Benjamin loves the grand circus, but when he spots Mr Wizzle with a white tiger, he discovers something strange hidden behind the bright tents.
Every year, a grand circus rolled into the little town at the edge of the forest. Bright tents rose on the grass, lanterns blinked in the dusk, and the smell of popcorn floated through the air.
Benjamin was always the first child to run to the hill of hay behind the field. From there, he could watch the circus wake up. He loved the laughing crowds, the brass band, and the way the animals stepped so neatly into the light.
But Benjamin loved one person most of all: the Great Mr Wizzle, the most famous magician in the country. With his tall hat, shiny coat, and silver cane, Mr Wizzle seemed to belong to a world of secrets.
That afternoon, Benjamin climbed to the top of the hay hill and froze. Down below, beside the biggest tent, Mr Wizzle was speaking softly to a giant white tiger. The tiger’s tail moved once, slow as a snake. Benjamin stared, hardly breathing, until he stepped on a loose stone.
Crack.
The sound was tiny, but in the quiet field it felt huge. Mr Wizzle turned at once. His sharp eyes found Benjamin at the top of the hay hill, and the white tiger lifted its head and looked too.