The Face of Fear
Dear Shredipus Rex,
Why are clowns always so scary? I find them creepy and weird.
Signed,
What The Facepaint
Dear WTF,
I respectfully beg to differ.
Some of my best friends are clowns!
Clowning skills date back to court jesters in medieval castles.
It’s a well-honored form of artistic expression.
But these days: movies and shows portray clowns as psychos, and on some level, sure, I totally understand.
The juxtaposition of a silly character (circus clown) crossed with an opposite character (murderous lunatic) is fertile ground for lowbrow entertainment.
But me myself?
I won’t have it.
A touring troupe is a family.
We know each other behind the make-up and the top hats and the glitter.
I stand beside my clown co-stars (except for any clowns involved in any active criminal or civil complaints) through matters thick or thin.
Our circus family, imperfect, needs every single skill and talent to truly bring the show to life.
Counterpoint Commentary by …
BOOMPLE the Clown
That’s quite a question, my friend.
Do you enjoy spreading negativity out into the world?
Seriously. What’s your deal, pal?
I’m feeling some hate.
And hate? That’s an ugly word.
I don’t have any hate in my heart.
I’ve never hated anything or anyone in my entire life.
I don’t have a single enemy in this world.
I do, however, have a nemesis.
His name?
Steven King.
Author. Literary legend. The grim reaper for me and my brethren.
Hey Steven — thanks so much for writing “It”! A child-eating monster who lives in a sewer. And looks like a clown.
Thanks for dropping Pennywise into our lives.
I’m going to write a book too. It’s called “Hack”, about a freaky dude in Maine who writes paranormal claptrap and trashes a prestigious and amazing artform.
Killer clowns from outer space??
Yeah honk my rubber nose and call it daddy.
Now … getting back to the question at present.
I think I might just know the answer.
You’re not at all scared of clowns.
Oh no.
You’re scared of the clown … you never got to be.
Let it out, dude.
Do it today.
Find the courage to go out and clown yourself around the town.
*The opinions of BOOMPLE the Clown do not reflect the views of Ringmaster Rex or the Zaboni Brothers Traveling Circus. His comments were made in jest and not directed at any specific person, entity, or freaky dudes in Maine.
