Monkeys

A few weeks after Tad's 14th birthday, Ralph found him attaching the ponies to the carousel. Tad had done this every morning for three and a half years. Tad had become quite fond of the ponies and knew all their names and quirks.

"Tad, we have a promotion for you today. Time to move up in the world and learn new things," said Ralph.

Tad sensed more to this conversation than what he had just heard.

"By move up in this world, I hope you do not mean I clean up after the Mastodons?" Tad knew just because he couldn't sense malice in a person's feelings. His magic didn't always protect him from practical jokes by the other carnival members. Tad's face had become serious after he spoke his question.

"No, Tad, we are going to give this task to one of the younger boys, and you're going to get two of the magical pens. Not Mastodons, as they take special training and tend to stomp anyone who isn't part of their master's tribe. No, you're going to help with the less mundane pens. We need someone for the monkeys and other equines."

The word monkeys did get Tad's attention. All the workers knew about the monkeys, and the only magical equine in the carnival was a dingy-looking unicorn with a bad temper.

"That doesn't sound like much of a promotion," responded Tad flatly.

Ralph squinted at Tad like there was an imaginary sun blocking his vision, then smiled. "Well, pay is a ten-copper bump, but only if you volunteer. Of course, we do not want someone working with the animals that do not want to be there."

Tad sensed Ralph was holding something back and knew there was more to this conversation. Tad spoke slowly, pronouncing the last word clearly but dragging out the syllables. "And what if I do not volunteer?"

Ralph said, "Well, you will be Volun-told without the ten-copper raise."

Tad stood there a second, pondering his limited options. He knew the money he made paid for his food at the carnival. Along with some of the training and instruction books he was getting. It all went to Beothorn with a small stipend going to him once a month to spend as Tad saw fit. He had saved it except for fruit drinks. He liked the watered-down cherry beverages from the juice stand set up near one of the big tents.

"Ok then, I guess I'm volunteering," said Tad with a smirk. With any luck, Beothorn will hear about this and get him out of it. These two pens were a huge pain, and many people quit working with them after only months or, in some cases, weeks.

"When do I start?" asked Tad.

"Right now, I'll have Barry finish up here. Follow me. I'll show you where the pens are and introduce you to the routine," said Ralph.

A couple of minutes later, they were both standing in front of the 'Magical Monkey exhibit.' It was the only pen in the whole carnival that visitors viewed through small windows of thick clear glass built into the wooden wall of the wagon. It wasn't very popular as the monkeys, all though magical, usually were asleep or stayed up in the corners where few could see them. The glass was in place to keep the monkeys from throwing things at the viewers. Also, Tad had never seen them do anything magical when he had looked before, and he thought it was just a gimmick or an overstatement of something minor. Carnies loved their gimmicks.

From the outside viewing window, the monkeys looked much smaller and cute. Nobody knew why they kept these three monkeys. Rumor had it Samphire insisted the monkeys stayed when anyone pointed out that they didn't pay for themselves.

Tad and Ralph made their way to the back of the wagon. Ralph pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the back door to the inside. Tad noticed the room they were standing in was the entrance. To the front was their pen, and to the right was an extended showing area with two thick tree branches attached to the floor reaching up. This is where visitors would viewed the monkeys. There was a lattice iron grill between the showing area and the pen. He could easily see into the pen the monkeys currently occupied.

The monkeys noticed Ralf, then Tad. Then they closed their eyes as if in sleep. Tad tried to sense their intent, but he felt a mild pushing back against his ability from the monkeys. That was new. He had never had animals that could push back on his empathy ability. He could still feel some things from them, but their feelings weren't obvious. Marena had said that very few beings possessed the empathy ability. Empathy powers were most commonly found among druids that worked with animals. After further tests, though, Marena could not place Tad's ability as it also worked on humanoids of various races. She was positive it was powered by his soul, though. She had warned Tad to keep it secret. People feared what they didn't understand. Marena didn't know any soulmancy magic.

