Rough Night At The Circus

When I read the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus was closing it made me think back to 1960. I was 6 and my father took me to the circus for the first time at the old Madison Square Garden.

On the way to our seats at the top of the balcony, Dad said the steep staircase reminded him of climbing between decks when he was in the Navy. Trying to hear him above the music, I leaned and slipped. I opened my mouth to ask him to lift me up, but I was practicing resisting shows of public affection, so I kept quiet.

My father was unpredictable, but he could be sweet. That night he bought me a soda and a toy flashlight on a plastic cord. I was happy, especially about the flashlight. It resembled a Pez candy dispenser. 

The circus began, and the crowd cheered. Later, the arena went dark. I put my soda under my seat, stood up and started swinging my flashlight with the other kids. In my head, the Garden was a sky full of spinning stars.

Thinking about that, instead of about what I was doing, I whacked myself where my nose meets my face. I yelled. Dad took a look, held one hand over my nose and pulled me toward a first-aid station.

A nurse saw me, shook her head and told me to sit on the table. She grabbed wet swabs and Mercurochrome. I couldn’t read big words but knew it wasn’t Merthiolate when I didn’t jump in pain when she applied the liquid from the little brown bottle.

After putting two Band-Aids on my face, she said, “You’re lucky you didn’t need stitches like the boy yesterday.”

I had no further interest in the circus. Outside, Dad bought a Daily News and hailed a cab home.

Previously published in The NY Times

Do you like old New York City photos and street life stories? Then check out my 1960s memoir, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood."

Available at Logos Book Store and online. The book has 133 Amazon five star reviews out of 133 total reviews posted. Pitching a perfect game! 

My old world echoes TV's "The Wonder Years" ~ just add taverns, subways, nuns and Checker cabs.