Clowns part 1

The principal stood on stage and looked at his students over the top of his glasses. The auditorium felt cold.

“Children, it pleases me to introduce a very important dignitary.” He surveyed their heads for a moment and continued.

“Please applaud for mister”… he consulted a cue card… “Harvey Kansas.”

The children clapped and the sound echoed off the polished floors and cinder block ceiling.

A large man stood from a chair and stepped to the centre of the stage. He wore heavy cowboy boots and a worn jeans jacket. A hush fell over the children. All eyes went to the Belgium-made FN F2000 assault rifle with telescope sight and 40mm FN EGLM grenade launcher. He held it loosely in his hands.

“Scholars,” he said. “I thank you for your welcome. I’m here to talk about an imperative matter. Imperative.”

Not one child even fidgeted.

“Clowns,” he said. “They’re a menace. Dangerous and treacherous.”

He pointed a thick finger at the children. “We need to come together as a society to eradicate clowns.”

Still no one moved.

“To terminate them.”

A boy raised his hand. “Do you mean kill them?”

The principal looked at the boy over his glasses. “Say sir.”

“Do you mean kill them, sir?”

“That’s perfectly right,” said Kansas.

“With that?” said the boy, awed by the weapon.

“Often.”

A girl raised her hand. “My dad’s a clown when the carnival comes to town in August.”

“Your dad is not a clown young miss.” He spoke with authority. “You’re dad is only dressing as a clown. Like when you children dress as the devil on the Halloween holiday.”

The girl wasn’t finished. “But my dad…”

“Your dad is not a clown because clowns don’t have children. Clowns steal children and turn them into clowns when they get older.”

Many of the pupils nodded their heads.

The principal stood and told the students that Mr. Kansas would give each student an important flyer.

“You are to call me,” said the man, “when you see a clown. And be hasty about it.”

A bell rang and the principal said a few more things before dismissing the students. They hurried to the exits, chatting, fidgeting and staring at the large man.