Don't lose you light Darling

"Well don't you look beautiful?" Jimmy said as he sat on his bike, watching me run down the stairs and to him.

"Well you know Maria, at least I could stop her at just the dress and pearls, otherwise I'd look like a clown."

We rode in silence all the way there, when he pulled up I was greeted by Amazon Eve and Paul.

"Oh my Stars you look stunning dear." Paul complimented as I climbed off the bike.

"Well thank you Paul, looking handsome as always. Eve, have you done something different with your hair?"

"No but I am wearing those earrings you gave me, they are gorgeous."

"I'm glad you like them." I smiled as they hurried me into the tent chatting my ear off, Jimmy smiling at me with his adorable dimples as he held my hand. Center stage, first row was a red rose, "Is this seat for me?"

"Only the best seat in the house for our favorite citizen of Jupiter." Jimmy said as I sat down with my rose in my lap.

"Shouldn't you three be getting ready?" Maggie asked as she leaned against the stage, cigarette in hand

"I mean we can, but I think we will only have one member in the audience tonight." Eve replied as she placed her hands on her hips.

Maggie just rolled her eyes and stormed out, quickly followed by Jimmy, who muttered a quick "excuse me" before he left. I watched Paul and Eve shake their head in annoyance.

"What in the world did she do to him?" Paul said, the annoyance flooding into his voice

"She casted her spell on him." I whispered, "Excuse me, I'm going to Ethel's for a bit? Don't tell Jimmy, say I went to the ladies room."

"Oh course darling." Eve answered as I let the rose hit the dirt and walked backstage, to find Ethel looking as stunning as ever.

She was a thick, Baltimore woman, who happened to have a bread, but she was beautiful, motherly, and always made me feel better after we talked.

"New dress?" I asked as she started to powder her nose

"This old thing, no I got it from the depths of my closet." Her accent was thick and she smiled her pearly whites at me as she said it

"So what do you think about Jimmy's girl?" I asked, sitting on the trunk that contained her costumes and the multiple things Jimmy could juggle.

"Who you? You already know I think you are..."

"No Ethel, I mean Maggie."

"Oh, well my boy, bless his heart, doesn't know what he wants in a lady, so he goes for whatever has a pretty face, and the best act."

"Thanks, glad I'm not the only one who disapproves." I couldn't help but chuckle at the truth behind her words.

"Darling, the whole troop disapproves." Ethel whispered, "Most of 'em want to see him with you."

"Why?" I was confused at this point, Ethel never brought up the idea of me and Jimmy dating, heck I think the only time other than this that we really talked about him was when she told me she was dying. She just wanted me to keep him away from the bottle, and from driving this troop into the ground.

"Unlike Maggie, you were accepting, you were kind to us when everyone else turned away. You make everyone here happy, and smile, and we don't think you are a lying bitch like her." I smiled at the last part

"Remember what I told ya, when Jimmy first brought you home, and you were all friendly and smiling like you are now."

"Yes Ethel I do. You told me that you were Ethel Darling the bearded lady, I introduced myself and after a few drinks you told me to never lose my light. I asked you what you meant and you said that I should never stop being me."

"And you listened." She said as she wrapped me in one of her strong embraces.

I started to tear up a bit, what was I going to do without her in my life. I quickly wiped them before she told me to go sit and enjoy the show. When I walked out I saw that Maggie was sitting in my seat, holding my rose, I could hear the movement behind the curtain as I briskly walked to lean on a pole near by, no one came in and it was now show time.

The show always starts with Miss Elsa Mars, sitting on her cardboard rocket with wheels and singing a song about Life on Mars.Then a few more acts, another song, a few more acts and ending with Elsa singing again about monsters. I watched as the twins, Eve and Ma Petite and Paul filled the first half of acts, before Jimmy walked out and took his place in front of the mic. As the others sat at their instruments Jimmy looked in the front for the first time, his smile fell when he saw Maggie, when he looked up to see the rest of the empty tent though he smiled again, and lifted a hand in a wave towards me. I smiled back and then saw out of the corner of my eye that Maggie was glaring me down. I listened the whole time, captivated by the song Jimmy sang and hadn't even noticed that Desiree was by my side, as he cleared the stage she whispered in my ear, "Ohhhhhh girl, you need that boy as your own."

"He wants Maggie currently, I won't ruin that."

"Girl we both know he should..."

"I know, but I'm ok with just being friends right now."

"If you ever need to talk..."

"I know where the trailer is Dess, I'll find ya." I smiled as she hugged me and quickly went, "Honey you about to see a show.", before running on stage to flash her three boobs.

Then Dell was next and the others. Then after all of them Jimmy walked across the stage holding three balls in one of his beautiful hands.

"Hello I'm Jimmy Darling, however most of you know me as Lobster Boy, why you may ask. Well see I was born", he held his empty hand up, "Lobster claws. You may think they are useless but they are useful for one thing."

"Pleasing a lady." Maggie yelled to him, causing him to blush and smile.

"No my dear, juggling." and with that he juggled the three until Eve throw in enough for him to be juggling 9. He then let them all drop as he bowed and ran off stage. Elsa was sitting in the chair next to Maggie now, so I am guessing she wasn't singing tonight. I watched them chat as the others slowly filed out. I walked up to Ethel and talked about her delicious cake recipe she used the other night when I felt a pair of hands grab my waist.

"Hi ma." I heard the voice say, pulling me closer to him, I also knew the greeting wasn't for me.

"Jimmy." Ethel nodded as she continued to her trailer. I tried to pull away, but it only resulted in his grip tightening.

"Darling, when you taking me home?"

"I figured you could stay the night, I don't bite hard."

"What about Mag..."

"She has her own tent to sleep in, she can spend one night out of my trailer." He let me go and I turned to him, "Where will I sleep?"

"My bed silly." he bopped my nose with his two fingers and smiled as I giggled.

"But what about..."

"Lecia I already told you." He looked disappointed but that changed when I challenged, "Bet I can beat you to the trailer."