Peter Bendall

Jacky was still wearing his jeans and western shirt, and David was dressed as Ringmaster again. They were all waiting outside behind the curtains and up to now the teacher had simply stood back and let David run the whole show, almost as if the boys were at home. Now he looked from one to the other. "What can we do?" The boys stared at each other for a few moments. "Dad's shirt trick!" exclaimed David, unclipping his bow tie, stripping off his jacket and starting to unbutton his shirt. It was work of a few moments to hang the shirt over his back, do up the top button round his neck and secure the sleeves at the wrists. Jacky helped him put his jacket on top and pull the shirt up a bit more to get another few buttons done up. "How does it look?" asked David, clipping on his bow tie, putting on his top hat again and adjusting the shirt cuffs. "You'll do!" "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls," said David, coming into the ring and flourishing his hat. "There will have to be a short pause...." "Oy!" interrupted Jacky, following him through the curtains. He had snatched the rainbow coloured jacket from the smaller clown and put on the boys red Ping-Pong ball nose. "Oy!" he repeated. "I can take your shirt off for you." "I can take my own shirt off myself, thank you Jacko. I do every night before I go to bed." "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls. The great shirt trick! Clown Jacko will attempt to remove your ringmasters shirt, through that persons body." He didn't sound all that convinced as he pointed to his brother. "Clown Jacko!" As David bowed forward, Jacky grabbed his brother's shirt collar at the back of the neck and in a single sweep pulled the whole shirt clear. He waved it happily, and held his hand towards his brother. They took their bow, and a shirtless David announced the final performers and went out to dress, again....