Read Online The Sequin Star by Belinda Murrell - Free Book Online Page A

ears,’ instructed Rosina. ‘You can hold onto the leather strap there.’
    Claire clumsily clambered into place behind Empress’s ears. She clung on tightly to the leather harness strapped across the elephant’s head. She felt very insecure being up so high. Now she definitely knew that she wasn’t dressed for a ballet concert.
    â€˜Are you all right, Claire?’ asked Rosina.
    Claire nodded, her jaw set. There was no way that she would admit to Rosina that she felt nervous. ‘Of course. I’m fine.’
    Rosina pulled a face and lifted her hand upwards, forming a graceful curve with her arm. ‘You look like a sack of potatoes,’ she teased. ‘Sit tall, wave your left arm like this, and remember to smile . Give these townies something dazzling to behold.’
    Obediently, Claire pulled her back straight, lifted her arm and forced her face into a smile.
    Rosina grimaced. ‘Oh, well. That’s a bit better, I suppose.’ She turned and went back to mount her own elephant. Frank, one of the menagerie workers, walked beside the elephants.
    Eventually everyone was in place. Alf cracked his whip to signal the start of the parade.
    â€˜Tail up,’ called Rosina. Empress curled her trunk forward and took hold of Elsie’s tail. ‘Walk on.’
    Elsie and Empress, one after the other, lurched forward as the procession set off. Claire brought her waving arm down to cling onto the harness, terrified she would slip off. After a hundred metres, she began to get used to the lumbering, rocking motion.
    â€˜Wave,’ Rosina reminded her over her shoulder.
    There was so much to see that Claire soon forgot her awkwardness as the procession trundled into town. Claire watched Rosina. She remembered her grandmother’s advice about stage presence. Pretend to be a circus performer , Claire thought to herself. Sit tall . Head high . Smile wide and point toes .
    Alf Sterling rode with his wife, Malia, in a golden carriage pulled by a team of six miniature ponies. The band, which included Jem, rode on top of a bright yellow van, playing loud, jaunty music. The lions paced in their golden cage, while the bears, dogs, horses and elephants walked in the procession, led by grooms and menagerie workers.
    The acrobats turned cartwheels and somersaults, and walked on their hands. A juggler tossed flaming torches in the air and caught them behind his back. A clown with a red, curly wig walked on tall stilts, his striped blue-and-white trousers hiding the length of his legs. Manfred the Magnificent strode along in his shiny black top hat, the scarlet-lined cape billowing behind.
    â€˜The circus is coming. The circus is coming.’ The refrain was shouted by dozens of children. They poured out of the school buildings and lined the playground fence, hanging over into the street, scared to miss a moment of the excitement. They shouted and cheered in an excited babble. ‘There are the lions. Here come the monkeys. The bear is wearing boots .’
    â€˜Look at the girls up on the elephants!’ shrieked a little girl to her friend. ‘They look like fairy princesses.’
    Claire smiled and waved at the girls. ‘She waved to me,’ cried the child. ‘Oh, I do hope Pa says we can go.’
    Housewives huddled on the pavement, staring. It was such a contrast. All the circus folk were dressed in a rainbow of bright colours – gold and scarlet, purple and silver, blue and yellow. Their clothes sparkled with sequins, spangles and paste jewels. On the side of the road, the townies wore shabby suits of grey and black and brown. Many of the faces looked worn and thin, but they were transformed with excitement at the novelty of the circus.
    Claire suddenly noticed a young man, about sixteen years old, standing under a tree with his hands in his pockets. He looked different to the other men – smarter, better dressed, more confident. He wore a