Pierrot

Laughter and cheers filled the air. Animals roared to the delight of a crowd under a massive tent, likely prancing in a circle with mock fierceness. His family was in one of those tents, enjoying the entertainment of the circus. Owen had only left to find a snack, to replace the one someone had accidentally knocked out of his hands. He had a pocket full of clim that clinked as he walked and that had drawn attention.

So now he was cornered in a dark alley between tents by a trio of tall, rabbitfolk boys. His tail flicked in agitation as he backed away. The gleam of the knife held by the leader caught the light with a sinister shine.

“Look, kid, just give us the money, yeah?” the leader rabbitfolk said, gesturing with his knife. “We’re not gonna hurt you, we’re just hungry, see?”

“O-okay,” he agreed, trembling hands fumbling into his pocket. In his nerves, he dropped the money at his feet. The three rabbitfolk scowled at him.

“Tch. Typical useless cat. What the hell are you doing, huh?”

“S-sorry! I-I didn’t mean--”

Splat!

The rabbitfolk on the right staggered sideways as a pie, of all things, smacked him in the side of the head. He shook his head, dazed and surprised by the sudden pie.

“What the hell? Who the hell are you?!”

Owen turned to look and was just as confused as the three muggers. It was a clown. White outfit, white face painted with dramatic tears, a flower pin, and massive red shoes. 

“Gentlemen, this is a place of laughter and fun. Why don’t you just forget about all of this and enjoy the circus?”

“Look buddy,” the leader said, taking stomping steps toward the clown until he loomed right over him. “This isn’t any of your business, yeah? Just walk away.”

Honk!

Quick as a flash, the clown reached up and stuck a large, circular red nose on the rabbitfolk leader’s face and squeezed it.

“You--!” his shout was interrupted with a startled gurgling as the flower on the clown’s chest sprayed water into his face.

The non-pied member of the group shouted and stepped forward only for his feet to flip out from underneath him, a banana peel flying into the air comically. He hit the ground with a thud and then a surprised squawk as another pie slapped into his face.

“Maybe you boys should leave, you’re pretty accident prone,” the clown said nonchalantly, twirling yet another pie on the tip of his finger. Unwilling to face more pies, banana peels, and humiliation, the rabbitfolk fled.

“Well, good riddance to sour souls. You okay, kid?”

“Y-yeah. Thank you!”

“Don’t mention it. Why don’t you get back to your family?” And before Owen could complain that he was out here to find something to eat, the clown held out a steaming fresh corndog and the coins he’d dropped.

“Enjoy the circus!”