“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, JUSTINE?”
“WHY DID YOU QUIT YOUR JOB, JUSTINE?”
“ARE YOU MOVING?”
Many of the texts had come in over the last few weeks, and they had all gone unanswered. It took nearly a week before the people in my life noticed my radio silence. Really, they just noticed my lack of shared motivational quotes on social media. While they were trying to decipher what was going on, I was busy quitting my job, liquidating my assets, and buying a camper van. Bishop would never fit in any traditional sized camper, and I really only needed a space to keep my last few possessions when on the road. But I was doing it. I was running away to the circus . . . with my spider-monster lover.
The sun was still up when I got to the field where the carnival had set up shop. Things were now dismantled and being packed as they prepared to set out on the road to their next destination. The Carnival of Curiosities had been a hit, and Claudette was excited for what the future was going to hold for them, especially now that their new social media director – me – was in tow with them.
Roger was at the gate when I drove the van up. He waved, his clown mouth turning up into what looked like a macabre grin, but what I had now found was really him being sweet.
Bishop told me the clown mask never came off, and I was yet to get the full story as to why. There was time for that later though. Right now, I had a van to park, a spider-man to fuck, and miles and miles of road ahead of me.