Prelude……..

My Dear Friends:

Despite what you in the troop may have heard on the road; Zampano didn’t kill his brother. Gelsomina did.

These past months from the street, Angel’s new act must have seemed very strange indeed. Especially, with the falls in July and September. How often did we tell him? "Angel…get rid of her!" How often did he say? "With out her there is no act, she is why there is an act."

It was almost funny to watch them rehearse. She would pull on the rope, he would teeter and weave with that silly set of wings…He would scream out "You will kill me, stop it!" He even asked her to go home.  It was weird to hear her almost tearful, "I can’t". From below, it must have seemed like he was just clowning around on that tightrope…he was the best after all. That stupid sidekick of mine used to run around and tease him, "Is it paranoia if they really are after you?"

Anyway, Thursday the night of the performance. Everything appeared normal…even calm. Angel climbed to his side of the rope…she to her side with the trumpet. He began the act. It was wonderful hearing the crowd as he reached the middle…then she jerked the rope. He twisted, and spun…the crowd hushed as it seemed he couldn’t hold on but he caught his balance and they cheered…after all it was part of the act wasn’t it?

Angel looked at Gelsomina but it seemed as if she wasn’t there. He said, "Why do you do this? I haven’t a clue…. Smile…I only perform for your smile." She said "A smile at what cost? Everything else in my life…." And let go of the rope.

What a look on his face! So quizzical, as those silly wings beat the sound of them almost saying "Why?…Why?…Why?" on the breeze of his fall. I thought I heard Gelsomina breath "I love you", as he crumbled into the courthouse square, but it was probably just a dream.

The police questioned us. Gelsomina was so distant as if she hadn’t even been there. "Inadvertently…" she said, "Inadvertently".

On Sunday, Zampano went to do his performance, he didn’t know or couldn’t believe Gelsomina was part of his brothers death. Gelsomina was back to beating on the drum….maybe happy to be the cheer leader once again. He bellowed his usual "Ladies and Gentleman…". It was almost possessed this time to hear, "…there maybe blood…turn away". It was different somehow. I wish I had.

He knelt and placed the hook in the chain and the little piece of leather to protect his heart. As he expanded his mighty chest…then he turned that so gray color. "Ladies and gentlemen" so quietly "without my brother…I do not have the strength to break this chain that binds me…there will be no performance…get your money back at the gate." And died as his heart burst.

Gelsomina went down to the beach. Barefoot, her tiny toes in the sand, she threw the trumpet Angel had given her into the sea "Past…you are past" she was heard to whisper with no feeling.

I heard she returned to her family and lives happily ever after. There is no memory of Angel or Zampano.

Your Friend,

Dante