A few months later
"Okay, what ye 'ave to do is throw da balls in da air at da right time and catch 'em. Ye gotta repeat the same pattern. Understand?" Reggie explained, but through his thick Irish accent, I really couldn't understand what he was saying. I just stared blankly at him, not knowing what to do as he handed the juggling balls to me.
"Um... sure?" I stated, taking the balls in my small hands and looking at them in confusion. Reggie sat back against the couch and watched me... and watched me... and watched me. I wasn't doing anything, since I was trying to figure out how to do it on my own. Eventually, I had to give up and look back up at the thirteen-year-old and ask for another demonstration.
The boy sighed in exasperation and took the balls, "Da!! She still don't git it!" he yelled. I looked in the direction of Mr MacSeren's office and sure enough, the man eventually came out grumbling to himself. He looked dishevelled and tired, a clear hint that he'd been working all day and night again. I swear that poor man needs a break sometimes, not to mention he's been feeling quite ill lately. Circus life can't be that bad, can it?
"Oh for feck's sake! You feckin' eejit!" The man swore. Reggie frowned shamefully and looked away from his father, but the grown man took no notice of his son's reaction and snatched the juggling balls away from him.
"Reg! How many times do I have to tell you that she's six for Pete's sake! Of course, she's not going to get it, that's why you have to demonstrate! Yeah? You know, show her!" the ringmaster explained harshly. Reggie rolled his eyes but otherwise nodded to show his understanding.
"Like this, Reg-" and Mr MacSeren turned to me with a friendly smile... As if I didn't just witness him yell at his son a few seconds ago. "Okay, look, Tae. It's like this," and the man began to slowly juggle the balls effortlessly so I could see every move he did and how he did it. He made it look so easy! I was envious of his ability to juggle and it made me remember why I wanted to learn how to juggle in the first place: simply because it looks so fun and pretty!
Mr MacSeren ceased his juggling, catching the balls against his chest, and held them out to me, "Try again," he insisted. I took the balls from him and held them in my hands again, feeling their weight and smooth texture and trying to figure out how to get started. I stared at them for a while, just like I had with Reggie and now making both the MacSerens impatient.
"See? She just don't git it, Da!" Reggie pointed out and he was quickly shushed by his father as he watched me intently. Finally, I decided to just wing it as I threw one of the balls into the air to catch it. I threw another one as the previous ball was still in the air and caught it; however, that proved to be a mistake when I soon realised I didn't know what to do next. The ball fell to the floor and everyone stared at it in a manner of sheer disappointment.
I sighed and threw the rest of the balls on the floor in a fit and hid my face in my hands, "I can't do it!" I exclaimed pitifully. Mr MacSeren sighed quietly and picked up the juggling balls.
"Come on, Tae, you can't give up now," the ringmaster stated tiredly. I pouted and crossed my arms over my chest, refusing to do more simply because I wasn't good at it like Mr MacSeren or Reggie.
"I can't do it!" I announced again and the men both shared a look at each other. I remained stubborn despite their continued attempts to persuade me to keep going. They would both try showing and explaining to me how to juggle and I still didn't understand any of it. I could tell I was getting on their nerves but I didn't care... I wasn't juggling like a pro yet and that had me irked.
Eventually, Mr MacSeren decided to give up and he finally gave the balls back to his son and sighed heavily, his breath coming out in a long, drawn-out but quiet wheeze.
"I don't know anymore... Take her out on the uni and cheer her up," he grumbled, sniffling. That one word, "uni" was enough to capture my attention and I instantly perked up in interest. Mr MacSeren walked back to his office to continue his work and only Reggie remained as he set the juggling balls on the sofa and stood up. I gazed at him expectantly like an obedient dog waiting for her treat and sure enough, Reggie motioned for me to follow him and headed outside the small wooden shake.
I giggled and ran after the lanky teen, the excitement of riding the unicycle again bubbling up inside me as I scampered around like a hyper squirrel.
