As Emmett gave their tickets to the usherette in the blue uniform, he asked where they should sit.
—Anywhere you like.
Then after giving Billy a wink, she opened the door and told them to enjoy the show.
Inside it was like a small, indoor rodeo with a dirt floor surrounded by an oval bulwark and twenty rows of stadium seating. By Emmett’s estimate, the hall was only a quarter full, but with the lighting trained on the oval, the faces of the audience members weren’t easy to make out.
As the brothers sat on one of the benches, the lights dimmed and a spotlight illuminated the ringmaster. In keeping with tradition, he was dressed like a master of the hunt, with leather riding boots, a bright red jacket, and top hat. Only when he began to speak did Emmett realize he was actually a woman wearing a false moustache.
—And now, she announced through a red megaphone, returning from the East where she mesmerized the Raja of India and danced for the King of Siam, the Circus is proud to present the one, the only, Delilah!
With an extension of the ringmaster’s hand, the spotlight shot across the oval to a gate in the bulwark through which an enormous woman in a pink tutu came riding the tricycle of a child.
As the audience erupted into laughter and bawdy cheers, two seals with old-fashioned police helmets strapped to their heads appeared and began to bark. Off Delilah went, pedaling frantically around the oval as the seals gave chase and the crowd egged them on. Once the seals had successfully corralled Delilah back through the gate, they turned and acknowledged the audience’s appreciation by bobbing their heads and clapping their fins.
Next, two cowgirls rode into the ring—one dressed in white leather with a white hat on the back of a white horse, the other all in black.
—The Astounding Sutter Sisters, called the ringmaster through her megaphone as they trotted around the arena waving their hats to the cheers of the crowd.
After circling the arena once, the sisters began performing a series of stunts. Riding at a reasonable speed, they swung themselves from one side of their saddles to the other in perfect synchronicity. Then, while riding at a faster clip, the Sutter in black leapt from her horse to her sister’s and back again.
Pointing at the arena, Billy looked up at his brother with an expression of amazement.
—Did you see that?
—I did, said Emmett with a smile.
But when Billy turned his attention back to the action, Emmett turned his to the audience. For the sisters’ act, the lights in the arena had been raised, making it easier for Emmett to search the faces of the crowd. Having completed a first pass to no avail, Emmett looked to his immediate left and began working his way around the oval more systematically, looking from row to row and aisle to aisle. Emmett still couldn’t find Duchess, but he noted with a touch of surprise that most of the audience members were men.
—Look! Billy exclaimed, pointing at the sisters, who were now standing on the backs of their horses as they rode side by side.
—Yes, said Emmett. They’re very good.
—No, said Billy. Not the riders. Over there in the audience. It’s Woolly.
Following the direction of Billy’s finger, Emmett looked across the arena, and there in the eighth row was Woolly, sitting by himself. Emmett had been so focused on finding Duchess, it hadn’t occurred to him to look for Woolly.
—Good job, Billy. Come on.
Following the wide center aisle, Emmett and Billy circumnavigated the arena to where Woolly sat with a bag of popcorn in his lap and a smile on his face.
—Woolly! called Billy as he ran the final steps.
At the sound of his name, Woolly looked up.
—Mirabile dictu! Out of nowhere, here come Emmett and Billy Watson. What serendipity! What a turn of events! Have a seat, have a seat.
Though there was plenty of space for the brothers to sit, Woolly slid along the bench to make more room.
—Isn’t it a great show? asked Billy while removing his backpack.
—It is, agreed Woolly. It most certainly definitely is.
—Look, said Billy, pointing to the middle of the arena, where four clowns had driven four small cars.
Moving behind his brother, Emmett took the empty seat on Woolly’s right.
—Where’s Duchess?
—What’s that? asked Woolly, without taking his eyes off the sisters, who were now jumping over the cars and scattering the clowns.
Emmett leaned closer.
—Where’s Duchess, Woolly?
Woolly looked up as if he hadn’t the faintest idea. Then he remembered.
—He’s in the living room! He went to see some friends in the living room.