First Show as the ring leader

 A few days later I had moved into Elsa's tent, I was in charge now. Dess told me about Dell, Maggie, Chester, Stanley,Pepper, and then how the twins, Eve, Paul, Penny and her killed Dandy for threatening the freak show.  I sat there and listened before saying, "Well I guess we should talk showbiz now."

"Well I assume you want the same line up right?"

"Slightly different, we'll start with the freaks, I want Jimmy to end the show."

"I thought you were mad at..." she started

"Jimmy needs to know that he is still apart of this family, hands or no hands, I want him singing at the end." I instructed

"I guess that answers what we have all been wondering." She smiled

"Which is?"

"You still love Darling."

"Hush, go tell 'em curtain goes up at 8. I already sent Eve and Paul to do posters. Go get Darling from the barn." and then I walked into the bedroom, a single tear leaving my eye because it was true, I still loved Jimmy.

 At 7:45 Eve walked over to me, "The house is packed, guess the rumor of new management got 'em to come."

"Well I guess they want to see if we are going to have the twins sing, or maybe Desiree showing off." I laughed as I straightened out the top hat on my head.

"Have I mentioned how happy I am that you said yes.?" Eve asked, "If you didn't we would probably be living on the streets, or dead."

"We are family, and I'm not giving up on my family."

"Lissa, it's almost show time, better get out there." Penny said, poking her head around my mirror.

"Hope I do as good as Ethel did." I smiled as I approached the curtain, which would open several moments later.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to Alicia's Cabinet of Curiosities, tonight we will be showing to you the very mysteries of this world, and just how beautiful they can be. Without further ado I would like to introduce my friends starting with Ima Wiggles, the world fattest lady, as she eats a pie." I introduced.

 The show went smoothly, first Ima, followed by Penny and Paul, Eve lifted a piano and the bench while Legless Suzi balanced on the bench, playing the piano. Then Bette and Dot sang one of Elsa's songs, followed by Desiree's peep show, Toulouse danced, Legless Suzi then skated around the stage with objects balanced on her head, and then the band took their places as I took to the stage to introduce the finale, Dess told me he agreed so I hoped he was back there.

"And now to end the evening I want to introduce to you the incredible Jimmy Darling."

  I began to walk off stage when I heard him coming behind me, I took my place at the pole, and looked up just as he was about to sing, noticing two carved pieces of wood attached to his wrists, a hand went over my mouth to conceal the gasp that escaped my lips. He looked over to me when he started to sing the lyrics to the song Bette and Dot used to sing, a smile formed on his mouth when he did. He didn't take his eyes off me, even when the crowd formed in the front and started to dance. At the end he paused and said to the crowd,  "Goodnight folks, hope to see you all at the next performance of Alicia's Cabinet of Curiosities." Then lifted a wooden lobster claw to the crowd and left the stage, along with the entire band.

One by one the crowd depleted, I was frozen in place. Jimmy got his hands, he may not have had normal hands, but he got his hands back. Then I felt two arms snake behind me, I turned to see Eve hugging me, "You did it Lissa." She said

"No Eve We all did it." I smiled

"Well we have a surprise for you in the dining tent, so put this on and then I will lead you to your kingdom."

 She took off her fabric headband and watched as I tied it over my eyes, then led me into the lot. I could smell the sugary frosting when Eve stopped me, I started to laugh when I heard Paul hiss to shut up before Eve lead me in, the flaps hitting my body as I was lead in. Eve removed the fabric and there they all sat, screaming surprise as I opened my eyes to find a huge cake.

"Used Ethel's recipe to make it." Eve whispered in my ear as tears of joy welled up in my eyes. I looked up and saw everyone's face but one.  

"You guys didn't have to do this." I piped up

"Yea we did Lissa, without you taking over, who know what would have happened." Suzi said, as the others all agreed with her by saying their own small comments.

"Well whose idea was this anyways, you all know I hate parties."

"Jimmy's, said we should show ya how much it meant to us." Bette replied

"Well then where is he?" I asked Eve

"After he sang he kind of stormed out, didn't say where he was going." Dot answered

"He still staying in the barn if you wanna go see." Eve bent down and whispered to me

"Ridiculous, I would much rather partake in this wonderful party you have all organized and eat cake with you. Now who wants the first slice?" I exclaimed as I walked to the table and sat next to Paul, Eve following behind me.

 We ate the cake, drank and joked until the wee morning hours, the sunlight starting to shine through the open sides of the tent when I sent them all to bed, saying I wouldn't need them today so they could sleep in. I watched each of them wander to their tents, and trailers before I wandered to my own. I flopped onto the bed Elsa left behind and shut my eyes momentarily before I remembered I promised to meet Maria at the diner at noon. I stood up and ruffled through some outfits, changing from my black dress and top hat into a pair of jean shorts Elsa left me and a crop top like Eve's that she gave me as a welcome to the family present. Throwing on a pair of flats I walked to the big tent, sat on the stage and admired the true beauty I was now a part of, until I heard Stanley in the corner. I got up and looked into his cage, he looked at me for hope, to let him out until I hissed,

 "You ruined him. Because of your greedy ass I have lost the love of my life. I couldn't help him because you took everything from him. Maggie told me everything, you helped cover up Ethel's murder, you took away Ma Petite along with ruining this troop, you took his hands! for what a few thousand bucks! You are lucky the troop wants you alive and to suffer, because I would shoot you where you stand you filthy ass." I stormed off as I heard a silent sob exit the cage.