Read Online The Tiny Ringmaster by Jennifer Clark - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Clark
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opened wide enough to slip out. She walked across the hall deliberately. She could hear the video games coming from her brother’s room. She carefully brushed her teeth, changed into her pajamas, and crept back in her room. She quickly closed the door, turned off the lights, and slid underneath the covers. She stared at her glow-in-the-dark stars with distrust and angrily turned onto her side. She didn’t have any problem shutting her eyes and drifting off.
Ruth opened one eye. She peeked around the dark room. She rolled over to her other side to get more comfortable. Her bed felt a million times better, and she snuggled under the covers further. She thought she heard footsteps. It was probably her mom and dad finally going to bed. She felt someone smoothing her hair.
“I’m fine mom,” she mumbled. A light giggle caused her to open her eyes. Ginger stood over her. Ruth sat straight up in the bed. “But... I was just at home and sleeping in my bed! My mom and dad were downstairs having dinner, and… I thought… I thought this had all been a dream!”
Ginger smoothed her hair more. “Shhh... Ruth, it’s ok. You’ve had a difficult day and night. Everything will get better, I promise. Do you want to go back to sleep?”
Ruth lied back down as she nodded. She didn’t remember falling back to sleep.
Ruth opened her eyes. The room was still dark. She was afraid that she had only dreamed of Ginger. She didn’t want to be home in her room. She wanted to be in the tent with Eritol, Ginger, and Tryfod. She’d even take Lucin over Charlie. She heard a small knock at the door and held her breath. With trepidation, she mumbled. “Come in.” Ginger bustled in carrying clothes, obviously on a mission. Ruth beamed.
“Up and at 'em! We've got to get you to breakfast!” Ruth yawned and slipped on her outfit. “Don't worry Miss Ruth; you won't be so sleepy after breakfast!” Ruth nodded through another yawn. She was thrilled that she hadn’t imagined being back in the tent. She still wasn’t sure what was going on, but for now she was grateful and hungry.
Ginger scurried her out of the room and into another tent that was set up for breakfast. It was cozy and warm with the smell of orange juice, bagels, pancakes, and bacon. Large plush red seats were scattered throughout the room, but no one was sitting in them. Everyone ran around from table to table eating and drinking as fast as they could before leaving the tent again. It was chaos, and now Ruth understood why Ginger was so jittery. Maybe they all drank a lot of coffee.
Eritol ran by them in a flash. He headed straight for the coffee without stopping to say hello. When he realized his mistake, he called over his shoulder, “I'll talk to you gals soon! Got to grab some breakfast!” Ruth was surprised that the man could move that fast. Ginger looked down at Ruth. “Ruth, I'm going to let you fend for yourself. See that you get some breakfast, and don't mind this bustle. I've got to hurry off to practice. Eritol will come and get you when he's ready. Wander around in the meantime, and don't worry about getting lost.”
Before Ruth had time to nod, Ginger scurried over to the buffet, grabbed a bagel and ran out of the room. Ruth was a little intimated. What did Ginger mean? She was just supposed to wander around? Ruth didn’t appreciate the lack of direction.
A loud whistle rang. Ruth couldn't figure out where it came from. If it were possible, everyone started moving faster. The last few bites were swallowed, and everyone made mad dashes for the door. Ruth slowly strolled to the buffet and tried to not get run over in the process.
The buffet had every breakfast food imaginable. She grabbed some of her favorites - chocolate chip pancakes, cheesy grits, and scrambled eggs. She eyed the coffee pot. Her mom never let her have even a sip, and she debated pouring herself an entire cup. She sighed as she decided against it. She grabbed a glass of
Ruth opened one eye. She peeked around the dark room. She rolled over to her other side to get more comfortable. Her bed felt a million times better, and she snuggled under the covers further. She thought she heard footsteps. It was probably her mom and dad finally going to bed. She felt someone smoothing her hair.
“I’m fine mom,” she mumbled. A light giggle caused her to open her eyes. Ginger stood over her. Ruth sat straight up in the bed. “But... I was just at home and sleeping in my bed! My mom and dad were downstairs having dinner, and… I thought… I thought this had all been a dream!”
Ginger smoothed her hair more. “Shhh... Ruth, it’s ok. You’ve had a difficult day and night. Everything will get better, I promise. Do you want to go back to sleep?”
Ruth lied back down as she nodded. She didn’t remember falling back to sleep.
Ruth opened her eyes. The room was still dark. She was afraid that she had only dreamed of Ginger. She didn’t want to be home in her room. She wanted to be in the tent with Eritol, Ginger, and Tryfod. She’d even take Lucin over Charlie. She heard a small knock at the door and held her breath. With trepidation, she mumbled. “Come in.” Ginger bustled in carrying clothes, obviously on a mission. Ruth beamed.
“Up and at 'em! We've got to get you to breakfast!” Ruth yawned and slipped on her outfit. “Don't worry Miss Ruth; you won't be so sleepy after breakfast!” Ruth nodded through another yawn. She was thrilled that she hadn’t imagined being back in the tent. She still wasn’t sure what was going on, but for now she was grateful and hungry.
Ginger scurried her out of the room and into another tent that was set up for breakfast. It was cozy and warm with the smell of orange juice, bagels, pancakes, and bacon. Large plush red seats were scattered throughout the room, but no one was sitting in them. Everyone ran around from table to table eating and drinking as fast as they could before leaving the tent again. It was chaos, and now Ruth understood why Ginger was so jittery. Maybe they all drank a lot of coffee.
Eritol ran by them in a flash. He headed straight for the coffee without stopping to say hello. When he realized his mistake, he called over his shoulder, “I'll talk to you gals soon! Got to grab some breakfast!” Ruth was surprised that the man could move that fast. Ginger looked down at Ruth. “Ruth, I'm going to let you fend for yourself. See that you get some breakfast, and don't mind this bustle. I've got to hurry off to practice. Eritol will come and get you when he's ready. Wander around in the meantime, and don't worry about getting lost.”
Before Ruth had time to nod, Ginger scurried over to the buffet, grabbed a bagel and ran out of the room. Ruth was a little intimated. What did Ginger mean? She was just supposed to wander around? Ruth didn’t appreciate the lack of direction.
A loud whistle rang. Ruth couldn't figure out where it came from. If it were possible, everyone started moving faster. The last few bites were swallowed, and everyone made mad dashes for the door. Ruth slowly strolled to the buffet and tried to not get run over in the process.
The buffet had every breakfast food imaginable. She grabbed some of her favorites - chocolate chip pancakes, cheesy grits, and scrambled eggs. She eyed the coffee pot. Her mom never let her have even a sip, and she debated pouring herself an entire cup. She sighed as she decided against it. She grabbed a glass of
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