Blessed Virgin of the Circus- 23.

“The Virgin is real. She works miracles.”

Mala had been soft on her since finding out her spell worked. She had no doubt that it would, but it was always helpful to her to see the results. And the boys hadn’t minded her babysitting at all, and enjoyed her games, so she was on her good side for the time being.

“Maybe it was you. The Virgin couldn’t have done anything without you and the spell, and me making up the spell.”

Mara had some difficulty with these words for several moments. She thought that she was supposed to trust in God, Jesus or the Virgin. Nobody had offered her any information about prayers, spells, requests or anything of the sort either way, though upon further consideration, every time she had spoken to or asked something of the Virgin, a wish had been granted.

“Maybe,” she spoke hesitantly. The suggestion was uncomfortable, but entirely possible. Maybe Mala was simply a temptress. And maybe, despite her previous maliciousness, she was right.

**
LaShawn called her into the office.

“I want you and Yana in the late show a week from today. We’re running you full on.”

Mara’s face was terrified. Moments of silence passed.

“I see. Just acro?”

“And Yana doing fire.”

Her skin tingled. She would have preferred the piercings to the incredible strength of acro. She remembered the time when the work felt like nothing. She felt herself older now, though she was certain that her age was considered young.

“Just the last show?”

“Yep.”

“I guess it’s time.”

“You did this for two years before the hiatus. It’s somewhere in you.”

“My body isn’t the same, LaShawn.”

“That’s nonsense. You’re not old, Mara. You have the medical clearance to work. It’s time to put you back out there. Tina and Talia need a break. We’re past the middle of the run.”

“Ok. If it’s time, it’s time.”

**
Mara scuffled across the gravel. It was late.

“We’re doing our thing again, Yana.”

Yana stumbled out from the back of the camper. She did a Tequila shot.

“In a week.”

Yana threw her shot glass against the window and flopped down on one of the beds, laughing.


“Jorge asked me if I was pregnant!!! He said he had a dream about it! Hahahahahahahahahaha!”

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