He looked into the mirror, and he looked back out. Sparrow- Large, round, wrinkly, and leather-faced Sparrow.

Sparrow OMalley with his curly red hair, his deep blue eyes, and those freckles all over his cheeks that should have faded years ago. Sparrow OMalley looked into the mirror and Sparrow OMalley looked back.

His eye caught something behind him. Sparrow turned away from himself. It was long, and covered with tatters and tears. The Snake-womans serpent had got into Sparrows caravan again. It seemed to come in here every season, seeking a warm place to shed its skin. Sparrow turned back to himself, ignoring the snake.

Sparrow reached across the table. He never looked never looked away from the mirror; nothing ever left its place. His hand, guided by life-long habit, found the worn old sponge instantly. His hand, taking up the sponge and guided by that same life-long habit, found the pot of paint instantly. He dipped the sponge down into it deeply and, careful not to spill a drop, raised it to his face. Sparrow began to wipe the paint across his face.

Sparrow felt the serpent curl around his leg. He ignored it.

Sparrow OMalley looked into the mirror as Sparrow OMalley began to disappear. Slowly, as the white paint crept across his face, covering the wrinkles and the freckles, masking the leathery nature of his skin, Sparrow began to fade. Next came colour. Blue eye shadow, big rosy red cheeks, and a smile; Every clown needs a smile the disappearing Sparrow mused, as he did every night. So Sparrow drew on the smile. Big and blue and broad, the same he had worn

every night of his working life. Sparrow OMalley looked into the mirror and wasnt there. The old, hard Irish son had vanished. The eternally young Potato was there.

Potato rose and plodded, in big, big shoes, out the caravan door. From the big top he could hear the chant- bring on the clowns- but he didnt smile any more than he already was. Potato always found that extra smile difficult to conjure. That would be over-doing it Potato whispered to himself. Potato plodded towards the big top. The chant was deafening from where he was standing, it made him so happy just to hear it. Every time was like a blessing from God. He wanted to cry with joy, but didnt. It would wash off his face. Potato stepped through the flaps and met his public.

The show came and went. The public cheered. It was almost like the blink of an eye. A brief glimmering of joy. A short shot of fun, then all was done.

Potato landed down before the mirror heavily. His body was a sack of dead meat. He breathed in short, heavy breath. He looked into the mirror and he looked back. His soul was alive, but his skin was tired. He was young, but his body was old. Think its time for Sparrow to take a snooze, Potato whispered to himself.

Somewhere in the caravan, the Snake-womans serpent hissed.

Potato reached across the table, never looking away from the mirror, and fumbled to find the sponge. Hed never mastered that habit. He dipped it in a glass of

water, knocking the glass on its side and sending water across the dresser. He wasnt about to break a lifetime of bad habit. He raised the sponge to his head.

Potato shuddered. In the mirror he saw the Snake-womans serpent had begun to shed its skin.

Potato looked into the mirror, and slowly began to disappear. Little by little, from the cheeks to the eyes, Potato vanished and Sparrow appeared, until all that was left was his smile. I did good tonight. Potato told Sparrow, then laughed slightly as Sparrow whipped away the last of Potato for the night. I know you did buddy. Sparrow whispered. Sparrow fell slightly, collapsing tiredly down. He rubbed his temples and closed his eyes. His breathing became erratic, fast and deep in one moment, slow and shallow in the next. Sparrow breathed and trembled with each passing breath. His entire body shook and trembled, then stiffened.

The serpent hissed in his ear.

At length there came something smooth and warm, but at the same time almost serpentine in its nature, across his shoulders. Slowly it moved, making stiff muscle soft and tight flesh bludge and recede like the tide. His breathing slowed its erratic pace, his eyes opened slowly. Behind him stood a willowy frame, not feminine in its appearance, though it was clearly female, but more serpentine. Yes, serpentine seemed an apt description for the woman behind him with hair down to her ankles.

