The Cold Hard Cases of Duke Denim: The Troublesome Troupe

By Guy .A. Sims

It’s Amazing! It’s Stupendous! It’s Deadly!

Pennypincher’s Travelling Circus and Spectacles has come to Big City with a carnivalistic cast of tumbling, troublesome, and treacherous fliers, fire breathers, funsters, and frauds. See Duke Denim delve into the depths of deceit, danger, and diabolical damsels. Be amazed by the billowing barrage of busted chops and bombastic backstabbing. Feel the frenzied fervor of flights of fatalistic fancy and furtive furried femme fatales.

The Troublesome Troupe is more than another case for Duke Denim…it is three rings of knuckle-bustin’, clown-nose honkin’, midway gamin’, and crystal ballin’. Fortunes told…integrity sold…sights to behold. All this action…without a net.

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9780989281935

Book preview

19.

SILENCE!

The exaggerated stove top hat-clad man in the long black-tailed coat shouted into the megaphone as he entered with grace and strength into the center ring. This next exhibition of demonstrative dexterity and exceptionality of skill requires complete and absounconditional silence. A hush slowly covered the crowds packed on the surrounding grandstands. Two spotlights serpentined across the ring floor before rising to illuminate the dual platforms high above, almost touching the roped scaffolding of the tent’s ceiling. A third spotlight swung to focus on the opening of the Performer’s Entryway where three figures in shimmering leotards bowed before beginning their ascent up the dizzying ladders. One little boy’s eyes widened as the three climbed hand over hand up to the vertigo-inducing heights above the high wire. One little girl buried her face into her father’s belly, peeking periodically.

Ladies and gentlemen…boys and girls! Concoct your senses to the highest levels equiptability and experience the wonderments of Pennypincher’s Travelling Circus and Spectacles. In the spirit of enucleation, we present to you the Magnificent Danglers! All eyes were glued, caught in rapt attention as the trapeze flyers saluted the audience before beginning their act. The eldest Dangler swung confidently from one platform to the other located at the far end of the circus tent. The roll of the drum signaled for the young Miss Dangler to swing to the center, release, and spin twice in the air before clasping arms with the elder Dangler. The collective exhale of the audience was swallowed by applause and shouts of glee. Behold the exceptionality of artistry, skill, and the fervent ferocity of fearlessness as the Dangler’s perform… The ringmaster’s voice dropped and trailed away, capturing the fears and anticipation of the transfixed audience before ushering in a sharp and direct tone, …without a net!

No sooner had the last echo of the word net subsided, a crowd of clamoring clowns and roustabouts rushed to release, unhook, and remove the massive safety net located tens of feet below the aerial artists. Feast your eyes on the maximonius feat of undaunted dexterity and ultra-calibratic strength as the Magnificent Danglers perform the impossible…the improbable…the immutable Quintiple Whirlwind….five continuous spins in the air before being caught and placed safely on the platform. This has been performed and functionated in the furthest corners of hither and yon but now, Big City, you will be the latest to bear witness to the magnosity that only Pennypincher’s Travelling Circus and Spectacles can present.

The drumroll signaled the two younger Danglers to begin their pendulum swing of release and catches, all to the applause of the audience. After several passes, the eldest Dangler secured his trapeze bar and nodded. Children, hold your parents! The ringmaster commanded. Young men, hold tight to your lovelies. Old people, hold your hearts…for the time for the Quintiple Whirlwind…IS NOW!

The elder Dangler leaped from the platform and executed a smooth arc. After several passes, he reached his maximum speed and prepared for his released. Suddenly, a crick was heard by the middle Dangler, who quickly looked up at the trapeze bar rigging connector. Although shadowy, he could tell something was wrong. The elder Dangler could tell as well. He couldn’t see but could feel the slight shift on one side of his bar. He thought quickly--to abandon the trick or to perform it sooner than planned. In the moment of the elder Dangler’s thoughts, the other Danglers witnessed the wire releasing from the coupling. The screams of the crowd rose and fell as the elder Dangler plummeted to the ground below. The ringmaster waved his hands calling for the blackening of the spotlights, medics, distracting clowns, and the next act. When one man saw the cages containing lions and tigers being rolled in he shouted, I ain’t gonna wait around for the next accident to eat me!

As he bolted to leave, others did the same. Soon only two people remained on the highest row of the stands. The impeccably dressed man continued to eat his popcorn. The equally elegant woman in dark glasses retrieved her compact from her purse and began to re-apply lipstick. Somewhere in the cacophony of chaos, the man whispered, I just love the circus.

2.

DUKE TURNED LEFT when he reached the third-floor landing. A quick glance at the slip of paper in his hand and he headed down the corridor. A woman in white acknowledged him as he approached the nursing station.

I’m here to see Mr. Oscar Mopp.

The nurse smiled at Duke. He stood impatiently as he watched the nurse release a long sigh in his direction. Duke cleared his throat. Oscar Mopp’s room please. After one more long prolonged exhale, the nurse pointed to the second door on the left. Duke moved to leave.

Will you be coming back? The nurse’s eyes swelled with delight. Trying not to fall into her web of coyness, Duke muttered.

Only if they’re wheeling me in. As he reached room three-oh-three, he heard the nurses’ voice floating on the air.

I’ll be waiting.

Duke normally didn’t make it this far when he visited Big City General Hospital. For the mugs, pugs, and other felonious casualties who found themselves on the receiving end of his fists, feet, elbows, and knees, he only needed to go as far as the parking lot--maybe the front desk. There he would either give a name or a statement to the blue boys of BCPD. On the occasion he found the need for a bandage, stitching, a splint, or a cast, the emergency room would be enough. An overnight stay would never be in the cards for Duke Denim.

The first bed he passed was empty. The bedding was clean and pulled tight as if freshly made. He could hear a radio playing just beyond the brass-ringed privacy curtain. He tapped on it with his fingers.

Oscar? You awake? Duke heard the radio click off. Oscar?

Poking from the other side of the curtain was the leather end of a crutch. The curtain was pushed far enough for Duke to see his friend sitting up on