What happens next?

Author Alyssa Brugman has begun a story, High Wire but needs your help to continue the story! 

Alyssa Brugman is an award winning author of Solo and Being Bindy. Find out more about Alyssa Brugman. 

The High-Wire

I stared down from the high-wire platform to the net way beneath me. The seats were empty now, but I could imagine the faces of the crowd peering up at me with fear, delight and wonder all at the same time. I could almost hear that collective intake of breath I’d been training for, almost since I could walk.

Today there were only three faces, and they didn’t look up at me with wonder or delight.

Bruno, my trainer, was smiling encouragement, but his eyebrows knitted together in worry too. It wasn’t as though these opportunities came up all the time, and it was his reputation at stake as well as mine.

Hunter, my competition for this job, was sneering, willing me to fail. Hunter was a year older, and better on the high-wire than I was. A real show-pony. It also didn’t help that Hunter and I had a crush on the same person! But Hunter wasn’t a team player, and I knew Andy, the ringmaster, was looking for someone who could do the high-wire walk and also join the trapeze troupe. Andy wanted someone flexible and easy-going who would be happy to take the backseat, who didn’t always have to be the star.

Andy was frowning up at me with impatience. He glanced at his watch. He must have a million things to do today. It couldn’t be easy running the world’s number one traveling circus. All those amazing personalities to balance. Kind of like a high-wire walk, I thought, smiling ruefully. Always the threat of being ranked number two or even three. If that happened his best performers would be poached in a flash. Once they were gone, the others would soon follow. He certainly couldn’t afford to run all this with a second-rate cast.

I looked around at the massive canvas ceiling above me. The huge screens on either end, like a stadium, except that this place could be packed into ten semi-trailers in half a day. The roadies were almost as incredible as the performers. The whole operation was state-of-the-art.

Just imagine what I could do if I trained here, literally rubbing shoulders with the greatest team in the whole world!

Whether it was on the floor, in the rafters, or backstage, Andy wanted the best for his show. He also wanted one-hundred per cent commitment. There’d be no time for fun.

Could I be the best?  

Could I keep up with the others? Leaving the rest of my life behind? My parents? All my friends?

But could I imagine staying behind while my crush flew from Paris to London to Berlin and San Francisco, with Hunter?

I stared down at my rival’s face again. Hunter had already tried out, and done a perfect job, as per usual. There would be no retries for me.

Time to get on with it. I stretched my arms out to sides. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Besides, what had I been training for all this time if not to grab a chance like this? I’d traveled all this way. I had to give it a go. ‘Centred,’ I said to myself.

I pointed my toe inside my leather slipper, placed it carefully onto the braided wire and then stepped out…

~

As I stepped out I could hear a loud cheer.  It was for Hunter.  He had just finished walking on the high wire.  Now I would walk and afterwards, head to head.  I know I will fall but I must try. OK...I'm across.... Yes. Now head to head.  Walk 1,2,3,4,5.  The crowd gasped, Hunter has fallen.  This means if I fall I win and if I get across I will win and get a group of interviews. 6,7,8,9,10. I'm across.  Arh.  Done.

(Bridie, age 9)

~

I couldn't believe I'd done it. I would be in the world number one travelling circus. Andy and Bruno rushed up to congratulate me, but Hunter stayed where he was, glaring at me. The look that he gave me was creepy, and I realised that he wouldn't let me take the job that easily. I had a feeling he would do anything he could to stop me from going on tour with our crush. We would be leaving for Paris in eight days, and I knew that I would have to be very cautious.

(Zara, age 12)

~

At home I put the final shirts and shorts into my bag. Mum told me to hurry up seeing as I was leaving in a plane to Paris that afternoon. Andy had just called to make sure I was ready and hadn't forgotten anything.

Bruno also called to say goodbye. He wasn't coming because earlier that week he fell off the highwire and broke his wrist. Andy decided he would be no use travelling with us if he couldn't perform or train properly.

So Andy found a new trainer, his name was Gary.

(Lizzie, age 12)

~

Gary wasn't at all what I expected though. I thought he wouldn't be that good because Andy had to find a new trainer on such short notice. But when he showed me a demo I was blown away. He walked across the wires like a ballerina, with such grace. Okay, that probably sounds corny, but man he was really good! I was really excited to have such a great trainer until we started training. Man it was hard. I had to do everything he showed me perfectly! But hey, when I get to Paris, I'm sure it'll pay off!

(Grace, age 11)

I've just arrived in Paris, and I'm so excited. I have been shown my room.  This is my first time in Paris.

"You had better get to bed now, we have an early start in the morning" reminded Gary.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day. In the morning I was so excited, it was 6:00am sharp and I was already in my training gear.  Gary was waiting downstairs for me.

'Let's go' he said.

(Brittany, age 11)

So we went down the stairs and into the training area and started to practise the fist couple that Gary showed me was a bit difficult. It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Practice was nearly over and I walked across the wire and did it perfectly. Gary thought it was so good he told me I could have the rest of the day off. But I wanted to keep on practising so I did. After training was over I called my parents and told them everything I did that day. My parents were so proud of me.

(Brooke, age 10)

The big day had arrived! First of all we did a show rehearsal before our first show at half past ten. It was quite nerve racking knowing that hundreds or thousands of faces were going to be staring at me.

My first thought right before my part was that I might get stage fright and back out, but then I reminded myself this is what you do best. It will just be like our practices.

Suddenly, Andy, the ringmaster,called me out. I stepped out into a brightly lit arena filled with many staring faces.

(Matthew, age 11)

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