39 -- Jozef and Wizlaw Arrive at the Bukowski Estate

Wizlaw and Jozef arrived late at night, stabled the horses, and went to Jozef’s small house. Jozef showed Wizlaw the rooms.

When Jozef led him to the last room, the guest room where Wizlaw would stay overnight. Wizlaw said, “This guest room would make a fine nursery. And there’s plenty of room, with the office, the living room, and the other bedroom.” He turned to Jozef. “Are you sure you want to make that switch? You won’t have that much space in the caravan.”

Jozef nodded. “I know. And I am sure. My fate is with the circus.”

He sent his man to get a small supper from the main house’s kitchen, and they are and retired early.

The next morning, Jozef and Wizlaw went to the main house, asking for an appointment with Konrad.

As they followed the butler down the hallway to Konrad’s study, a door opened and Maja stepped out. She saw Wizlaw and blanched.

Jozef winked at her. “Maja, I gather you already know Panje Dubiki.”

Wizlaw took her hand and kissed it.

The butler stood a few paces off, staring at the wall, waiting.

Maja pulled her hand back, glancing down the hallway. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

Jozef stepped between them. “He is here to apply for the manager’s position.”

Maja’s head swiveled between the two men. Finally she focused on Jozef. “Are you leaving us, Panje Wawrzyniak?”

“Yes. I found another position. As much as I enjoy your family, I need to move on.”

Wizlaw touched her hand. “We need to go. I’ll see you later, Maja.”

 In the office, they only had to wait a few minutes.

Konrad, already dressed and ready to go to town, invited them to sit down in the two chairs fronting his desk.

38 -- Jozef Secures a new Position

Panje Franzesco’s caravan wagon was a little larger and painted in a bright blue. Inside, a stove put out waves of warmth, and an older lady, Panje Franzesco’s wife, sat on a comfortable looking sofa, knitting something in brown.

Jozef and Wizlaw were sitting on two easy chairs fronting the sofa, while Panje Franzesco sprawled next to his wife on the sofa, wringing his hands. “You’ve always done such a good job, Panje Dubiki. I just don’t know what will become of our little circus when you’re gone.”

“Don’t worry. That’s why I found Panje Wawrzyniak for you. He’ll do a wonderful job. I’ll train him. And if he does not work out, I promise I’ll either return or find you someone else.”

Panje Franzesco sighed. His wife turned to him. “Why don’t you give it a try? The new manager has the whole winter to learn what to do, and if he’s managed an estate before, he already knows a lot.”

“All right then. I’ll accept your resignation, Wizlaw, and Panje Wawrzyniak, I expect you to start your new duties next week, on Monday. Will that be agreeable to you?”

Jozef nodded. They discussed the pay and living arrangements, and two very excited and satisfied men got ready for the six hour ride to Konrad Bukowski’s estate.

37 -- The Rest of Jozef's Plan

“Do you have a nanny?” Jozef asked Wizlaw.

“One of the artists, a young woman named Nina, is looking in on the girls every day until I can find a nanny willing to travel in the circus. But Nina isn’t here this week. She and her brothers are giving a performance in a neighboring town.”

Jozef nodded. What a lucky stroke that Nina was gone. This way, he could take care of his plans without being interrupted by his feelings for her.

He focused back on Wizlaw and his family. “You might need someone to be with your daughters while we’re going to Paszowice.”

“The Chan family have three children. Panni Chan often watches the girls for me. I could ask her to keep them till I come back.” Wizlaw bent forward. “You said there is more to your plan?”

“Yes.” Jozef hesitated. His plan suddenly sounded crazy to him. But no matter how crazy, it was what he needed to do. He took and deep breath and went on.  “I’d like to switch places with you.”

Wizlaw frowned. “You want to manage a circus?”

“Yes. Not just any circus, but Circus Francesco. Do you think you could help me get your position before we travel to Paszowice? I will guarantee that you can get on with Panje Bukowski. It he won’t take you, you can come back here, and you won’t have lost anything but a few days.”