Ralph looked relieved that the monkeys were not waking up.

Ralph spoke quietly, "There is a bucket, shovel, and broom in the corner here. Weekly, you are required to rinse out the pen and mop both areas clean, and the monkeys will use the grates in the floor of both rooms. Make sure to gather up any stray leftover fruit each day."

Ralph took Tad outside the wagon to show him the two buckets that were suspended under the wagon. He double-checked the lock on the door before they left.

"Tad, I recommend you wait for the monkeys to quiet before moving them between rooms in the morning. Do not go into the pens when they are in there. Just pull the lever inside to open the gate. They know the routine and will move to the open area. Clean the area they will be going into first, then place the food. Make sure you lock the door when you exit the wagon," said Ralph.

***

Meeting Jack

They walked to a large tent. There was a sign with the image of a unicorn. Ralph waved to the attendant sitting in front and motioned Tad into the tent.

Tad had only been in this tent once, and that was years ago. The carnival was set up like a small city. Many of the tents charged the carnies to see the shows. Tad had been told it was to keep space for the locals paying to enter. He wasn't so sure about that explanation. He followed Ralph into the tent and saw the unicorn in the back in a large stall area with a full water trough and old straw on the ground. It was early in the morning, and the tent was still empty of visitors. The unicorn was a dingy grey with a mostly white mane and tail. Its two-foot horn was a dull yellow with white swirling around it to the tip. It looked like a dingy horse with a horn to Tad.

"Jack, this is Tad. He is taking over as the new attendant," Ralph spoke to the unicorn, then looked at Tad.

"Tad, unicorns can not speak, but they can understand what you say. Jack has been with us for a long time, so I expect you to take good care of him."

Tad reached out to sense Jack's intent and suddenly staggered back, getting a lancing pain through his skull.

A booming voice entered Tad's mind, "Kid, if you try that with me again, I'm going to flip you like a cheese omelet on a cold morning."

"ugh, sorry," said Tad taking a step back.

Ralph looked at Tad, then at Jack, frowning and speaking sharply, "Jack, the last attendant, refused to step into this tent. I expect you to be nice to Tad. His father is the captain of security, and I am very certain he could get your benefits removed if you do any of your usual antics. I do not care what the Boss says about you. You will not go around abusing the attendants."

Jack snorted, stomped his hoof, then slowly walked away from the two humans to the back of the pen.

"Yea, unicorn's have mind speech, but he rarely talks to anyone. A couple of the past attendants have gone years without him even recognizing they existed. Let me know if he gives you any more trouble. Now let's discuss the work," said Ralph turning to the back of the tent.

Tad nodded, and Ralph started going over the routine for Jack's care. "Almost everything is the same as the ponies except for one particular piece. Jack is allowed half a bucket of ale a day. But no more than one half."

"What?" asked Tad in surprise. "You mean I get him a bucket from the ale tent? Isn't that bad for him?"

"In Jack's case, this comes straight from big Boss Samphire. We supply him one half a day as the payment for his service," said Ralph.

"Oh, what services does he provide," looking again at Jack in the back of the tent.

"I was told just his presence 'is' the service. He isn't doing anything other than standing there most days," said Ralph.

Tad frowned. There went his notion of unicorns, rainbows, and butterflies. Tad needed to tell his mother about this. She was the one who had told him about the butterflies. "Ok, what other feeds do I get? Anything special about that?" asked Tad.

"No feed Tad. Jack here only drinks ale," said Ralph. Ralph motioned towards the front of the tent and went outside.

"Let's head to the Ale tent and get you set up as the new attendant. Then you have the rest of the morning off to use as you see fit. I have already done most of the work for these areas today. You start with the monkeys first thing in the morning, then see to Jack's tent and wagon afterward," said Ralph.

The rest of the morning off was good because Tad wanted to discuss butterflies and rainbows with Marena. He fully expected it to turn into some hours-long lecture on unicorns. Tad saw Ralph was heading over to where Samphire was standing nearby as he left to find Marena.

***