That Show Must Go On!...

He wore a grey suit and a dark wig on his head. He held a Penguin in his hands, had a lot of make-up on his face. After a while, it will be time for his final appearance on stage.

The dressing room was getting smaller and smaller with every second that passed by. He found it difficult to breathe and was soon gasping for air.

The walls were getting thicker, dirtier, somewhat yellowish and moreso darksome, with every cry that reverberated inside his head. His hands were shaking. It wasn't quite of anxiety, but of a sour feeling of disgust and despair.

Lights grew dim and the Penguin he was holding in his hands was more and more anxious. The animal was walking in the room uttering indistinct sounds and nodding his head every once and a while.

Suddenly, the animal stopped just in front of the open door. He was very quiet; not a single movement did he make.

The cheers of the crowd waiting in the dome were getting louder. The people were cheering the man's name. They were waiting for his final appearance.

Lights then went off and curtains were opened. Everything was dark, calm and somewhat mysterious.

A crying could be heard. Loud and strident screams could be heard. Violent noises and a crying of a child could be heard. Then there was darkness and stillness again.

When the spotlight was lit, everyone could see there standing in the light, a black Penguin with a dark wig on his head. As he looked towards the crowd, he bowed. Blood was dripping from his eyes, yet he moved, got on with the show.

In the end of it all, everything the animal could hear was cheering and clapping. Nobody could see the blood now dripping from all over his body. The curtains went down. The clapping stopped and the black Penguin was still standing in the middle of the stage. His head was bent down; he was looking at his blood still streaming on the floor.

He was in so much pain and he knew he would never be walking away from that stage. He knew he would never be walking away from that bow.

© Maldoror37 - 2006