Page 76 of Lonesome Moon

“That’s not mine,” I said.

“It is, but the Great Lucinda will keep it for herself.” She slipped the coin into the pocket of her jeans. “And now we will do our first trick.” She put a little red sponge ball in my palm, then took my hand in both of hers, folding my fingers around it, one finger at a time. “Squeeze and do not let go.”

“Yes, Great Lucinda. I am at your command.”

“Ah, yes, the large one is charmer.” She continued with her French accent. “One must be wary. Watch him carefully.” She patted my closed fist twice and said something in gibberish, before commanding me to open it.

There were now two balls in my hands.

The Great Lucinda snatched them from me and held them up for everyone to see. The room exploded with more cheers.

“This is rigged,” Rhett called out. “You two are in cahoots.”

Luci turned slowly to look at Rhett. “I am afraid you have spoken too much. I shall now put a curse upon you.”

“No, Great Lucinda, I take it back,” Rhett said, laughing. “I’ll be quiet now.”

She pointed at him. “If not a curse, then perhaps a spell. By this month’s end, you will see clearly what you must do. And you shall do it without fear.”

“Tell me what it is, Great Lucinda,” Rhett called out.

“You will know.” She turned back to me. “And now, for my finale. Reach into your pocket.”

I did as she asked and my fingers closed on something silky. I pulled out a red scarf.

She came closer, taking the scarf into her own hand and began to pull. A green one, then blue, then purple all knotted to one another. She continued to pull until she finally reached the end, where a small stuffed rabbit was tied to the last of scarves.

“You have been brave, Large One. And now I have a prize for you.” Luci reached into her pocket and came out with a lollipop.

I took it from her, laughing.

More cheers as the Great Lucinda bowed. “Thank you. Thank you. I’m here all week.” Zank you. Zank you. I am ’ere all week.

Before she could exit the stage, I grabbed her hand. “Great Lucinda, I choose you to be part of my act.”

She curtsied. “I am honored, oh Large One.”

I took her hand and helped her onto the stool. I’d stashed my pad and pencil behind the curtain, which I quickly grabbed.

“My talent, dear audience,” I paused dramatically. “Is that of a great artist.”

I sat on the stool next to Luci. “I will now draw the Great Lucinda.”

I’d drawn her from photos I’d saved on my phone and from memory for three years now. I knew every contour of her face. Her chin, the line of her jaw. The small crease on the left side of her mouth. Her full lips and large eyes. My hand knew what to do, even in front of everyone. Within minutes I had something to show the audience.

“May I present to you the most beautiful magical clown in all the land. You may now pass it around.” I handed it to Knox first.

“Wow, he really can draw,” Knox said before handing it to Jack.

Luci and I returned to our hay bale to great applause.

Rhett went next. He’d worn a long overcoat since the show began, but now he took it off, tossing it into the audience at Jack. He then presented himself in a full jazz dance outfit—fitted black pants, a tight tank top, and a sparkly red vest over it.

This alone was enough to make everyone howl with laughter, but he was just getting started.

“Let me set the scene,” Rhett said. “It was 2007 and an unusually hot summer in Stonehaven, Washington. The four of us, Luci, Holly, Jack, and myself wanted nothing more than to be able to swim in the community pool. However, it cost a dollar each for an afternoon. Thus, Holly and I took it upon ourselves to sign up for a dance contest. The prize was fifty dollars. Which would buy a lot of afternoons at the pool. We rehearsed wherever we could find. Sometimes in her parents’ garage. Other times on the porch of Carol’s trailer. We had a whole lovesick narrative worked out, thinking the judges would eat that up. Spoiler alert, we were wrong.”

Someone hit play on their phone, which was hooked to a speaker, and the opening notes of “What Might Have Been” by Little Texas began to play. Rhett started small, with just his hands in his pockets, and a slow shuffle to nowhere, like a kid with no place to be. He kicked at something invisible. He checked over his shoulder like he was waiting for somebody. But no one came. His shoulders drooped dramatically for a moment, before he snapped upright and launched into a series of turns and kicks so surprisingly sharp and graceful that the laughter faded into cheers.