The Freaks Come Out At Night- Part 10

True to his word, Sam’s transmitter arrived the next day.  Tina, who no longer tumbled, was nominated to man the machine since her workday would be over long before Maven’s show.  She listened patiently as their private detective walked her through, step-by-step, what to do and how to do it. She found her mind wandering; Sam’s deep, rich voice had her wondering what he looked like.  Chalking it up to hormone replacement meds, she shook the distraction from her mind and focused on the task at hand. 

            “Okay, moment of truth.” Sam laughed.  “I’m going to turn on the device on my end and I need you to put the phone down and see if you can hear it through the transmitter.” 

Tina squealed with excitement as she heard Sam’s voice clear as crystal coming through. 

            “We’ve got you now, Maven”. 

***Come back Monday, January 27^th for the next installment**

The Freaks Come Out At Night- Part 9

It didn’t take long before the others were shut down in their attempts to see Maven’s show.  There was always a “plausible” reason but the overwhelming coincidences smacked of foul play.  With no other option, they finally decided to hire a private detective to attend and secretly record the show.  To the elder staff, the whole transaction brought to mind an old 1950’s gumshoe complete with trench coat and fedora but as Sam Cane reclined in his office, chatting with his perspective clients on the phone, he looked more like the guy-next-door.  He wore jeans, t-shirt, and a baseball cap, pretty standard attire for one of the carnival’s patrons.  As he talked the concerned staff from Mystic Magill’s Big Top Carnival through his standard rates and their requirements, he tried to imagine what a motley crew such as they might look like.  He patiently answered all of their questions and hoped he had even managed to set their worried minds at ease.  Ever the professional, Sam wouldn’t accept a penny until he had obtained the requested information, yet he did place a hold on the credit card they had provided. 

            “Okay, here’s how it goes.”  Sam spoke with a quiet confidence into his office phone.  “Tomorrow you will receive a package via FedEx.  Instructions on how to operate the transmitter will be enclosed.  If this guy is half as elusive as you claim, it won’t do for us to meet in person until after I’ve got everything you want.  While I’m in Maven’s show, you’ll be able to hear everything through the transmitter; meanwhile it will also be recording here at my office. I’ll call you tomorrow to make sure you’re comfortable with the machine and then again after closing time.  I’ll do my damnedest to get into that golden ticket show, or whatever it’s called, also.  I have to admit, this is an exciting change from my usual clients.  Trailing cheating husbands and wives can get monotonous.”

Sam chuckled and his new clients managed to loosen up enough to join in the merriment.

            “How are you going to get a recording device inside?”

Sam explained in detail how a tiny microchip recording device was planted inside a pack of cigarettes that he would carry in his pocket.  He also had one hidden inside his baseball cap and another would be worn by his assistant in her earrings.  The staff sounded impressed and wished him luck.  If everything went according to plan, they’d have their answers within the next few days.  

The Freaks Come Out At Night- Part 8

Jared volunteered to go first, sacrificing his day off to stalk Maven’s shows.  He even phoned an old girlfriend to tag along as his “date”. 

            “Are you sure you want to open that can of worms again?” Manuel laughed.  “Sherry has been trying to get her hooks back into you since you dumped her last year.”

            “I know,” Jared groaned.  “It just seemed like a better cover to have someone with me.  I’ll take Sherry backstage afterward and she’ll gush about how she’d been dying to see the show and junk like that.  You know how she is; she’ll be the perfect cover.” 

            “Yeah, you’re probably right but do me a favor, huh?  Don’t bring her to my show!”

Jared laughed as he playfully punched his friend’s shoulder.  He knew Sherry would hound him for months but BT was worth the headache and more.  His mind’s eye conjured an image of diving on top of a grenade to save BT.  As he walked away, Jared knew he’d even a take a bullet for the man that had become his surrogate father.  God help Maven or anyone else if they ever try to hurt BT. 

