Leonardo had had it with the circus. He had always performed well and practically ran the troop. They had always worked well together but the boss wasn't satisfied; he had to take on a foreigner. Spanish he was and brash as they come. The girls all liked him as he flashed his legs at them, but he was strong. I have to admit, he could carry and toss the heaviest bean and maybe I was a little jealous as my strength was waning a little.
Anyway Leo decided to quit. Leave the great old Carno who would miss him for sure. He decided to jump ship and took up with a lorry driver who was visiting the show that Saturday. As he didn't know what the world had to offer he felt at least he could travel the country, and actually enjoyed the warmth of the cab and the sights. He had worked in the circus since he was very young, with his father who had taught him all the tricks and was successful until he got scratched at a performance in Devon.
There weren't nearly so many circuses on the move now but he had heard from his mate that one was working in the seaside town of Sidmouth. Trouble is the driver didn't have that area on his log, so how to reach his destination? At the next coffee stop he sat next to a family, bit scruffy but learning from the conversation that they were on their way to the seaside he decided to leap into action and became friendly with one of the younger boys. lt was a rough ride at times as the kids were never still, but he could put up with that as long as got to where he wanted.
The lodging was a self service cottage and it was pleasant enough but to find the seafront he had to take the chance of a lift with another boy who brought in the coal for the fire to warm the cottage. He had seen him wink at the daughter of the family when he told her of the fairground that was on the beach and to which he was going tonight. I must get to know him he thought and quickly dived in on the conversation.
Outcome was he got a lift. Wow the funfair was huge. All the fun of the fair it certainly was and he enjoyed all in the company of the two. When they decided on visiting the circus Leonardo decided to play it cool, to suss out the performance and decide whether it was up to the standard that he would like to be a part of.
He was dazed, they were good, very good and he was taken with the bareback rider, she was gorgeous. Well he left the kids to go home alone and after the performance went to find the ring master. He explained his tightrope walking act and all the thrilling extras he had added. The ringmaster suggested he come again in the morning when he would give him a try.
Well needless to say he wowed them. He also wowed the little bareback rider, whose name was Katarina, he discovered. They had a wonderful summer together, best time of their lives, but as always the autumn arrived and the fun fair and circus was standing down for the winter closure.
Leonardo had seen on he notices around that a tight rope walker was going to cross the Niagara falls. The poster was full of stories of the bravado of Charles Blondin the wonder man. I could do that, he thought. But how to make the journey? He tried to explain it to Katerina, how wonderful it would be to travel in an aeroplane but she was much too nervous and wanted to stay with her parents and have a well earned rest through the winter. He decided that he had to try; he knew he was able and he did work out and make all the transfers until he landed safely in Canada thanks to a kindly traveller who was going to walk all of Canada and America. He had become so used to the safe company of Peter that he was loathe to leave him, but, he had to do the daring deed.
He managed to access the apartment of Monsieur Blodin ducking and diving across anyone who would give him a lift and finally on the special day made his way to the falls on the back of the guys motor bike. When Charlie was ready to take off Leonardo shot onto his back and together they started out onto the wire. They were going well, then halfway across Leo became so excited he started tunnelling into the walkers hair and the dopey guy was itching so much he had to take his hand from the pole to scratch. He managed to dislodge the flea from his head but at the same time lost control of the pole and together they fell down, down into the raging falls to their death.
I expect Leonardo, slick to the end managed to hitch a lift once more on one of the beams of sunlight reflected on the water up to heaven.