Thank you, Ben. I’m glad this story resonated with you. Another example of what you astutely dubbed “psychological ugliness.” I’m stealing that phrase from you, by the way, as well as this haunting interpretation of the story! U.S. immigration policy is certainly what we get when this pettiness is carried to the top of the political food chain.

This comment is an immense compliment, thank you.

I love that the people in this story can’t see the horror of it. Just opportunity — including a chance to twist the knife by making Stacy pay admission while the kids get to see for free. The pettiness of that compared to the slaughter of these little creatures resonates. My thoughts turn to a US policy dividing families of illegal immigrants. We argue it as political fodder and to party advantage, unable to recognize the actual and horrific suffering that is taking place. We lose track, don’t we, of what is important.

Your story hits to that truth, but delights with the macabre and uncomfortably funny (like clowns themselves!) as well. Layers of storytelling. Nice stuff.

No, biting into an apple and finding half the Pope!

Hi! Thank you for reading! I’m glad you liked it. Clowns do tend to pop up in strange places. While I was writing this, I did pause and ask myself, “But… why clowns? Why not, say, possums, or another strange animal, or ‘normal’ little humans, or actual cats or something?” But then some reasons came to light explaining why clowns. So, I had to roll with it and send in the clowns!

Thank you so much! I’m flattered and encouraged by this. More on the way!

Thank you! And I understand, this story does paint both clowns and mechanics as unsettlingly opportunistic…

Haha! Yeah, an early draft actually mentioned “tiny honks” from the little ones, but it sucked the weight out of that last moment. But I bet if you step on a live one it would toot! And thank you, I’m glad you liked it!