     That evening, Jared waited by the main gate for Sherry to arrive.  She had sent him a text message that she was running late but 40 minutes was excessive.  He paced, checked his watch, paced, and then checking his watch again, he muttered a curse.  His carefully laid plan was beginning to unravel before ever being put into play.  His phone vibrated and another text message from Sherry appeared:  “Just pulling in now” amid an overabundance of smiley faces and hearts.  Jared barely said hello as he snatched Sherry’s hand and dragged her to Maven’s tent.  She babbled on the entire way about how thrilled she was to hear from him.  Yada, yada, yada, Jared thought bitterly as her mouth continued churning out words while he pulled her along at a rapid clip.  Long before they reached the entrance, Maven’s lackeys pulled velvet ropes across the gate, signifying the show was full. He stopped short and Sherry plowed into Jared’s back, panting from the exertion. 

            “Great, we missed it,” grumbled Jared.  “What the hell took you so long anyway?”

            “Well, Sugar,” Sherry blushed.  “I wanted to look my very best so I went and had my hair done and a mani-pedi, and….well, if you play your cards right, you just might get to see what else I had done.  I can give ya a hint if you'd like.”

Bile rose in Jared’s throat.  He had a pretty good idea what she’d had done and he had no desire whatsoever to see it. He shook his head wondering why women put themselves through such brutal grooming procedures. Resigned to killing time before the next show, he stomped off to another attraction with Sherry trailing his wake.  Hours later, Jared and Sherry made their way to Maven’s tent, twenty minutes before the show was scheduled to start.  Already there was a long line of anxious patrons.  Maven’s assistants began making their way down the line speaking with each customer.  Nice touch, Jared thought.  When the two burly men stopped in front of Jared and Sherry he smiled brightly and said hello.

            “Ticket please,” they responded, as if they didn’t know Jared from Adam. 

            “We’re in line to get our ticket, guys.”  Jared laughed.

            “No,” the larger thug responded.  “The second show is always by special appointment only.  If you don’t have one of the golden tickets, you don’t get in.” 

            “C’mon, guys.  You know me. We'll stand in the back and not make a peep.  I swear, if I didn’t know better I’d say you’re deliberately trying to make me look bad in front of my date. She’s been dying to see Maven’s show!” 

            “No can do, buddy.  Those are the rules.  No ticket, no entry.”

Jared tried to sweet talk his way in but Maven’s assistants refused.  The more he pleaded the angrier they got.

            “Look, man, you’re holding up the line.  Crimony, I’d expect better manners from one of our own.  Seriously, you’re acting worse than the typical drunkards that we have to kick out.  Move along or do you want us to call Security?

Stunned, Jared stammered out an apology, trying again to explain that he was merely trying to impress his date and he hadn’t meant to cause any trouble.  The last thing he needed was to have them complaint to BT about this.

            “She just really wanted to see Maven’s act.  She’s a big fan.”  Jared insisted.

            “Aw, baby,” Sherry squealed.  “That’s alright.  I’d be just as happy to go through the Tunnel of Love ride instead.”

            “You heard the lady, she’d be happy to ride the Tunnel of Love.  So why don’t you take her for her ride and step out of line already, Jared.”  

The Freaks Come Out At Night- Part 7

Sitting around Tina’s kitchenette, those who considered themselves BT’s closest companions discussed their current predicament. 

            “I feel like such a jerk,” Manny grumbled, adding more rum into his heavily laced cola.  “I never meant to make BT think we’re a bunch of money-grubbers.  There’s just something about that Maven guy that gives me the creeps.” 

            “C’mon, Pop.” Manuel answered, resting a comforting hand on his father’s shoulder.  “BT knows us and when he calms down he’ll realize we weren’t trying to line our own pockets.  We’re looking out for him and Mystic Magill’s Big Top Carnival first and foremost.”

            “I sure hope so,” Clara whispered.

The rest nodded in agreement.  They drank in silence, feelings of guilt and an unnamed fear weighing heavily on their minds.  Finally, Tina spoke out.