Then there was what she brought with her. What, or more accurately, whom she brought with her. Coiled about that frail frame was a serpent, long and muscular. It peered down from her shoulder with a protective gaze that seemed painted upon its face. Are ok Sparrow, love? She asked. The old pains getting me down, Darla, Sparrow moaned to the snake woman. Well, if you need something for the pain Darla offered. Nothings going to cure this pain, Sparrow replied. What brings you to my door? Looking for Chimera here, She shrugged, patting her snake. Boss wants to see you Then, I guess I better do as that old Hector tells me.

Sparrow rose with a moan and a crackle of bones, and looked at Darlas face. Her eyes were wide and sad; she opened her mouth to speak but Sparrow cut in: Dont say a word.

Sparrow battled his way to the bosss caravan. Each step after the next was an increasing struggle. Each one epic battle after the last, Sparrow felt tired and worn. He had lived a life of hard travel and hard times; he had given his life to the show. Yet, he knew his time would soon be up. Sparrow sighed; Hector- the ringmaster and owner- had a habit of simply casting off the elder members of his three-ring family. Sparrow had never thought much about it when, one by one, the old clowns disappeared. Then he got old, and began to think about it deeper than he did before.

When Sparrow arrived at Hectors caravan a rough and rural man passed him by with a strange child. The sight of the child was difficult to comprehend. The boy looked almost like a snake. A snake built in the fashion of a boy, or perhaps it was a boy built in the fashion of the snake. The snake-boy looked at Sparrow with wide eyes. They were big and blue, in them Sparrow could see sparks of youthful hope as yet untouched by the pains of the world. They reminded Sparrow of what he imagined his own to have been like at a much tenderer age.

Sparrow was met by Hector at the door, ushered in and sat down. Hector cleared his throat, but Sparrow spoke first: Who were those two? Some guy trying to get his kid into the circus. Said it would be good for him, with the way he is and all, if he didnt have to stay in one place for too long. Said that the boy wanted to be a clown, Hector laughed slightly then. Told him we didnt do freak acts. Could you believe it, that thing as a clown! Sparrow sighed absently at Hectors slur and asked: You called me in here Hectors face dropped, and became a mask of sadness. A bad mask at that, thought Sparrow, I can see through it. Look, Sparrow, you know we all love you here. But dont you think your getting too old for this game I just gave the best show of my life tonight

Younger performers give your best every night, Hector cleared his throat and delivered a practiced. What about your family? How long has it been since you saw your kids? This is my family, Hector. You know that. Ive been in this circus longer than you have. I started with your grand father, I grew up with your father, I was part of your family. Sparrow signed. Theres no familys in business. Both Dad and Grand-Dad knew money came first. Listen, you may want to cut me out, but I dont want to go. At least not until Ive trained another clown, a new Potato Hector laughed at Sparrows words. Another Potato! There isnt anyone within a hundred kilometres who wants to work as a clown! Are you so sure, Hector? Sparrow sneered. What about that boy? We dont do freak acts, Sparrow Hector frowned. You know that He wouldnt be Sparrow stated firmly. Hed be a clown, just like he wants. Look, Sparrow, just go. Make this easy on me Im on contract for another four months Sparrow told Hector. Hectors face dropped at the words. Hector bit his lip and ran his hands through the back of his neck. You want an easy way out, Hector? Sparrow offered. Give the boy the rest of my contract.

The debate had lasted for hours. In the end, Sparrow had got his way. Darla had rang the Boys father. In her soft, serpentine way she had apologised for Hector

and convinced the father that the boy would be safe. So the father had brought his child down to the carnival grounds. Sparrow sat Charlie down infront of the mirror. Sparrow looked into the mirror, and saw himself standing over Charlie. Sparrow took up the sponge and dipped it into the white face-paint.

Darlas serpent moved slowly through the caravan. Shedding the last of its skin.

Charlie, theres someone Id like you to meet Slowly Charlie began to disappear.