Circus Star
Leighton Page Ewell, age 5, was the happiest girl in Dallas,Texas. She was excited because she was going to the circus with Kristen, Samuel, Ansley, Caleb, Mom, and Dad. As soon as they arrived at the circus, Leighton bought popcorn and delicious cotton candy. Clutching her ticket, she anxiously waited in line.
As Leighton neared the main entrance to the circus tent, she could see a funny clown juggling many balls. The ticket Leighton held in her hand had a sparkling star on it. Seeing the star, the ticket-taker exclaimed, "Wait, little girl, your ticket is special. The star allows you to sit in the very front row!" Leighton rushed to her seat, and the show immediately began.
"TOOT-TOOT," chugged a steam train as it rolled toward the center stage. The train clickity-clacked in a big circle and stopped directly in front of Leighton. Clowns wearing colorful costumes jumped out of one tiny car and did tricks that made everyone laugh. Leighton wondered how so many clowns could fit inside such a small car.
Leighton was delighted to see the chimpanzees balance on bicycles. All of a sudden, CoCo, the baby chimpanzee, disappeared. Leighton noticed him ride his bicycle out of the circus tent straight into the parking lot. Leighton jumped from her seat and dashed after CoCo. Leighton was able to save CoCo just before he crashed into a big truck. She then returned the thankful CoCo to his loving mother chimpanzee.
Then the ring master announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, today we have a very special guest in the audience. Her name is Leighton Page Ewell, age 5, from Dallas,Texas. She just saved the life of CoCo, the baby chimpanzee. Let's give her a big round of applause." Leighton smiled broadly as she joined the ring master on the center stage.
Just then Leighton saw several clowns wheeling out a huge cake. To her surprise the cake read: Thank you Leighton for saving CoCo, the baby chimpanzee. Suddenly, a cuddly teddy bear jumped out of the giant cake. Leighton laughed and clapped her hands as three ballerina bears danced just for her.
Lovely ladies riding a team of horses galloped into the center ring. The ring master invited Leighton to ride on one of the horses. Leighton waved to Kristen, Ansley, Samuel, Mom, and Dad as she rode past them on the white stallion. Leighton thought, "It's great fun to be in the circus!"
Next, a bright red fire truck carrying fire-fighting bears raced toward a burning building. Leighton, along with Kristen, Ansley, Samuel, Mom, and Dad shouted, "Jump! Jump!" to the bear trapped inside the burning building. Quickly the frightened bear leaped into the safety net below. In a hurry, rescue bears stopped the fire by spraying water on the raging flames.
The ring master announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, our world famous elephants will perform for you"! The huge animals did balancing acts, while clowns did cartwheels on their backs. The ring master asked, "Leighton, everyone thinks you're great, won't you please join the circus and travel around the world with us?" Leighton replied, "I would love to be in the circus, but I would miss Kristen, Ansley, Samuel, Mom, and Dad."
The ring master pleaded, "Then, would you be the leader of the grand parade?" "I would love to," replied Leighton. She immediately climbed on the back of a huge elephant and proudly led the parade. Leighton waved goodbye to her friends and promised to visit them when the circus returned to Dallas, Texas. Leighton told Kristen, Ansley, Samuel, Mom, and Dad, "I will never forget my wonderful adventure at the circus!"