[ WP ] You wear a watch that does not work .

Growing up in a circus was spectacular. The lights, the colours, the animals, the people. It ’ s like one gigantic family where everyone looks out for each other and each day is more fun than the last. 
 
 My mom was a beautiful trapeze artist, but even with all the glitz and glamour and all her beautiful costumes, I wanted to be a clown. Just like my dad. The pies, the watches that squirt water, the shoes as big as my arms. It was just too much fun. 
 
 Unfortunately, being a grown-up in a failing circus is not as much fun as being a kid in a successful one. We try and keep current. Try and get the kids ’ attention, but it ’ s hard. Our world is different than theirs. Marcus, one of the new trapeze artists, he ’ s smarter than the rest of us. He goes on the internet, finds out what the kids like, and we try to add it to our bits and routines. 
 
 I peek out from behind the curtain. The circus is almost empty tonight. No surprise there. I ’ m a bit nervous today, I ’ m always nervous when we do a new bit. It ’ s about a new dance Marcus heard of. “ Chuckles! Chuckles! Where are you? Why is she always so late? ” That ’ s my cue. 
 
 I honk my horn as I drive my little bicycle onto the floor, circling Clownzo as I pretend to squirt him with my watch. 
 
 “ Oh no! 
 
 I wear a watch that will not work 
 It makes me want to go berserk 
 I ’ m always late, the stupid jerk 
 This silly watch won ’ t even squirt. 
 
 This watch of mine just will not work, 
 My stupid watch can ’ t even twerk- “ 
 
 “ But Chuckles, ” Clownzo interupts “ you can ’ t twerk either. Har har ” 
 
 “ Oh d ’ oh! Right you are Clownzo. Hardy har, silly me! Do you know how to twerk Clownzo? ” 
 
 “ Gee Chuckles, is twerk a kind of jerky? ” 
 
 “ No, you buffoon! It ’ s a beautiful dance. I wonder if there ’ s anyone who can teach me. ” I give the little girl in the front row my goofiest smile, hoping that she will volunteer, but her eyes are glued to a phone. The boys with her are pinching each other. My heart sinks a little. 
 
 “ Hmmm, maybe someone in the audience knows how to twerk. ” Clownzo tries again. 
 
 Silence. Most of the kids at the back are on their phones as well. And there ’ s no one else there. 
 
 Improvising is a big part of being a clown; when you ’ re throwing pies and hoping for volunteers, things don ’ t always work out like planned. I look back at the sweet little girl with the phone in her lap and I just… I just give up. I look at my broken watch. Things were a lot different back when my dad was a clown. 
 
 “ Well Carl, I mean Clownzo. I guess… then, I guess, I guess- ” My eyes are tearing up so I just drive off the stage with my silly little bike. It squeaked and honked the whole way to my trailer. 
 
 When I entered the trailer I took off my nose and grabbed the flask from under my pillow. What ’ s a clown to do when no-one loves clowns anymore? 
 
 “ I am a clown with many a quirk 
 in a world where clowns don ’ t work. 
 It makes me feel like such a jerk 
 It makes me want to go berserk. ”
