Blog Assignmnt #3

“Ok EVERYONE! Let’s gather up for Mr. Kelty he’s here to photograph us, come on line up, This could be our big break” Says the pale skinned woman with the flower band wrapped around her head. She takes a step back to observe as everyone lines the top and bottom rows. Her name is Lilly, She’s in charge here. From the top left they line up; The lanky man who is standing in leotard and top hat is known as the human skeleton, he stands beside a man whose head is twisted all the way around seemingly a magical illusion or some kind of spineless trickery. The man dressed is Indian drapes appearing as if he is about to make it rain or some other clichéd Indian dance. Next to him is a man dressed as a fortune teller ready to tell you if your hopes and dreams are in the near future.  Next is a dark skinned woman with a leopard print dress looks to be square shaped around her seemingly small body. This is because her buttocks is the attraction in this show, it is extended about two feet behind her, her name is Sara but here she goes by Hottentot Venus. Appearing to be only 3 feet tall, a foot taller than the little man and woman beside her like little dolls. The male has a bold mustache; the telling sign he is not a child but a man. On his opposing side two more little people dressed in the fanciest of gowns and foot wear all appropriate for a ball or wedding, they are the Doll family.

Everyone seems to be accounted for even Mildred who weights nearly 450lbs has found her spot dead center. The redwood chair she sits in was hand crafted by Jake; who stands an astonishing 7 ½ feet tall. Jake is standing directly behind Mildred, He’d be pretty scary if you see him walking towards you in the dark alleys he used to cling too, but he’d never hurt a fly. Since he’s been here the others have felt way more secure and he’s an excellent crafts man. Most of our belongs are made by us, we like it better this way and at times we feel ; the townies do as well. She expresses to me as she side tracks from recruiting her gang.

She yells for the lion face brothers to hurry up and get into place. COME ON LETS GO! ”Leo!” “Where’s Lionel? “He’s coming; he was with Johnny Leo says. Lionel comes running “I’m here, I’m here” Lilly takes him by the arm and begins to direct him where to stand, Where’s Johnny now?

“Up here” Johnny Say’s bobbling up and down to be noticed by Lilly; Johnny has no arms but he is the fastest runner here.

“Ok Lionel stand next to Leo!” Don’t move” (these boys are always so rambunctious, don’t let their furry faces fool you they are as childlike as toy soldiers )

Lilly attention is redirected towards her son Tommy.

“Thomas! You know you’re only allowed wine on show days!” Okay mom Tommy says.

“Now put that down and please go see Dr. Brown in his tent after this; those cigars have you coughing up something horrible, I’m worried.”

“Okay, Okay” Tommy says as he tosses his empty cup and stands next to Mildred.

Little Tommy’s nick name is Tom Thumb, He was 5 years old when he began  smoking cigars and doing impressions for the audience; He pretty much stopped growing after that. Tommy’s Aunt Grace is always coaching him on how to project his voice more manly so the audience believes he is older, She’s used to it because everyone assumes she is masculine because of her beard but she is truly a delicate woman. Lilly jumps in an open spot next to her son, she glances at Tommy, signaling him to stand up straight. Ok Edward I think we’re ready Lilly breathlessly says.

Edward Kelty: OK GREAT STAY RIGHT THERE! 1, 2, 3, SAY FREAKS!!!!

“FREAKS!!” “PHOTO SNAPS” (some grins a mile wide some the faintest smirk)

Edward Kelty: Ok everyone, this photo should get to Press By Monday!

Lilly: Thank you, and please come back any time to catch the show

Edward Hesitantly but respectively says “sure, will do”.

Edward nods his head and tells me “have that story on my desk by 6pm.”

I’m excited to wrap up my first reporting job, I tell him sure thing, and I’m just about finished here.

I sat with Lilly before the photo-shoot, I asked her to tell me some more about the show and how it came about. She tells me that they all hailed from different parts of the world and found something with in each other no one seen in them before, she says its  “Acceptance; We are a  Family”. She tells me more about the Sword swallowers, The snake lady, double headed twins, The elephant man and many more members that make up this family of “freaks”. What they have here is there only way of living and it has taken them to new heights they never imagined, She says “even though we are not accepted everywhere”. “Here we can be ourselves and the cheering is always a plus”.

I look at Lilly and ask her what her role in the show is, she jokingly says “Young lady I know you aren’t here trying to get a free show” I smirk as she stands before me; she looks at me and takes a deep breath.  She lifts up her dress to show me her two legs, two legs hanging from her waist in between her two legs. I look at her and nod my head with a comforting smile. She says “you see darling, there’s always more than what meets the eye.” I tell her you are absolutory right, Thank you for your time it’s been a pleasure talking with you.

I have gathered so much information, I am optimistic yet sympathetic for Lilly and the other acts in the show, I cannot wait to share their true stories with the world. It wasn’t until after my interview’s that I realized that out of many people photographed; most cannot be labeled freaks by first glance. I wonder to myself are they the lucky ones like Lilly or perhaps it’s easier to wear your flaws up front, I think about this as I write my Article. I try to genuinely tell the story behind these curtains and let the world know there is more to the circus then the” freaks”.

But unfortunately my story doesn’t make press as planned. Perhaps the world was not ready for my open minded interpretation, maybe they’re oddity’s still too overwhelming; and although there story remains untold at least they no longer have to live in the shadows.

I take Lilly’s words with me and use it to begin my next piece, I start with the most important thing I gained from this and that is; A photo could be worth a 1,000 words, but only sometimes will it reveal the truth. Until that time comes I will watch their empire grow as the captions read….

Monday October, 27, 1933.

Congress of freaks with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus!

“Come one come all, witness the most incredible creations of god gone wrong.”

“What you couldn’t phantom in your wildest imagination, is brought to life under this roof.”

                      “Here for your entertainment mutated freaks, 15 cents a ticket.”