Suzy’s Strange Saga

The Future…

After yet another successful show, the performers of the Cataclysm Carnival begin to pack down for the night and engage in their usual banter.

“Well that was certainly fun. It’s been a long time since we got to actually perform an entire show like that.” Sparkle remarks while putting away her chainsaws.
“Ha ha ha ha, yeah I wouldn’t exacty call General Hellstorm’s totalitarian city state civilization, but it was a nice change from the usual shanty towns or worse, those Ground Zero owned shelter communities. God, I sometimes wonder what the fuck happened in some of those places after the bombs hit. I swear most of those folks are more fucked up than the people who got caught on the surface.” Randy adds.

Hector and Lucy step inside the trailer.

“I imagine being stuck in close quarters with a bunch of people for long periods of time is bound to make a lot of people weird. I mean you don’t have to look too far to see that.” Bruno says after hearing part of the conversation.
“I hope you remembered to lock up those cat-rat things, this time. Last time they got out and chewed several holes in one of the trailers.” Sparkle says.
“They’re called Nibblers and yes, I made sure they’re all locked up. I threw in some meat too so they should be good.” Hector remarks.
“Hrm, I still dunno how you can work with those things. I saw a wild one take off an arm in one bite before.” Randy says.
“Just gotta show the little bitey bastards whose boss.” Hector says proudly displaying how he still has all ten of his fingers.

Lucy says nothing and just walks to the nearest mirror to take her clown make up off. Randy and Sparkle sense something amiss.

“You okay?” Sparkle asks.
“Shes’s pissed because apparently General Hellstorm was flirting a lot with her hot mom at the end of the night. In fact I’d wager that’s how we landed this job in the first place.”
“Hector, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call my mom hot. I told you that before. And I’d REALLY appreciate it if you didn’t imply my mother was a whore!” Lucy says.
“For fuck’s sake Lucy, I didn’t say she was! I just meant ol’ Hellstorm probably went all soppy when he first saw your mother. She turned on the charm and just reeled in the rube. Shit, we ALL should have such talent when we get to be that age. IF we get to be that age in this shitty world.”

“Ever the flatterer I see, Hector. Glad to know that a woman in their forties still has a place in this rotten world.” You say stepping into the trailer.

Hector isn’t quite sure how to react.

“Um, apologies Ringmistress Suzy.”
“Relax, you don’t ever have to worry about not being charming Hector, you’ll always have your Nibblers to keep you warm. Your father Klepto would’ve been so proud.” You say patting Hector on the head in a condescending manner.

Sparkle and Randy both greet you, but your daughter continues to focus on the mirror.

“Anyway, I’m just making the rounds to everyone and I just wanted to say it was a good show tonight and I’m proud of all of you. In fact we might be coming here to perform again in a few more months. Mr. Hellstorm really enjoyed the show. You’d think a guy that goes by the name General Hellstorm would be all WAR DEATH RAGH! But the guy actually is pretty even tempered, well as far as wasteland warlords go anyway.”
“Hey which act did he like the most? Did he like my chainsaw bit?” Sparkle asks enthusiastically.
“Heh, well to be honest he wouldn’t stop going on about the freakshow portion. The guy really liked that bit. If there’s one good thing about living in a radiated post apocalyptic landscape, it has got this carnival’s freakshow up and running again. On the pragmatic side of things we also exchanged some of those weird laser weapons we found. We’d never use the damn things, but Hellstorm seemed to really like the idea of them and thought he could get them working so we’ve got food and medical supplies for months. I think Dolores is making a count now…”

While you’re explaining the upbeat news, you notice that your daughter is still looking into the mirror and scowling the entire time as she finishes taking off her make up.

“Could the rest of you leave for a moment, I have to speak to Lucy.” You say. Nobody argues and one by one they exit the trailer leaving you alone with Lucy.

“All right, what are you pissed about this time?” you ask.
“Nothing. Don’t you have some guy to go lick your lips at?” Lucy replies.
“Not at the moment no, but I’m glad you continue to have such a high opinion of me.”
“Flirting with power mad warlords, great reason to have a high opinion…” Lucy at this point turns to you with anger in her face.
“Goddamn it, Dad hasn’t been dead a month and you’re already fawning all over some other man! It was bad enough that you did it when he was alive, but can’t you even respect the dead?!”
“We’ve been over this MANY times Lucy. I loved your father and I never once was unfaithful to him, but your father would’ve actually understood better than anyone. Show must go on Lucy. Besides I’m not actually doing anything with Hellstorm, except a tease and most likely giving him something to dream about. I’ve always done that to the rubes to get their attention, it’s part of being a ringmaster. Even that idiot Hector gets that, don’t know why you never did.”
“Because it’s fucking embarrassing to constantly hear the sexual innuendo about your mother from passing rubes about how they’d like to master YOUR ring.”
“Hmm, hadn’t heard that one before, sort of an obvious pun when you think about it though…” you remark.
“Stop being so fucking calm about this! I mean…sorry…I just…I mean I KNOW it’s all an act, but I just wish you’d tone it down sometimes.” Lucy says.
“Believe me, I do. You’ve never seen me in full-blown seductress mode. Look, I’m a big girl and not doing anything that I’m forced to do. (sigh) I know you’re a worldly girl and all, but there’s still a small part of you that’s a bit naïve. Must be a genetic trait passed down from me.”
“Naïve?”
“Yes my wonderfully oblivious darling daughter. You seriously believe that nobody is making comments about you? You walk around in a pink and purple skintight outfit with fishnets stockings blowing luminescent bubbles during your act. How do you know that all those lewd remarks are about me? Half of them are probably about you, but you’re so concerned with my actions that you’re too blind to see that you’re just as much of a tease as I am. You’re just unaware of it. Much like I was at your age.”

Lucy is suddenly silent at this realization. It’s sort of funny how on the mark you actually were with that statement. You and her father both taught her about this bad new world and she isn’t unintelligent, but for some reason the girl has never really caught on to what a real knock out she is. Perhaps in some way you did shield her a bit from having to be really subjected to the “curse of beauty” since the carnival is a “safe zone” of sorts.

“Back before the world turned to complete shit I pretty much squandered my natural gifts. Now? I’ve used them to my fullest advantage, but not just for myself, but for you AND this carnival that we all call a family. You’re really lucky Lucy, most people nowadays don’t even have a family to look out for them. Shit, even BEFORE the nukes hit, I didn’t have such a luxury, so if I have to give a little peck on the cheek to some petty tyrant to help us survive, then so be it. Better that I do it than YOU having to do it.”

Lucy doesn’t reply, she just looks at you. She knows she wouldn’t have the stomach to go through the act that you go through at times. This might be the first time she realizes the sacrifices you’ve made to make her own life easier.

Lucy nods a few times before speaking.

“Okay, mom. I get it. And I appreciate it.”
“Good, that’s all I ask. Okay I’m going back to my own trailer now. We’re heading out tomorrow morning. Get some rest, you deserve it anyway after the wonderful show you put on.”
“I will mom. Thanks.” Lucy replies.

As you walk away you see Sparkle, Randy and Hector all slowly sneak back into the trailer.

You enter your own trailer and lay down on the bed thinking about how far you’ve come in life. It isn’t the life you ever expected, but it isn’t a bad one all things considering.

Before you fall asleep you look at the old worn clown nose by the nightstand. You grab and squeeze it a couple times, remembering happy times with your now departed husband.

“Goodnight Lance.” You say and slowly drift off with the round red foam ball in your hand.