Wee Jimmy joins the circus.

Wee Jimmy is having a hard time at home so one day he decides 'fuck it' and runs off to join the circus.

He hops on to a bus to the town green where the lorries have just parked-up and the circus folk are putting up the big top. He finds the Ringmaster, tells him about his horrible home-life and then begs to join up.

"well I sympathise with your situation little man" - The ringmaster says - "but you've got to have a TALENT to be in the circus you see. Our trapeze artists perform wonderful acts of aerial agility, our bearded lady draws gasps of wonder, Coco the clown can juggle and tell jokes"

"Just let me perform" - Wee Jimmy says - "I promise I wont disappoint you."

The Ringmaster reluctantly agrees, feeling sorry for poor Wee Jimmy. After all, he does have such an awful time at home.

Over the next week. Jimmy hangs around with the other performers. Helps the trapeze artists with their ropes and pulleys. He combs the bearded lady's beard. Gives Coco a few new jokes for his repertoire. They all grow very fond of the little fella. However, the Ringmaster is a little concerned that Wee Jimmy does not seem to be practising any kind of act.

The following Saturday. The Circus has its opening night. The trapeze artists amaze, the bearded lady confounds and Coco has them laughing uncontrollably with his oversized feet and hilarious jokes. Finally its time for Wee Jimmy's act. The Big Top goes silent.

A spotlight appears in the centre of the ring. The audience look down to see a very large anvil. A few confused mutterings are heard amongst the audience. Then, after a moment, Jimmy walks in pulling a very large sledge-hammer. It takes him a while to drag the thing across to the anvil, and the whole time the audience stare at each other wondering what is going to happen. Jimmy puts down the handle and stands up on the Anvil.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I will require a volunteer from the Audience."

There is mostly silence, a little more chattering but nobody sticks up their hand.

"Anybody. Ladies and Gentlemen. I can't do the trick by myself"

The audience are still staring at each other, eventually a bloke at the back stands up, a big body-builder bloke.

"I'll volunteer" - he says.

The man walks down into the ring, his arms and legs are like like tree-trunks, his whole body is very hairy and he is sporting a thick bushy beard.

"Now I am going to place my head on the Anvil, and what I want you to do is hit me as hard as you can with this sledge-hammer."

The body-builder bloke is a little confused but Wee Jimmy reassures him and so he agrees. Next there is a drum-roll and the sledge-hammer is lifted high above Jimmy's head.

"BANG!!!!!!"

There is blood and brains and pieces of skull everywhere. The audience is in chaos, women are screaming, children are crying. Its bedlam. Eventually somebody calls the ambulance-men and they arrive - sirens blaring and take Jimmy to the hospital.

A month goes by. Wee Jimmy is in a terrible state, a deep coma and attached to a ventilator.

The Ringmaster feels terrible, he rarely leaves Jimmy's bedside. All the other performers visit every day.
The trapeze artists read him stories. The bearded lady sings songs. Coco tries to tell Wee Jimmy about new material he has been working on.

It's no good. Wee Jimmy remains in a critical condition.

6 Months later.

After all this time, The trapeze artist have run out of stories, the bearded lady's voice is hoarse and Coco has lost the will to live. The Ringmaster holds Jimmy's hand and cries.

"Oh Wee Jimmy, you have had such a hard time in your few short years. You deserve some happy years. Please come round Wee Jimmy."

Suddenly there is a flinch. The Ringmaster is shocked to see Jimmy's eyelids flickering. He jumps up he shouts out to the hall and calls in the other circus folk, still pacing in the hallway - the trapeze artists and the bearded lady and Coco. - "He is waking up, he is waking up!"

They all gather round Jimmy's bedside. Elated. Jimmy begins to move his mouth. He starts to open his eyes a little.

"He is going to say something" - whispers one of the trapeze artists.

"This is wonderful" - says the Bearded Lady.

"A miracle" - says Coco.

Finally Wee Jimmy, lifts his head stares directly at the Ringmaster and shouts,

-

TA DA !!