The Mentals
An Original Account
by Zaak Fresh

Dad told his three-year-old twins they were driving him nuts.
When he fell asleep they got a better offer from the circus
And ran away from home.

An owl coos into a stiffening wind, removed from where several town homes stand quietly in this pre-dawn, rainy, hour. There are cement walkways leading in all directions. One path in particular bends to the far end of the manicured grounds to where a battery of outdoor mailboxes are clustered. Upon closer inspection one residence reads especially worthy.  The Mentals:  Mary & Marvin.

Voices are heard…“Are you sure you can’t come with me to visit my mother?”…     “I’d love to, Mary. But my cold needs a few more days of rest.“

Inside a spacious room light from the parking lot illuminates both people.  Marvin lay on his side on a wide bed, tightening the collar of his pajama top about his neck hiding true intent.  Across the room she is seated in front of a computer that has a clown on the screen.

“What is it with you and the internet?  It’s filled with weird people.“

“That’s where I met you,“ she turns.

“That’s different. I like me.“ He coughs himself into consciousness from a sound sleep. “But I’d don’t like my type.“ Rebuffing her hint of any similarity.

She walks to the bathroom, with round buttocks that disappears when the door closes behind her with a thud. Thrusting shower water is heard through the door.

“If she knew about my plans after she and the kids leave for the weekend, I’d be the one in hot water.“ he mumbles.

“I need a towel!“ She calls, through hanging steam, wiping mounting soap from her eyes.

“Coming, my desert flower,“ he accepts sheepishly, quickly gathering a towel, proceeding to the bathroom mumbling. “I know what I’d like to give her.“ The door opens.

“What’s that, Honey?“

“A maid of your very own “ He hands her the towel then turns away.

“Not so fast, big boy.“  Her bare arm protrudes from behind the shower curtain. “Didn’t you forget something?“ She motions him closer then reaches out, snatching Marvin inside with her. Passionate moaning begins.

“Where’d you learn to talk like that? “ They stare. She unbuttons his shirt.

“The internet. Where else?“

He whistles through the darkness.

“Whistling in the dark is bad luck.“  Her voice is now soft and sexy.

“ Maybe for others, but not me.”

The clown on the computer screen winks.

Marvin is in an enclosed porch looking at a photo of Mary. Sadly, he remembers her last words as she stood in the doorway, luggage in hand, prepared to leave for a dingy taxi waiting in the drizzle that can only help the cab’s exterior. Her tone is playful with a stinging air of ‘now that you’re caught’ in her voice. She playfully pinches his cheek. “Was Daddy planning to be Mister Single tonight while I’m half-way across the country?“ She authoritatively pinches his cheek.  “Hmmm?”

“Not anymore.“ Red faced he sulks. The impatient cab driver honks the horn, and away Mary jaunts.

Back to present day, Marvin begins whistling lightly…

“Where’s Mommy?” His twin girls, each wearing identical pink outfits, hop onto his lap causing him crotch discomfort.

“Ouch!“   He adjusts his seated posture.  “She went to visit Grandma for a few days.”  He corals them appearing somewhat recovered.

“Can we have a dog? “ One asks.

“No.“

“You had a dog when you were little.“

“Times were different then.“

“Aren’t times different now?“

“No, it’s the same.“ Logic only works when someone is listening.)  “Anybody hungry?“

“Meee” Calls the taller one, the one missing a left front tooth.

“Meee-2“ smiles the second girl not to be outdone by her sister.

“I’ll race-ya.“ He initiates.

The girls hop away from his lap springing for the hall, in the process kicking Marvin where he would prefer to be un-kicked. “This is child abuse if ever I’ve seen it. They’re kicking the crap out of me.“

“Are you ok, Daddy? “ They turn back to ask.

Doubled-over, he can barely breathe. “I’m fine.“ With that they disappear into the hall, and down the stairs to the kitchen. He picks up the telephone. “I’ll call my dopey brother to take the kids until Sunday night. He dials. “He’s never let me down before when I needed a favor.“

On the other end a man answers the telephone. “Hello?“ He asks with annoyance --perhaps clairvoyant.

“I need a favor.”  The line goes dead. “I should never have called that worthless dope a worthless dope.“ Marvin concludes.  By late afternoon dark, threatening clouds have helped the weather deteriorate further.

Inside the kitchen all is much worse. The girls, wearing tall chef hats, are behind the stove. Rising smoke layers soot to every the walls. The twins agree by slapping-five.

“Fire!“ One of the girls chuckles.

“We have a fire. Yell for water.“  Her sister adds.

Marvin rushes into view, immediately doused by the girls who hold the sink sprayer.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” He mutters, taking the nozzle from the bubbly little one. A saucer is thrown at him. He ducks, and when his head addresses itself to the counter he staggers before falling to the tile floor. He passes out.

A full moon accompanies nightfall.  Inside the home, floor level,

Marvin opens one eye. The room swirls in eerie silence. After winning the battle to stand he does so, staggering from room to room searching.

“Girls. You can come out now.“  His steps hasten, producing an increasingly frantic “Girls!?”  Still nothing.

Outside there is the sound of a small truck starting and driving away, disturbing no one. Left behind is a torn admission ticket to Circus Miraculous.

The circus reminds everyone of clean quality family time, of a long ago value system rapidly vanishing; with its high centered tents and the accoutrements of sawdust, bombastic drums and cymbals shadow various wild animal and all the sights and smells that go with it. All of which are sugarcoated when the man on stilts approaches with more cotton candy than anyone could in a dozen lifetimes.  What a nice day to be out. Though every day one can get out of bed is a nice day. And if a person were not looking for their lost children, a trip to the circus would seem special, almost magical.

