Thursday Writing
The Best Medicine
August 2, 2011-I am here on location at sunny Lana Beach in North Carolina exploring the deserted camp ground of a former circus, home to one of the most famous clowns of all time.
His name is Happy Pappy and as I scavenge the environment, I find shredded pieces of paper lying all around the site. I could not make them out; they were in some sort of secret code. As I explored the area, I found more and more scraps of paper in the foreign language. I return to my trailer and spread the pieces on the table. The pieces are large enough that I am able to suggest that they fit together somehow. As I study them closely, I begin to piece the puzzle together.
I have finished and it resembles pages from a journal of some sort, but it is in a secret code. By some stroke of luck I had pieced together the page that translates the code into English. The journal entry read verbatim:
“July 3, 1999-Today was one of the best days of my life. Today I, Tony Houston, aka- Happy Pappy the Clown, was given the opportunity to meet a very special person. To start off the day my circus family greeted me with a gourmet breakfast of blueberry pancakes, bacon, and cinnamon rolls- my favorite!
After breakfast I walked around the site checking in on all the acts and meeting dedicated fans that tailgate the shows. I was lucky enough to meet one incredible girl and fan today. Her mom and dad brought her to the circus for her seventh birthday. And I had the privilege of meeting this young trooper. As she and her parents entered the room, the little girl had a bare head with a pink flowered cap on top. Her eyes were hesitant and filled with sorrow, but her smile gave hope and faith. Later on I found out that she had Leukemia. When she saw me, her eyes lit up and I felt honored that I could make such a trooper smile with joy and forget that she was ever diagnosed. That made me feel very humble, at that moment, I was very proud to be a clown. I gave her a hug and gave her a little taste of what I do best- making children laugh- the best kind of medicine.”
His name is Happy Pappy and as I scavenge the environment, I find shredded pieces of paper lying all around the site. I could not make them out; they were in some sort of secret code. As I explored the area, I found more and more scraps of paper in the foreign language. I return to my trailer and spread the pieces on the table. The pieces are large enough that I am able to suggest that they fit together somehow. As I study them closely, I begin to piece the puzzle together.
I have finished and it resembles pages from a journal of some sort, but it is in a secret code. By some stroke of luck I had pieced together the page that translates the code into English. The journal entry read verbatim:
“July 3, 1999-Today was one of the best days of my life. Today I, Tony Houston, aka- Happy Pappy the Clown, was given the opportunity to meet a very special person. To start off the day my circus family greeted me with a gourmet breakfast of blueberry pancakes, bacon, and cinnamon rolls- my favorite!
After breakfast I walked around the site checking in on all the acts and meeting dedicated fans that tailgate the shows. I was lucky enough to meet one incredible girl and fan today. Her mom and dad brought her to the circus for her seventh birthday. And I had the privilege of meeting this young trooper. As she and her parents entered the room, the little girl had a bare head with a pink flowered cap on top. Her eyes were hesitant and filled with sorrow, but her smile gave hope and faith. Later on I found out that she had Leukemia. When she saw me, her eyes lit up and I felt honored that I could make such a trooper smile with joy and forget that she was ever diagnosed. That made me feel very humble, at that moment, I was very proud to be a clown. I gave her a hug and gave her a little taste of what I do best- making children laugh- the best kind of medicine.”
♠ ♠ ♠
Age 16. Thurs 8/26