I remember the Christmas

when the circus came to town.

A few of the kids in my class

skipped school

to see the show.

***

There was a murmuring

in class as

those of us remaining

began to notice the

growing number of

empty desks.

***

“Skipped school to see the circus?!”

We whispered among ourselves.

“Luckeee!“

***

However, the next day,

many of the desks

remained empty, and

our teacher told us that

our classmates were

in the hospital suffering from

severe poisoning,

but they would be OK.

***

Furthermore, she explained,

it wasn’t the circus that

was in town,

but a home that was being

fumigated for insects.

***

Again,

there was

murmuring

in class …

***

“A home being fumigated for insects?!”

We whispered among ourselves.

“Luckeee!”