Assorted clowns peddle unicycles, juggling, wearing multi-colored outfits, past a late model sedan that jerks to a halt. Marvin looks out from the driver’s seat. He thinks, “Forget the kids. When the wife finds out I let them run away from home I’m as good as dead.“ He envisions a raving Mary, who points while she yells.

In the moderate distance are canvas tents set up on a spacious field, resembling a small city placed in the middle of nowhere.  Marvin walks the dirt road to the show grounds via the midway; the area outside the main entrance that is lined with concessionaires, rides, and mini side shows each of which uniquely spells out “Welcome to the second greatest show on earth!“ Swelling crowds filter in, past a blinking sign displaying: Circus Miraculous.

Short roustabouts kneel to adjust a tie that holds the tent secure.

Watching from many rows behind the center ring Marvin sits surrounded by eager children, all of who gaze at the ringmaster in awe. Then the lights dissolve sending the indoor area into blackness. When the lights brighten Marvin sees an array of juggling clown positioning his daughters, juggling them around and around.  Marvin hops to his feet.  “I want those two girls!”

“Pervert in the house!“ Shouts a demonstrative parent. Marvin leaps from his foldout chair, flailing his arms, which the woman beside him interprets as inappropriate touching, to which she draws her purse and begins pelting him feverishly. Security guards rush in. “I want those two little girls!“ Marvin struggles.

“In case you haven’t heard, Mister.  There are laws against that.“ One guard says.

“You don’t understand. Those are my kids.“ Marvin struggles.

“Time to leave.“  The guards grapple with Marvin, dragging him to the exit.

Within seconds Marvin tumbles outside, rolling across animal droppings before finally coming to a stop at a midget’s feet.  “Everyone’s entitled to a bad day, but this is absurd.“

“Pssst.“ A few feet away a midget standing over Marvin smokes a cigarette.

“Anybody ever tell you, smoking will stunt your growth?“   Marvin looks up at the midget.

“Not lately.“ The diminutive one snaps.

“I hear the boss took on two new roustabouts this morning to help with the canvas crew. From what I gather, they’re about the size people you’re looking for.“  He motions to himself.  “And I oughtta know.”  A direct stare from him to Marvin. “The information will cost you…I could be in a lot of trouble around her if the others see me talking to a townie.“

“What’s a ‘townie’? “

“An outsider.“ He says with disgust. “A local.“

“My kids are working here? What you’re saying is against child labor laws.“

Standing impatiently. “Are you in, or out? “

“Two hows. How can I trust you?  And how much?“   Marvin squints with suspicious thoughts of being the victim of a rouse.

“Twenty bucks.“

Marvin abruptly turns away.

“ Do you want to see your kids again, or not? You’ve got two kids. Around here accidents happen in threes. The way I see it, there's one more strike coming to you.” Marvin remembers his children running rampant around the home, destroying everything in their path.

“My interest in this conversation is dwindling.“  His short fingers begin to receive the bills Marvin counts. “Walk this way.“ Marvin mimics the midget, toward the far end, past a string of outhouses. The midget stops. He walks into the back of him. “Not too close. “He rolls his eyes angrily. “I don’t want people thinking we’re related “

From the rear of the center tent the thick, old style curtains fold back just enough for Marvin to see his twins about to walk the high wire. “Oh, no!” Marvin gasps, trying to get around the midget, running for an extended ladder. When he jumps on it the ladder humorously wiggles.  He falls. He starts climbing the main quarter pole, but slides when reaching the part that is greased.

The girls look down from the high wire riding bicycles across the taught cable toward each other.  The audience loves it until one of the twins falls!  Marvin runs, slipping on a banana peel, crashing into a mound of stacked bowling pins. The girl hits a trampoline, bouncing back to a lower cable.

“Daddy!”  calls her sister.  “Over here!“

Marvin takes a balance pole and vaults up to high wire. It is too late. The girls are gone. The crowd cheers, knowing this is all part of the splendid show.

Meanwhile, an elephant extends to scoop the girls, placing them on its back. Marvin takes a diving leap onto a large ball, bouncing up and onto the elephant’s back. “Safe, at last. “      He pants. The elephant rises on its hind legs, sending the girls and he sliding backwards into the lion’s area.

“I spoke to soooooon!“  Marvin shrieks.

The lion’s mouth springs open to catch them. From afar the midget tosses the broken balance pole into the lion’s mouth, wedging it open, and out the girls trot from its dripping mouth.

The crowd roars.

The lion runs in a circle trying to get the stick out of its sore mouth. Assorted acrobats run to assist. An ostrich trots in with Marvin on its back. He reaches down and scoops up his kids, “I’d like to stay, but that would prevent me from leaving. “Marvin pants. And to the exit they trot away.

“More!  More!“ the crowd exalts, cheering wildly.

“Are you out there!?” A woman’s voice calls…

Marvin’s perspiring face twitches during this sound sleep.

“I need a towel!“ Mary calls from inside the bathroom, having turned off the shower water, listening for him.

His eyes spring open.  He walks to the bathroom holding a towel. He goes inside. “I’ve been calling you forever. What took you so long?  What happened?“

“I had the strangest dream.“

She takes the towel and begins drying herself. “Are you sure you can’t come with me to visit my mother?”

“I’d love to, Mary. Suddenly, I feel better.“ He smiles with fatigue. "It’s been too long since I saw dear ole’ Mom."

“Marvin, you’re more mental than I thought.“

This is the first of two contributions to Psrhea by Zaak Fresh.