4/6 The clown

George sat in front of the mirror and slapped on a thick layer of face paint. He thought of the kids who loved his gags, endlessly laughing and pulling at his big red clown nose.

He worked as a shop assistant three days a week and drove around to kids’ parties whenever there was a birthday or celebration.

It had become clear to him as a child himself that he loved clowns. There was something about their curly hair, big noses and silly face paint. While a lot of his friends simply laughed and called him a freak, George gave them his goofy smile and shook his head.

This week a mother had called him up and organised for him to attend her son’s 5th birthday party for which he was now getting ready. With the face paint now complete, went to the living room where his mother was sitting in front of the TV.
She slowly got out of her chair and looked at George with admiration. She was one of his biggest fans, no matter what others thought. She straightened the novelty button on his stripy jumper and patted his back as he headed out the door.

George arrived at the party and the kids were having a great time as he squirted them with water, tied balloon animals and told silly jokes.

One father who was sitting across the room with folded arms approached George as he took a short break.
“A word please buddy, in private,” he muttered.

George didn’t like the sound of this but honked his horn and followed the man anyway.

“I’ve been watching you closely, how you stand amongst the kids and act like an idiot.”

“Sir,” George started, but the man cut him off.

“Where can I get a clown costume?”