Wizlaw laughed. “This is so unusual. Here is a complete stranger who wants to switch places with me. I will have all the advantages and you want to live in this tiny, crowded caravan wagon, with no special comforts. You’ll probably take a pay cut too.” He grew earned. “I cannot trust this arrangement. There has to be more in it for you, or there will be a great disadvantage for me, working for Panje Bukowski. I need to know more.”

“I can understand your need for more information. Let me tell you. Firstly, the position at the estate really is very nice. Panje Bukowski is warmhearted and pleasant, and he gives his manager the space he needs to get the work done. You can always come to him with any concerns. He’ll always do what he can to help.”

“If I can believe that, it makes it even harder for me to understand why you want to leave his employ.”

“That’s a long story. I visited the circus when I was a boy, and there I met and talked to the prettiest little girl I had ever seen, Nina Bufando. I have never forgotten her, even in seminary. Years later, I was responsible for the church in a small town not too far from Paszowice, when the circus came to town. Seeing Nina again brought back memories and led me to a crisis of conscience. After Circus Franzesco left, I did not expect to see her ever again, but by then I knew the calling of the priesthood was not for me. The bishop agreed with me and found me the manager position for the Bukowski estate. And when Maja confided in me about her understanding with you, I knew I was called to the circus. I have no doubt in my heart that this is the place where I’m meant to be, and where I will be happy. That’s my story.”

Wizlaw sat quietly. Slowly a bright grin spread over his face. “I believe you, Panje Wawrzyniak. If you’ll be so kind as to wait here a moment, I’ll bring Panni Chan to get the girls, and then we’ll go see the owner, Panje Franzesco.”

36 -- Jozef Has a Plan

Jozef held out his hand. “I’m Jozef Wawrzyniak, from the Bukowsky estate in Paszowice. I bring news of Maja Bukowsky.”

Wizlaw stepped back and opened the door wide. “Come in, come in. How is Panna Bukowsky?”

Josef walked into a small kitchen. A wood stove stood in one corner, putting out waves of comfortable heat. Wizlaw passed through the tiny room into the next partition. A large play pen fronted a comfortable looking sofa. Two little girls, maybe two and four, sat in the playpen, dressing two cloth dolls and pretending to be their moms. Wizlaw pointed to the sofa and Jozef sat.

Wizlaw pulled an easy chair out of a corner and sat in front of Jozef. “Is Panna Bukowski doing well?”

Jozef bent forward. “First, I have to tell you that I have Panna Budowski’s complete confidence, but I did not tell her that I would go and see you.”

Wizlaw shook his head. “I don’t understand. Are you her brother?”

“I’m not. I am the estate manager. But I arrived at the estate as a priest, and Maja and I have formed a close friendship. I feel for her as if she were my sister. In the last few months, Maja has been losing weight, and she is not able to take joy in her life. In an effort to cheer her up, her father introduced her to several eligible men, and one of them would be delighted to become her husband. Maja however, is miserable. So she finally confided in me.”

Konrad balled his fists. “I have tried my hardest to obtain a position where I would be acceptable to her father as her husband. I have not been successful. I would die to keep Maja from living a life of unhappiness. What else can I do?”

“I have an idea. Have you managed an estate before?”
 

“Yes, I have, in Germany, before I met my first wife. She and her whole family were members of a circus, and when we got married, we joined with Circus Francesco, who was giving a guest performance in Germany. You see, my wife didn’t get along with her family and gladly left them behind when we moved to Poland with the circus.”

“So there is no way you can get a recommendation from your former employer?”

“Luckily, I still have my recommendation, but it’s in German. That, and the fact that I’m traveling with a circus, has made it almost impossible for me to obtain a managing position outside of the circus.”