            “Ya know, even now… fifteen years later…I still have no idea what exactly it was that Maven did to save the carnival.  We’ve all given him the credit but what did he do?  Why the rapid turn around and how is it that we grew from a rinky-dink traveling carnival to a full-fledged three ring circus act?  For that matter, how did Maven manage to sock away that much cash considering I do the payroll and I know how much he makes?”

            “Speaking of his act,” GoGo chimed in.  “Have any of you ever seen his act?  What does he do and why does he need an entourage of body guards surrounding him at all times?

            “I dunno,” Jared muttered, “but I’d say it’s high-time we found out!” 

They all agreed; more research would be needed before bringing any concerns to BT again.  Rather than raising suspicions, they each vowed to view Maven’s show at different times and never with another staff member.  In a few weeks, or maybe a month, they would get together and review their notes.

            “Maybe there’s nothing there and we’re overreacting but I’d feel a whole lot better if we made sure.” 

            “Me too!” The others responded, in unison.  

The Freaks Come Out At Night- Part 6

           “What about Maven?” BT gasped as the coffee he was pouring sloshed over the lip of his mug and onto the table.  “Is he alright?”

            “He’s fine,” Tina assured him.  “Perhaps he’s a little too fine.” 

The old man rarely missed a cue but this time his head cocked sideways, puppy-like and perplexed.  He sat down at the table with the others and listened as they expressed their concerns.  His most trusted friends found it entirely too suspicious that when the shares first opened up to the staff, Maven was the only one with liquid funds.  Of the 20% that BT allotted to his employees, Maven snatched up most of those shares. 

            “Are you saying he cheated you out of shares?” BT demanded.  “He bought them all up and you didn’t get any?”

            “Well, no…it ain’t exactly like that.”  Manny answered.  “Maven waited until everyone bought what little they could afford and then he bought whatever was left.  It just so happens, that he still managed to buy almost 18% for himself.”

            “Then I’m not sure what you’re so upset about.” BT’s response bordered on fury, his words had a harsh bite to them that rarely, if ever, bubbled to the surface.  “I might have expected this kind of back-biting by some of the newcomers but from you?  I’m almost regretting my choice to offer a percentage to the staff.”

BT glared at his friends accusingly, his disappointment was so palpable Clara nearly burst into tears. Yet her show of remorse did little to assuage his anger, instead it seemed to feed it. 

            “Is it Maven’s fault that most of you squander your earnings, rather than saving for a rainy day?  Should he be penalized, or worse, scandalized because he doesn’t have a wife or children to support and therefore has more cash on hand? Wasn’t it Maven who came up with the plan to save our carnival in the first place?” 

BT was on his feet, wagging his finger at them as if chastising naughty children.

            “And this is how you repay him?” 

He let that last accusation sink in as he stalked into the other room and returned with a briefcase.  He popped the case open and withdrew certificates that he passed out to them. 

            “I was going to save these for a happier occasion but since you’re all so green with envy at the moment, I guess I’ll just get it over with.” BT grumbled as he thrust the sheets of paper into each of their hands.  “I knew each of you had some challenges this year and that money was tight.  For example, Clara your daughter gave birth.  Manny, you had to have surgery.  GoGo, your thieving ex wife’s lawyer took you to the cleaners.  I had already allocated shares in your names out of my own pocket so…here. I never intended this to be a competition for shares.  Truth be told, I never wanted any one member of our team to have the controlling interest once I’m gone because I want this place to be a joint venture.  Like I’ve always said, we’re all part of a gigantic machine and each cog keeps the wheel turning; each piece vital to production.” 

     Racked with guilt, his friends tried to apologize but BT waved them off.  He was in no mood to placate their feelings.  The disappointment he felt was too strong for niceties.  Instead, he ushered them to the door and went to bed.  Startled to find themselves unceremoniously shoved out in the cold, they accepted Tina’s offer for a nightcap in her trailer.  There was still much to discuss and it was best to do it in private.  

