Cubby strolled into the trailer. He’d toweled some of his makeup off, but a white sheen remained. It made him look ghostly or badly in need of a blood transfusion. I didn’t have time to reply. Pooch bared his teeth and growled at him. Cubby jumped. The dog advanced. Cubby backed away, frightened. I laughed. It was funny to see this little yapper taking on a tall guy like Cubby. I picked Pooch up. “Pooch, Cubby,” I introduced them. “Pooch is just visiting. I’ll take him for a walk. That should settle him down.” As I walked out, I got a foul look from Cubby. I guessed I shouldn’t have laughed. I hadn’t improved relations between us any. Intermission had started. I had time to walk Pooch around the circus grounds. Pooch ran in circles around me. This was his way of urging me to get a move on. On the other side of the big top, a giant billboard of Sorelli looked down on us. This smiling cartoon ringmaster raised his top hat beside big red letters: Circus Sorelli—The Be Happy Place!
