Sam was walking in the dark. He was walking as fast as he could to get away form that terrible place. Sure, it had food, and shelter, and water, but no adventure? Sam just couldn't bear the thought of it. He was walking in every direction. He couldn't see anything except for some lights off in the distance. It was two circular lights side-by-side, and they were coming closer, right at him! He froze and stared at the lights. He heard a rumbling of something and a screech as the lights stopped moving. There was a sound and then a slam and Sam heard footsteps. He was picked up and he heard a voice saying, "You know, Tom, I don't think I can handle it if Berry gets out again." Berry? Who was Berry? "Come on little guy. Let's try not to get out again, okay? Back to the circus you go, Berry." Circus? This man must have been confusing Sam for another raccoon, probably named Berry! The man carried Sam into the car. There was another man driving who was most likely named Tom. They drove for a while and pulled up at a large lot with about seven different tents put up. There were many lights put around the lot illuminating the tents. There were some people rushing around in costume. A man in a suit spotted Tom and the man holding Sam and ran over.
"There you are! Bert, Tom, is he okay?" The suit-man said.
"Yes, he is all right, as far as I can tell." Bert said, lifting Sam so he could look at him.
"He should still probably see the vet, though." Tom said.
Vet? Sam thought. No, not again! Please, no, no, no, no! Not Annie! Not Picnic! No! He couldn't believe he was back where he had started. He got away, only to be caught again. Annie, or not, Sam didn't want to see a vet.
But, ignoring Sam's psychic pleas, he was carried to a small white tent. On the inside were about eight tables and a woman in a white dress.
"Hello, Berry." She said as she took Sam into her arms. "Are you okay? I was wowied so much about you! You're my favowite wittle patient, yes you are! Oh, yes. Oh, yes you are!"
"Becky. Please." Tom said. "Just check him over. Opening day is in four hours."
"Oh. Right. Of course." Becky set Sam down on one of the tables and began listening to his heart, and checking hiss legs. "Well, as you probably know, he was taken in by someone and treated. He had a broken or sprained leg, and he has a cast. He won't be able to do his tricks until at least 20 days after the cast comes off."
"When does his cast come off?"
"Well, if the cast was put on yesterday, I'd say about... Oh... Maybe, six weeks?"
"What?" Tom said, looking alarmed. "But, we need him on four hours!"
"I know." Becky said. "But you must do what is best for the animals. You can at least put him in a new stall so he doesn't get out again."
Bert heaved a huge sigh. Sam noticed that suit-man hadn't said anything. It was then that suit-man began to speak.
"You know, we should do what is best for the animals." Suit-man said as he turned towards the hatch in the tent. "Turn him loose."
"What?" Becky said, looking outraged. "You want me to turn an animal loose that was born and raised in captivity?"
"He can't be used in the show. Turn him loose."
"I heard you the first time, but he doesn't know how to get food for himself. He would never survive!"
"It is only one raccoon."
Only one raccoon? Sam thought. I may be one raccoon, but every life counts! Maybe I wasn't born in captivity, but I am still a life!
Just then, another man walked into the tent. He was like suit-man, but he was holding a brief case and he was much, much bigger.
"I hear you are trying to kill a circus animal?" He said. This man was big-man.
"No!"
"Yes." Becky said as she stepped forward. "Mr Clemens here wants me to turn this raccoon loose. He was born and bred in captivity. I told Mr Clemens that Berry would never survive. Mr Clemens said Berry is only one raccoon. This means that Mr Clemens was trying to kill Berry by turning him loose, and he acknowledges that Berry would die."
"Thank you, Miss Borderman. How long until he is healed?"
"At least eight and a half weeks, sir." Becky answered. Big-man turned to suit-man. "You will keep Berry the Raccoon. You will wait until he is healed; Eight and a half weeks or more."
"But sir, I-"
"No buts. You will do as I said. It is called Cilladie's Circus, isn't it?"
"Yes, Mr Cillidie."
"All right then. Good work, everyone." Big-man left. Suit-man was absolutely raging. He looked at everyone and stole a loathing glance at Sam and stormed out of the tent.
The rest of the goings-on happened while Sam was in a haze. He seemed to drift through it all like it was only a dream. He was put in a stall next of some very exotic animals; a Giraffe, and Elephant, and a Lion. Sam heard the Giraffe and something that sounded like a penguin whispering. He made out a few words. "He looks like a rat... Tailless.... New guy.... Doesn't like him... Turn loose... Birdy told me..." Sam decided to talk to them.
"Hello." He said. "My name is Sam. I think they confused me with Berry."
"Obviously." The elephant answered in a droning, bored voice. "We knew it wasn't Berry. Berry has a tail and looks different."
"Amazing how they could confuse you with Berry." The lion added in a low growling voice. "Berry was much more... Shall we say... Correct."
"What?" Sam asked. "Do you mean with my leg and my tail?"
"No," The lion answered, "I mean in the head." The lion issued a growling laugh and put a paw to his head. Then the penguin piped up.
"I don't think he's so bad. You know," He said, "It might be better to have a different Berry. He was getting irritating, anyway."
"Well, anyway," the Giraffe said. "I'm Dorris, that's Benny," she pointed at the lion, "That's Ella," she pointed at the penguin, "And that is Valerie." She pointed at the elephant. There were voices outside the door.
The door opened and then closed without anyone coming in. The voices continued. They were very squeaky and small.
"And that," Dorris said, "Is Myrtle and Muriel, the mice.
The door opened and closed again. The voices died down.
"They aren't very sociable." Dorris explained. "Don't take it personal, kid."
"Okay." Sam said. "Thanks for telling me all of this! But, I will have to leave pretty soon... I need to go on my adventure, so... Bye!"
"Oh, you can't leave." Benny said. "The stalls are locked. You'll
just have to wait until morning when the circus is. Hope you learn some tricks, kid. You got three hours."
just have to wait until morning when the circus is. Hope you learn some tricks, kid. You got three hours."
Sam didn't know what to do. Sure, the sun was on his side but
The sun wasn't shining anymore.
