Sophia, a chubby little woman with hair as bright as a rainbow, stood behind the counter, adjusting her oversized polka-dotted bow tie. Her laughter bubbled up like a fizzy soda, punctuated by her signature “hee hee ha ha.”
“Not a problem, hee hee ha ha!” she chirped, presenting a business card with a flourish. It was bright pink, decorated with cartoonish clowns juggling—quite a scene.
“This is a costume shop, hee hee ha ha,” she continued, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “They can get you both something for your party tonight, hee hee ha ha! And get you gals a whole new wardrobe sent to you within a week!”
Married to the art of clowning, Sandra and her daughter Marie nodded eagerly, their own clown noses bobbing as they honked in response, “Honk! Honk!”
“Looks like we’re going to be the life of the party!” Marie squeaked, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
As they turned to leave, a familiar figure burst through the door, causing a ruckus. Noli, the famous clown known for his slapstick comedy and outrageous antics, stumbled in, tripping over his own oversized shoes. “Whoa! Watch out for the banana peel!” he hollered, as he caught himself on the counter, sending a cascade of glittering confetti into the air.
Sophia clapped her hands, giggling uncontrollably. “Noli! What are you doing here? You’re late for your big act!”
Noli straightened his colorful suspenders, grinning wide. “Not my fault! The traffic was a circum in itself! Hee hee!” He leaned closer, eyes twinkling. “And what do you think of my new juggling routine? You’ll love it. It’s a real scream!”
“Ha ha!” laughed Sandra, her round face beaming. “I can only imagine! But we need costumes first!”
“Right, right!” Noli exclaimed, bouncing on his heels. “Let’s go! To the costume shop!”
With a flurry of honks and giggles, the group dashed out into the streets, laughter trailing behind them like a colorful ribbon. They reached the costume shop, where the walls were lined with every kind of clown outfit imaginable—sparkling tutus, oversized shoes, and wigs that looked like cotton candy gone wild.
“Look at this one!” Marie squealed, holding up a bright yellow suit with purple polka dots. “It’s perfect!”
“Hmm, I don’t know… do I look more like a clown or a walking banana?” Sandra pondered, twirling in front of the mirror.
“Definitely a banana!” Noli chimed in, bursting into laughter. “But a fabulous banana! Hee hee!”
As they rummaged through the racks, April, intrigued by the chaos, followed in after her friends Debbie and Suzanne. “What are you guys doing?” she asked, watching as Marie tried on an enormous red nose that was comically out of proportion.
“Picking out our costumes for the big show!” Debbie replied, her eyes gleaming. “Join us! The more, the merrier!”
“Absolutely!” April said, diving into the fray, her laughter mingling with theirs.
After much deliberation and a few fashion faux pas, the group emerged, proudly adorned in their hilarious new outfits. They looked ridiculous and utterly charming, ready to bring joy to the evening’s festivities.
“Now, to the circum!” Noli declared, leading the way with exaggerated gestures. “The audience awaits!”
As they entered the grand tent of the circum, the atmosphere changed. The air was thick with anticipation, and the stage was set for a night of laughter and entertainment. However, the director, a stern man with a mustache that could only be described as villainous, glared at them from behind the curtain.
“Noli, what are you bringing to me? Are you mad?” he barked, his voice cutting through the excitement like a knife.
Noli, undeterred, puffed out his chest. “Mad? No! Just fabulously fun! Prepare to be amazed!”
As he struck a dramatic pose, the audience erupted into applause, their cheers drowning out the director’s disapproval. Sophia, Sandra, Marie, and their new friends joined in, ready to turn the circum into a realm of laughter and joy.
“Let’s show them what we’ve got!” Marie shouted, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
“Honk, honk!” echoed through the tent, signaling the start of a night filled with chaos, laughter, and unforgettable moments.