Will You Be My Valentine?

The Carnival was back in town, with just two days to go before Valentine’s Day. Some called it perfect timing, because they wouldn't have to worry about a venue to take their dates to.

A few words about the Carnival. It was a monthly event. Now this Carnival was basically a caravan of gypsies who went from town to town and performed. For a meager fee, you would be taken into a tent and your fortune would be told. You would get cotton candy and lollies in the shape of hearts. You might even be treated to the blind cello player in dark glasses who serenaded a mournful melody in G minor.

This Carnival was like any other, and yet it was unique. Each time it came around, it had a new performer. There was Bonzo the Clown, there was the Punch and Judy show, there was Barbas the talking dog. This time there was a Harlequin.

The Harlequin at the Carnival was a nomad. He just turned up one day and the troupe accepted him, because in reality ie, when he was out of costume, the Harlequin was a good and willing worker and a very kind man. Once in costume, he became a true trickster. He would hide the trapeze cords. He would lock the manager in the latrines. He would pinch bottles of rum from the knife thrower and so on.

The Carnival people didn’t really like him all that much and he usually kept to himself, rarely talking to anyone.  He did his fair share of work. He played his pranks in costume and he retired to his tent at the end of each day.

And now that we have known our Harlequin, let us return to our narrative.

It was Valentine’s Day; or rather it was the night of Valentine’s Day. The Carnival was chock full of people in love, walking arm in arm with their better halves. Some were eating cotton candy. Some were trying their hand at the rifle range. Others were high in the air on the Ferris Wheel.

Our Harlequin is absent. Let us find him. Follow me.

We start our search for him in his tent. We are told he was last seen after lunch. He was in costume, which can only mean he is up to his mischief again.

Tell me this. Could it be you are thinking what I am thinking my dear Reader? On this night, when love is in the air, is it possible our Harlequin has spied a lady love of his own?

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Jaime was late for school. He didn’t mind. He hated school. He was always bullied there. No one understood him when he spoke. He spoke of making impossible things happen. He spoke of making a telescope from rubber tubes and of making fireworks from detergent.

Everyone laughed at Jaime. Everyone apart from Her.

She was in his class. She was blonde, and beautiful. Jamie loved her. He loved the way her eyes shone with delight and he loved the way the light bounced off her curls. Except, Jaime never told her anything.

And tonight, at the Carnival; there she was. It was her. He was sure of it. She was alone. He found that odd. She was just as pretty as he remembered her in school. Underneath his black mask, Jamie was sweating.

The girl noticed the Harlequin standing nearby. He had a black mask on. He seemed to be looking for someone; or something maybe? He was looking at her. She could tell, in spite of his mask. She wondered if he planned to play a prank on her. She smiled at him.

Jamie was distracted by her smile. He just stood there and looked on. He wondered why she was smiling. Did she recognize the man under the mask? Was she smiling at his costume? He wanted to ask her, but he was afraid. What if he was daydreaming?

He decided he would risk it. This wasn’t school. He wouldn’t, he couldn’t let her get away again.

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Jaime’s day was getting worse and worse. He was not allowed to enter the first class because he was 15 minutes late. It didn’t help that his uniform had mud on it and he looked scruffy. The fact of the matter was that he had fallen in a ditch and therefore looked dishevelled.

It didn’t help that She was laughing at him. He felt so embarrassed then. It seemed as if he had lost the only friend he had. All because of his clumsiness.

Jamie decided he would run away. He reasoned that there would be some place for a young boy like him in the world. A place where his eccentricities would be appreciated and not ridiculed. A place where his talent at slapstick comedy would earn him his daily bread.

And so, Jamie ran. He ran from the school. He ran across the fields. He ran to the high road leading into town.

Jamie never came back.  In his place came a Harlequin.

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That same Harlequin was motionlessly staring at the girl he knew in school. She was still smiling at him, expecting him to play a prank on her.

Jamie walked up to her.

He asked her one question.

“Will You be my Valentine?”

She smiled even wider and kissed him on the cheek.

“You’re so sweet! And here I thought Harlequins were mischievous! Wait here. I need you to meet my boyfriend.”

And just like that, she turned and was gone.

And once again, Jamie wanted to run. But then he remembered, He was a fool, standing on a hill; seeing the world spinning around and seeing it for what it really was.

That’s why he chose to become a Harlequin. He found them fascinating. He liked to read of Harlequins in theatres, disrupting order at will; causing mischief and mayhem.

He also found himself identifying with the Harlequin. After all, didn’t she cause mayhem in his heart? Wasn’t she disrupting the order he adhered to?

Such were the thoughts of our Harlequin as he turned away and walked off into the night.

A few minutes later, She came back to where the Harlequin had been, dragging a boy with her. She didn’t see him anywhere and she looked around for him.

The Harlequin was however nowhere to be found.  She sighed and turned around, asking her boyfriend to take her home.

On the hill overlooking the Carnival, the Harlequin stood and watched her walk away again. But, ironically, he smiled and climbed back down the hill. He entered the Carnival grounds and began to play his pranks again.

The Bilge Master