4 – A Humbug Revealed
“Knock,” said Simms.
“You knock,” said Mickey.
“My hands is full.” He kneed Mickey in the rump. “Knock!”
Mickey grudgingly gave the door a single rap. Immediately, someone said, “Enter.”
“Open it then,” said Simms.
Mickey complied without comment this time and swung the door open. When they had stepped through, Simms nudged the door shut with his foot. Then, and only then, did he let loose his grip.
“Here they are, boss. Nice 'n' tidy like.”
Sitting behind the desk before them was none other than the great man himself, P. T. Barnum. He shook his head as if to say, “Did you really think you could sneak in?” He looked grimly at the two lads a moment before he spoke, “And who might the two of you be?”
“I’m Angelo.”
Mickey thrust his hands deep into his pockets and set his jaw defiantly.
“And this is Mickey,” Angelo added hastily.
“You, boy!” Simms poked Mickey in the back. “It’s not polite to wear your hat in Mr. Barnum’s office.”
Mickey remained motionless.
Simms slapped the back of Mickey’s head,
knocking off his hat and setting free a mass of long, curly red hair.
Simms gasped.
“Well I’ll be humbugged,” said Barnum, a smile softening his face.
“Why, why,” said Angelo, “you’re a... a... girl!”
Mickey’s face blushed such a deep red that his her freckles all but disappeared. Mickey bent over, snatched the hat off the floor with a swift swipe of her hand, and set it atop her head, carefully tucking in the mane of red hair. During this entire process, she didn’t make eye contact with anyone in the room -- not with Mr. Simms, not with Mr. Barnum, not even with Angelo. Once she was satisfied that her hair was properly concealed, she focused a determined stare on the smiling face of P. T. Barnum.
Barnum slapped the table, “I’ll say it again. Well I’ll be humbugged!” He looked up at Simms. “Doesn’t this just beat them all, Simms?”
“It’s quite a corker, boss.”
“And you never knew?” Barnum was looking at Angelo.
The stunned boy shook his head dumbly in reply.
“Not even an inkling?”
Another shake of Angelo’s head.
The great man turned his gaze back upon Mickey. “Then it must be Michelle or some such...” He was cut off by Mickey’s curt reply.
“It’s Mickey, all right and legal like. It’s on me birth certificate. Me dad wanted a son, I reckon, so here I am. Besides, Mickeys git ta do more stuff than any Michelle or Maggie or Maude. Right?” She turned to Angelo and gave him a soft slug on the shoulder. “Ain’t that right, boy-o?”
The only response Angelo could muster was to rub the spot Mickey had just slugged, as if it had hurt or was unclean or something.
This elicited a reprimand from Barnum. “Tch! Tch! Angelo, my lad! Isn’t Mickey your friend?”
“I... I don’t know... I’ll be the laughing stock of the neighborhood when they find out...”
“Why? Because you were humbugged by a girl?”
“I guess... Maybe...”
“But hasn’t everyone in the neighborhood been humbugged along with you?”
Angelo nodded.
“And, anyway, who’s going to tell them?”
Angelo shrugged.
“Certainly not you! Wouldn’t you rather be a part of this harmless little humbug than to tell everyone they’ve been fooled?”
“But that’d be lying.”
“Only if you say she’s a boy, Angelo. If you don’t tell a lie, you can’t be lying, can you?”
“Uh, yeah, sure.”
“Then you’ll keep my secret, boy-o?” Mickey’s tone was both hopeful and pleading.
“Jeez, Mickey. Why didn’t ya tell me? I’m your best friend!”
“Are you, Angelo? Are you my best friend?”
Angelo smiled and slugged Mickey softly in the shoulder. “Always.”
– End Chapter Six –
