Chapter 5
Meet
Once the show was over, and the audience had left for their vehicles, several people cleaned the Big Top. At the same time, the rest of the crew either fed the animals or helped prepare dinner for the staff. The impromptu kitchen was a smaller, open tent with just one side lowered to prevent the wind from blowing dust into the food. Lanterns were strung along the tent poles to provide light, casting a golden glow over the makeshift dining hall. Half a dozen card tables were set up, and folding chairs were placed under them.
Kai was familiar with this routine, as most circus people didn’t eat supper until after the show. To eat prior to performing could result in an embarrassing loss of one’s meal in the middle of an act in front of the audience. So most of the time, if th
