Hugh Lofting: Doctor Dolittle's Circus

Then, rather awkwardly and without much interest, the conversation continued about the weather.

Next, the Pinto Brothers, trapeze artists, arrived with mackintoshes thrown over their gawdy tights. They also wanted to know where Blossom was, and why they hadn't received the pay which they had been promised would be given them this morning.

"The Pinto Brothers arrived"

The Doctor, growing more and more distressed, hoping Blossom would turn up any minute, began to find it hard to keep the talk on any other subject but the mysterious disappearance of the manager.

At last the foreman of the tent riggers joined the circle.

"It looks rummy to me," he said when he had been told all there was to be told—"I got three children and a wife to keep. 'Ow are they going to live if I don't get no wages? My missus ain't got enough food in the wagon for another meal."

"Yes," said one of the Pinto Brothers. "And we got a new baby in my family. If Blossom's running off with the money we ought to let the police know."

"But we have no proof he is running off," said the Doctor. "He may arrive any minute."

"And he may not, Doctor," Hercules put in. "If he is a queer one, by the time you get your proof he'll be in China, maybe—where nobody can get at him. It's nearly six now. The Pintos are right. What are we standing around here for, guessing and wondering? At least we ought to send somebody into Manchester to find out what we can."

"I have sent somebody in," said the Doctor. "Matthew Mugg, my assistant, has gone."

"Humph!" said one of the acrobats. "So you got kind of suspicious yourself, Doctor, eh? What time did you send him?"

The Doctor looked at his watch again.

"About four hours ago," said he.

"Time to get there and back," grunted Hercules. "'E couldn't find no trace of 'im, I'll warrant. Boys, it looks to me like we was ditched, all right…. Lord! I wish I had 'im here. I'd make Mr. Blossom look like the last rose of a summer."

And the strong man's ham–like hands went through the action of twisting the top off something.

"But 'e's left an awful lot of property behind," said the tent–rigger. "I don't yet understand what made 'im skip at this stage of the game."

"What e' left behind—besides unpaid bills," said Hercules, "ain't nothing compared with what 'e took with 'im. 'Eaven only knows what 'e got from Bellamy for the Doctor's show—biggest takings this outfit ever saw. And all 'e give us was excuses—kept puttin' off payin' us for some fake reason or other—for three weeks back. I reckon 'e 'ad it in 'is mind to clear out all the time— 'ad it planned as soon as 'e saw a big haul in sight."

"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Hop.

"Yes, that's the question," said the Pintos. "What are we going to do now?"

"We got to find another manager," said Hercules. "Someone to take over the outfit and get us out of this hole."

It was curious to see how, as soon as the strong man spoke of a new manager, all the eyes of the little crowd gathered in the wagon turned upon John Dolittle.

"Doctor," said Hercules, "it looks to me like you'd got to be the new boss. And if anybody was to ask me. I'll say you'd make a pretty good one. How about it, boys?"

"Aye! Aye!" they all cried. "The Doc's the man."

"That being the case," said Hercules, "in the name of the staff of the Greatest Show on Earth, I present you, Doctor, with the circus of the late lamented Alexander Blossom. From now on, with us, your word is law."

"But—good heavens!" the Doctor stammered. "I don't know anything about circus management, and, besides, I―"

"'But I don't know anything about circus management!'"

"Oh, yes, you do," Hercules broke in. "Wasn't it your act with Beppo that made the big week at Bridgeton? And wasn't it you what got the circus brought to Manchester? Why, bless me, you can talk to the bloomin' animals! We ain't worried. Meself, I've a kind of an idea we'll make more money under you than ever we made—or lost—under Blossom. You go ahead and manage."

"Yes," said Hop. "That's right, Doctor. Lord only knows what's going to happen to us if you don't. We're in the soup—dead broke. And you're the one to pull us out."

For a full minute the Doctor did not answer—just sat, thinking, on his packing case. At last he looked around at the miserable waiting group and said:

"Very well. I had not intended going into this business for long when I started. But I certainly can't get out of it now— not only on your account, but on account of my own animals and my responsibility to them. For I, too, am—er—dead broke. If you want me to manage for you, I'll try it. But I'm going to do it a little differently from Blossom's way. I'm going to run the circus on a cooperative basis—that is, instead of wages, we will all take our share of the money made, after expenses are paid. That means that when business is bad you will get very little— may even have to pay a little; and when business is good you will do well. Also, I claim the right to dismiss anyone from the circus without notice at any moment."

"That's the idea!" said Hercules. "That's the way a circus should be run—everybody partners in the business, but one man boss."

"But listen," said the Doctor. "For the beginning it's going to be hard work and very little money. We haven't got a cent in hand, and until the rain stops we shan't make a penny. What's worse, we will probably run into debt for a while—supposing, even, that we can get anybody to give us supplies on credit. Are you willing?"

"You bet we are!" … "We're with you, Doc!" … "Nobody's going to grumble!" … "You're the right boss!" they cried. And immediately the appearance of the whole crowd had changed from miserable gloom to hopeful smiles and enthusiasm.

In the midst of this arrived Matthew Mugg, with Mr. Bellamy himself.

"I'm terribly sorry to hear of this," said Mr. Bellamy, addressing the Doctor. "I gave that scoundrel Blossom two thousand pounds. He has cleared out with the whole lot, it seems—even left tradespeople unpaid in the city. It was their coming to me that first told me of his crookedness; and then your Mr. Mugg arrived. I've put the police on Blossom's trial, but I don't think there's the least chance of their catching him. You had better come back to Manchester, and I will give you space at the Amphitheatre pack until you have made enough to carry on."

"Hooray!" yelled Hop. "And, look, the rain has stopped! Our luck has changed. Hooray for the Dolittle Circus."

"Pardon me!" said a small, polite voice from the door. "Is Doctor Dolittle here?"

Everyone turned; and there stood a small man in the entrance. Behind him the sun was now shining brightly.

"I am John Dolittle," said the Doctor.

"How do you do," said the little man. "I have been sent on a special mission by a firm of theatrical producers. I am instructed to make you an offer. They wish you to bring your troupe to London next month—if you have not been already booked."

"Hah!" cried Hercules. "What did I tell you, boys? First minute he's manager he gets an offer from Manchester and another from London. Three cheers for the Doctor!"

It was a day of great rejoicing for both the animals and the people of the circus when the Doctor took over the management. As soon as the news got around the enclosure tent–riggers, stable boys, performers—everybody, in fact, who was part of the establishment —came to the Doctor to congratulate him and to say how glad they were to be under his direction. With the stopping of the rain a general cheerfulness and hustle began. And the very first thing done was the taking down of the "Blossom's Mammoth Circus" sign over the main entrance and erecting in its place the "Dolittle Circus"— a more modest title, but one which was to become far greater and better known than Blossom's had ever been.