Playing Around

Legend:
Interviewer
Interviewee

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Sadie Stroop, Where are you from?

I grew up in major cities across the United States.

I'm sorry--I don't understand.  In major cities--as in plural--as in many?

Correct.  My parents are trapeze artists with the circus.

Interesting.  How long have you traveled with the circus?

I was born as part of the family.  

By family you mean the circus family, right?

Correct.

So you've never known anything but traveling.

Well, we did travel a lot.  But we did have down times too.  There has to be time to prepare new acts, train new animals and have a rest.  

I see.  So what did you do about school?

My mother was a teacher.  

Before she became a trapeze artist, she was a teacher?

That's right.  

Do you know why she stopped teaching and joined the circus?

She said teaching school was a circus.  One kid spit at her, she clocked him and that was the end of her teaching career.  I think she said she lasted a month.  

I see.  So she teaches you then.  

Yes, she does.  She taught me and any of the other circus family who wanted to learn.  She wouldn't take anyone who didn't want to be there.  

So now you're living with your uncle, is that correct?

Yes, I am.  

Why is that?

I'm not sure.  Mom never explained it to me very well, which makes me think she and Dad were hiding something from me.  I felt like Superman being shipped off to be saved from danger, though I'm obviously not the last of my race.  Mom said she thought I should have a taste of the "real" world before I reached the age of having to make a decision about what I wanted to do with my life.  So they sent me here.  

Were you happy that your uncle invited you to stay with him?

Oh, he never invited me.  My parents put me on the train then called him to tell him I was coming.

My goodness.  What a surprise that must have been.

I haven't quite forgiven them for that one yet.  I'm not sure Uncle has either, but we're working on it.

What does your uncle do?

My uncle is in the entertainment industry, too.  That's what he told me.  I found out he's one of the ones at his publishing house that tries to determine if a book will make them money or not.  In my mind that makes him a bean counter and not so much in the entertaining business as the accounting business, but technically of course, he's right.  Bean counters usually--technically--are.  

Are you enjoying your stay here?

Yes.  My uncle is an interesting person.  Only he doesn't know it.

I'm sure you miss your parents.

I would if they didn't talk to me through my headphones every night.  Of course I miss Mom's kiss good night and the way Dad hoisted me up on his shoulders for a ride.  But with our cosmic connection, I'm never really alone.