Red’s Circus

In an old house in a little known neighborhood, there lived a young boy named Carl. Carl was fairly small and rather skinny as he never was given much to eat. Upon his head he had a lot of black hair, but, for some unknown reason, he had a dab of red in his bangs. Because of his odd appearance, his parents would often make fun of the poor boy.

Carl, being an only child, would often feel lonely. His parents hated talking to him and encouraged him to stay in his room by himself. Carl was not allowed to own pets either, as pets were deemed too messy. However, Carl was clever and would occasionally keep pets outside.

“Good morning, mother... Good morning, father...” Carl quietly said to his parents as he descended the stairs of his house.

“Hmmm...” Carl’s father responded, puffing smoke from a cigarette.

It should be noted that Carl’s father was addicted to smoking. He would go through several packs within just a few days, smoking up the entire house. Carl’s mother didn’t seem to mind the cigarette smoke, but poor Carl would often choke on the smoke. Of course, though, neither parent paid much mind to Carl’s needs.

“What do you want, kid?!” Carl’s mother snapped upon seeing her son.

“Nothing... I’m heading outside,” Carl responded quickly.

“Good! Get out of here!” Carl’s mother yelled.

Carl quickly fled from the house. When he did, his father removed his cigarette from his mouth. The thick smoke trailed out the house briefly before the door slammed shut. Carl’s mother came to sit beside her husband.

“Where do you think that boy is heading to?” Carl’s father asked his wife.

“Probably out to play with yet another secret pet. He had a shrew this time!” Carl’s mother exclaimed, clenching her fists angrily.

“Hmmm...” Carl’s father responded, “Did you...?”

“Yes, yes, I did,” Carl’s mother responds before he can finish.

Meanwhile, Carl has raced along to a secret little patio in the woods behind his house. Carefully, he pulled open the gate and walked in. Within the patio was a little leafy den that Carl had built himself. With an innocent smile on his face, Carl stooped down to be closer to the den.

“Little shrew... Little shrew... Come on out to play! It’s me, Carl!” Carl said.

There was no response from the shrew. It did not move. Carl peered into the den curiously. Then, he stuck his hand in to poke the shrew. Still, it did not budge.

“Little shrew...?” Carl called one more time.

He then stuck his hand in and pulled the little shrew out of the den. It lay cold and stiff in his hand. Carl begun to tremble, trying not to cry. His darling little pet had died.

“Little shrew... I’m so sorry...” Carl whispered to his deceased friend.

Quickly, Carl took the body to a bit of dirt. He placed the body gently on a stone before using a different stone to dig a hole in the ground. There he set his friend and buried it. Around this spot lies the bodies of his other secret pets who he also found dead.

After the burial and some shedded tears, Carl stood and begun his trip back home. In the distance, some cheerful music appeared to be mocking him. Carl opened the door to his house and stepped inside. Both of his parents had been expecting him to return.

“Mom... Dad... Did either of you happen to find a little shrew...?” Carl asked his parents.

“As a matter of fact, I did find a little shrew! Let me guess, it was your pet?!” Carl’s mom asked, sneering.

“...that shrew was my friend...” Carl said, sniffling.

“Well, what a pitiful friend that must have been! And it’s no wonder, too, because NOBODY would be friends with a little freak like you!” Carl’s mother said.

“...my shrew was dead... Just like the others... Did you kill my little shrew?!” Carl asked.

“I sure did! I poisoned the ugly old rat! It was annoying!” Carl’s mother admitted.

“No! HOW COULD YOU?!” Carl wailed.

“Eh heh heh heh!” Carl’s father responded, puffing smoke in his face.

Carl coughed, accidentally inhaling the smoke again. Then, in his frustration and sorrow, the young boy ran back out of the house. Neither parent attempted to stop him. Of course, though, neither parent cared that their son was sad.

“Oh don’t worry... He’ll come back... This is the fourth time you killed one of his pets, after all. He always comes back,” Carl’s father said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, you’re right. And one of these days, he’ll learn his lesson and become a normal child,” Carl’s mother replied.