"Oh, so now yer excited!?" Reggie yelled after me with a confused and frustrated tone of voice. I paused and laughed mockingly at him. Reggie stuck his tongue out at me and laughed while I just stood there with my arms crossed.
"That was mean!" I stated when the boy caught up with me. He snickered and walked on past me, making sure to ruffle my hair as he did so.
"Do I care?... Haha... No." he said with a smirk. I stomped ahead of him and tugged on his shirt sleeve in an attempt to make him go faster. I wanted to ride the unicycle already and I wasn't going to be patient anytime soon!
"Hurry! You're going too slow!" I whined. The teen abruptly slowed down even more, purposely moving each leg at the speed of a snail. I whined and bounced impatiently as I tugged on his shirt and dragged him closer to the props' tent. Reggie laughed and continued to resist my hyper state of mind. It eventually grew to a point where I growled grumpily and started to push him from behind.
"Whoa! Oi! Hey!! Calm down! I'm a-goin', I'm goin'!" Reggie exclaimed once he began stumbling over his own feet from my persistence.
"Go. Faster!" I ordered with a snarl. To my joy, Reggie finally sped up his pace and we were finally able to rush to the props' tent at a speed that I could tolerate.
The props' tent is a small, bland, white canvas tent located near the back of the carnival. There's not much in there because this circus isn't that rich and can't afford a lot of fancy equipment, but it has the basics, like rings, dumbbells, juggling pins, whips, pedestals, and the unicycle that Reggie use to own.
When I first learned how to ride it, Reggie told me it was his when he was my age but he became too big for it so he doesn't ride it anymore. Now he helps me ride it because it's just so much fun! I hardly ever get to ride the uni because of how often the circus is open and Mr MacSeren says he doesn't want me "performing" in public. I personally don't think I'm performing; I'm just having fun like any other kid would while playing with toys! Except my toys are special!
On this particular day, it was a Sunday, which meant the circus was closed and a majority of the performers were taking a nice, long break in their tents or out about town. So I had the freedom of the carnival to do what I pleased. It was exciting!
As always, Reggie pulled the unicycle out of the mess of props and brought it outside so he could help me onto it. He always has to hold it while I get on or else I'll fall. I'm getting better at it though!
I climbed onto the unicycle, which was only just a little too high for me. I used Reggie's shoulder to help me and as carefully as I could, I balanced while holding my skirts to keep them from touching the wheel.
"Ready?" Reggie wondered and I nodded excitedly, looking at the clear path ahead of me that was just waiting to be sped down. Reggie started jogging while holding the back of the unicycle's seat. I giggled as I began peddling and preparing to be set free like the boy always did.
Reggie sped up and as I prepared myself for the launch, he began counting down, "three... Two... One!" he yelled before letting the unicycle go and leaving me to pilot it on my own. I cruised down the dirt path, bouncing over small rocks and dirt clods. I smiled giddily as I felt the wind rush through my long, blonde locks and the adrenaline rush through my veins. The feeling of balance gave me a sense of control over everything and that was exactly why I loved riding the unicycle. It was the only thing I was actually good at! Forget juggling and who cares about the tightrope or the trapeze? I'm a unicyclist! That's what makes me happy!
However, my long journey was soon interrupted when suddenly a rock that was just a little too big to go over, stopped the uni in its tracks and sent me falling over face-first into the dirt. The unicycle fell on top of me and I froze from the shock of the fall.
I laid there for what seemed like forever, unsure how to comprehend the stinging sensation in my knees. It hurt, but I didn't know what to do... I had never been hurt this bad before.
Eventually, the sounds of shoes hitting the dirt alerted me and I immediately knew it was Reggie coming to make sure I was okay. Sure enough, after moving the unicycle off of me and helping me to my feet, I saw Reggie looking at me with a concerned expression.
"Tae, are ye okay!?" he wondered, brushing dirt off of my dress and off of my face. I nodded slowly and hugged him for comfort, still mentally processing my fall. Reggie hugged me back, eventually picking me up in one arm and carrying the unicycle in the other.
"Are ye hurt?" he asked, to which I nodded softly.
"My knees hurt!" I stated.