enthusiasm.