“Don’t worry. Your recommendation it a lucky stroke. Panje Bukowski speaks German. Here is what I propose: You come with me to the Bukowski estate. With your recommendation and my support, I’m sure Panje Bukowski will give you a try.”

Wizlaw shook his head. “I’m confused. Didn’t you say you are the manager there?”

“Yes, I am. But I’m planning to quit.”

“And you’re willing to let me have your position?”

“Actually, what I’m planning is even more complicated than that.”

Wizlaw chuckled. “I have complications, too.” He pointed to the girls in the playpen. The younger one was lying down, hugging her doll and sleeping. The other was rocking another doll, almost asleep herself.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all my friends and relatives! I've finished the last proofreading of my book, and the publishing date is still June 14th.

Jozef will be back to morrow! Hope you all can wait that long!

35 -- Josef Finds the Circus

The next morning, Jozef left his horse at the inn’s stables and walked to the circus grounds in the misty morning rain. The circus, huddling on a large piece of land encircled with a loose wooden fence, looked almost forlorn. The big tent was up, to house the larger animals over the winter, Jozef guessed. The caravan wagons were circling the tent, with the animal cages out front and the living quarters for the trainers and artist probably in the back, as far as Jozef could see as he came closer.

He tried the front gate, but it was closed and locked, so he squeezed through a largish space between two fence boards. The free space between the caravans and the tent was desolated. A whiff of straw and animals came from the tent. Jozef heard a faint rustling and the bellowing of some great cat. His heart leaped at the thought of what he was about to do. It felt right, so right. He hoped everything would turn out the way he envisioned.

He rounded the tent, careful to avoid the worst of the mud on the drizzly ground, and approached the trailers with tiny curtains in the windows, and smoke coming out of small chimneys on the roofs. He assumed the circus people lived in them. He made his way along them, wondering what circus families would be like. 

He couldn't find what he was looking for, so he decided to ask. He selected a caravan from which the sound of children’s laughter came, went up three small steps and knocked on the door.

His heart was hammering in his chest as footsteps came to the door and it creaked open. He half expected Nina to answer his knock, but was disappointed.

 Wizlaw, in his morning coat stood before him. His eyes grew large as he saw Jozef. “You’re not one of us. What brings you here?”

34 -- Jozef Goes on a Trip

Jozef packed a change of clean clothes in his saddlebags, filled his money belt with the money he had earned in the last three months but had seen no need to spend, and dressed in his warmed winter coat, boots and hat.

His first step was the nearby town. He stopped at the guesthouse and entered for a drink and some talk.

The wife of the inn keeper, a chunky middle-aged woman, liked to talk, and Jozef banked on that. She brought him a mug of beer and put it in front of him on the table. “Looks like you’re dressed for quite a ride, Panje Wawrzyniak. Where are you going this late in the year?”

Jozef looked up at her and grinned. “I’m chasing down the circus, Pani Niemczyk, if you can believe it. There was a mess-up, and they left with something that belongs to me.” He took a swallow of his mug.

“Do you know where they are, Panje?”

“I was hoping you could help me. Maybe you’ve heard from any of your patrons where they have gone after they left here.” He gave her his best smile. “You usually have the best information in town.”

Pani Niemczyk simpered. “You’re too kind. I do know they went on to Buzilowo after they left here, but that was a while ago. There’s no guessing where they are now.”

Jozef sighed. “I’ll just have to go to Buzilowo then.” He finished his mug and paid. “You’ve helped me so much already. Thanks and good bye.”

“Good luck to you,” the innkeeper’s wife called after him.

He arrived in Buzilowo three hours later, and after another hour in the largest inn in town, he knew where Circus Francesco settled down for winter quarters every year. His source of information, a skinny old man, assured him that they always arrived in the first week of November. Since it was already November 24^th, they’d be all settled in by now.

He arrived at his goal late that evening and spent the night in a warm room at one of the inns.

As he settled into the hard bed, he sighed with contentment. Tomorrow he’d find the circus.  And then, maybe things could be straightened out.