The Freaks Come Out At Night- Part 5

     True to his word, within one week BT released a memo instructing his staff the where’s and how’s to purchasing shares of Mystic Magill’s Big Top Carnival.  For those who didn’t have enough savings to purchase shares at the moment, other opportunities would be made available in the future.  On the surface, the offer seemed typical of BT’s generosity but the timing had been inconvenient for most of the staff to take advantage of the offer.  There was; however, one employee who found himself in the perfect situation to buy up shares of the carnival: Maven.  After making that discovery, BT’s closest friends met him in his trailer after the evening performance.  GoGo, Tina, Manny, and Clara, were joined by Jared, and Manny’s son Manuel, the current strong man of the carnival. 

            “To what do I owe this honor?”  BT asked as he poured coffee for his friends. 

            “It’s about Maven….

   ***Please return Monday, Jan 20^th for the next installment of The Freaks Come Out At Night***  

The Freaks Come Out At Night- Part 4

Present Day

            “Okay, Okay.  Can I have your attention, please?” 

BT rose, tapping a spoon against the side of his glass. He paused, waiting for his unruly family to settle down.  At last, the murmur of conversation died down and all eyes were focused attentively on their patriarch. 

            “It’s hard to believe that fifteen years ago I was advised to close down…to take what was left and retire.  If it wasn’t for all of you, I might have done just that.  My dearest friends, words cannot possibly express my sincere gratitude to each and every one of you.  Part of the reason I wanted to have this banquet was to show you all my appreciation.  That and I have a surprise for you.”

The sea of faces looking back at him had changed over the years.  His dearest friends; Tina, Clara, Manny, and GoGo had lost their youthful glow and now wore masks of wizened wrinkles.  New kids, fresh and hopeful, had joined the crew filling roles their older counterparts could no longer endure.  These youngsters looked up to the “masters” of their craft with quiet reverence and awestruck exuberance.  The carnival had grown and expanded.  They had even more shows to wow their captive audiences.  They could no longer fit in tiny lots and moderate fairgrounds.  They commanded a bigger stage and performers came from far and wide in hopes of joining Mystic Magill’s Big Top Carnival.  They played to packed houses every evening and all day on the weekends.  BT’s company was making money hand over fist and had aspired beyond his wildest dreams.  It was time to do more for his family so that they could reap the benefits.

            “When I first started up, I had a little more than a grand illusion and a few crazy friends willing to come along for the ride.  Now, I have all of you.  When I look around and I see how large my family has grown it fills my heart with joy.”  BT began, his face beaming with pride.

            “Until he has to sign the paychecks and then he cries!” GoGo interjected, pantomiming signing his name and sobbing at the same time. 

Everyone, including BT, laughed especially since there was no truth to the gag.  BT was well known for his generosity and he paid his “family” higher wages than anyone else in the business.  Now that they were doing so well financially, BT even created retirement funds and added other perks.  He never begrudged a single penny paid out to those in his employ. 

            “As I was saying,” BT bellowed playfully.  “It is high time I gave back.  As you can tell, I’m no spring chicken.  Not that I plan on kicking the bucket anytime soon…but I want to make sure you’re all taken care of and who better to run the show than those running the show, right?  I am going to start selling shares of the company to those of you who want to keep Mystic Magill’s Big Top Carnival running long after I’ve become worm-food.  I’m working out the details with my lawyer and the accountant so when we’ve got it all hammered out, I will let you know.  We’ve got to keep planning for the future, right?”

            “BT’s right,” insisted Clairvoyant Clara.  “My lovely daughter just gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl and I have a feeling she’s got the gift of sight, also.  I want her to be able to tell her grandchildren that she was the clairvoyant at Mystic Magill’s Big Top Carnival just like her grandmother before her. 

The entire room broke into thunderous applause.  BT heart swelled with pride and the feeling was contagious.  In the back corner, Maven and his assistants grinned knowingly.