The Priest -- 4

Young Jozef was playing checkers with his next older brother Henrik, when their father came into the family room. He turned to their mother, who sat on the sofa, knitting something blue, probably a sweater for one of the boys for the winter.

“I just heard that the circus is in town,” he said to her, but in that tone of voice that told Jozef the conversation was meant for the boys, too. “Since I have business in town day after tomorrow, I thought we could all go there tomorrow and watch a circus show.”

Mother put down her needles. “Do you really mean that? That would be so great. We could stay overnight with my sister. The boys will have so much fun getting away from here for a while.”

Jozef rose from the table quickly enough to dislodge the checkers from the board. “Great! I’ll tell Januz and Oskar!”

Henrik yelled, “Me too!,” the game forgotten.

***

The next day at the circus, Jozef admired the horses with their colorful riders, and together with his brothers, he laughed at the clowns’ antics.

The family, sitting together close to the ring, held their breath as the tightrope walker danced above the ring seemingly on air. They clapped in admiration when the juggler, stood on a simple ladder and balanced it. At the same time he also kept five china plates in the air.

But as the large lead elephant came in, Jozef forgot to breathe. It wasn’t the elephant that had him so fascinated, but its diminutive leader. On the back of the elephant rode a girl, dressed in pink. The girl was dark, a mahogany color, more beautiful than anything or anyone Jozef had ever seen. A pink bow held back her curly hair and her smile lit up the ring all on its own.

When the performance was over, the family joined the other circus visitors at the animal cages behind the tent. In front of them was a free space where two black boys, as dark as that beautiful girl Jozef had admired, were leading the elephant around in a circle. They were about Henrik’s age. Three local children sat atop the elephant’s back, clinging to each other and laughing.

Jozef looked around, hoping to see a glimpse of that girl. His heart sped up when he saw her, leaning against an empty cage and eating a piece of bread. He wanted to go closer and talk to that girl, but knew his parents wouldn’t let him. After all, he was destined for the priesthood and had no business talking to a girl.

As he was wondering how to get away from his family for just a moment, Henrik pulled on Mother’s hand. “Can we ride the elephants too? Please, mama?”

Their mother smiled down at the boys. “Okay. We might as well make the most of it.”

More about Young Jozef and the circus girl tomorrow!