Welcome to our Freak Show

Prologue

    "Hey freak boy! Hurry it up will ya? The show is about to begin!"

I was sitting in my wheelchair, staring at myself in the large mirror that stood at the end of my tent. My hands were clammy with sweat, and I could see my scrawny, fragile body shaking slightly in the reflection. I looked at my face once more. It was bruised and scarred and ugly. My face was just about as pale as the moon, despite the bruises. My cheeks were stained with dark tear tracks, which never seemed to go away, no matter how many times I scrubbed my face. I stared into my dull, lifeless green eyes for a few moments, until one of the adults burst back into my tent.

"Get out here right now!" he roared.

I wiped my sweaty hands on the cotton blanket that covered my legs. I then placed both hands on either side of my wheelchair, and shakily tried to stand up. With my weak, shaky arms pushing down on the wheelchair, I slowly lifted my body out of the chair. My blanket slid off of my lap and onto the filthy ground, revealing my special (as most people would call it) legs. I slowly walked away from the mirror and towards the exit, where the big man was standing, clenching his fists.

"I told you to get out here five minutes ago" he hissed. "The show is starting without you!"

I could tell that he was trying to refrain from slapping me across the face. I looked at the ground, and then nodded.

"I'm sorry" I said in a small, raspy voice. The man grew even angrier.

"You better be. I would punish you, but since there's a show tonight, I'll wait until later. So you can thank your lucky stars for that." He spat.

I nodded once more, and after being shoved out the tent, I made my way down to the main tent, where the show was taking place.

Clop, clop, clop went my footsteps on the dirt path. The smell of popcorn and cotton candy grew stronger as I got closer, and closer. I also was beginning to hear the loud cheering of the audience.

"Goat Boy! Goat Boy! Goat Boy! Goat Boy! Goat Boy! Goat Boy!"

They demanded.

I sighed shakily, and went into the tent, towards the backstage.

"Ah, there you are! You're late, you know." One of the other freaks said. I nodded.

"Sorry" I said once again in my small, raspy voice.

"Oh well" she sighed. "Better late than never, now get out there!"

She pushed me gently, and I slowly walked onto the stage. The crowd hooted and hollered, and many cameras flashed in my face, or to be more specific, at my legs. The ringmaster placed his arm around my shoulder.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present our main attraction....Goat boy!"

The crowd cheered even louder at that. Then, the ringmaster walked towards the front of the stage.

The audience acts like they actually like me or something. Like I'm some sort of movie star. But I know the truth. I know how they truly feel about me and the other performers. To them, I'm nothing but a curiosity. A freak for people to gawk and stare at....

"Ladies and gents, I am so glad that you are all able to come out here tonight!"

Why would you want to come here?

"We have an exciting show for you tonight!"

This isn't exciting.

"Welcome...."

Welcome....

"...to the Freak Show!"

...to our Freak Show