Finally a car pulled in with the stragglers and after getting everyone organized on the bus and taking a head count, they were on their way. The boys were their usual selves in that they were bouncing from seat to seat and yelling amongst themselves.
"We may as well let them get it out of their system for a while," Karin told the other leaders. "We'll give them five minutes and then we'll get them settled and start singing some songs."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Trace aka Baloo agreed. "We do have to go over those songs we'll be singing at the Cuboree in a few weeks."
"Oh! don't remind me." Shadoe said in mock alarm. She was known as Mang among the boys. "I still have to do the final touches to the campfire circle and it seems as though there is never enough time to do everything."
Just then one of the boys came up to Karin and tugged on her sleeve. "Akela, Josh is calling some of us names." he complained.
"Alright David. I'll come back and see what I can do." Karin got up and went to investigate the problem. "Okay boys, I know you are all excited about this trip but we really do need you to settle down now. You know our bus driver, Cheryln, doesn't take too well to all the hooligans and noise on the bus." she admonished them. "We're lucky to have her as our bus driver."
"But Akela!!" Nick whined. "Josh is being mean and we want him to stop."
"Okay, Josh, you go up and sit with Baloo and Mang and Bagheera for a bit until you can show us that you'll behave."
"Yes Akela." he replied meekly. As Josh made his way up the aisle, Karin turned back to the boys.
"Now. We need to start practicing our songs that we'll be singing at the Cuboree in a few weeks time and I think now is a good as time as any. What do you say boys?"
There was a chorus of "Ahhhh, do we have tooooo?"
"Yes boys, we need to get this done. We haven't done very much practicing lately and it will make the time go faster." Mang said as she came up behind me. Seeing as she was the one in charge of the music portion of the Pack Karin left her and went back to the front of the bus.
*****
The singing really did make the time go by quickly and before they knew it they were at the circus grounds. After unloading the boys with Aly aka Bagheera, Trace and Shadoe, the other two went to park the bus in the designated area. Walking back to the entrance they met up with the others and made their way to the ticket booth.
Once they bought the tickets they went inside and went over the rules for the day. "Okay boys." Aly said. "Remember the buddy rule, and no one take off anywhere without making sure one of us leaders know about it."
Baloo also reminded them about their behaviour. "Now, first off we will walk around in our designated groups and make ourselves familiar with everything here and we will pick out a spot to meet in case anyone should happen to get lost."
"Oh, and don't forget the Big Top show starts in an hour so don't be late. We'll all meet in front and go in as one group. And don't get your uniforms too dirty in the meantime!" Karin said as she took her group and started out. She had volunteered to take the trouble makers in her group as she knew how to handle them best.
They were walking along and playing a few of the carnival games in the booths set up along the midway when a very tall person came up to them to hand out balloons.
"Well hello there Cub Scouts!!" he said as he gave them each a balloon. "My name is Matthew."
"I know you!!!" Shouted Josh. "You play a nerd on TV!" then he started laughing. The other boys didn't know what he was talking about.
"Now Josh, it's not nice to shout. You can talk in your normal voice and still be heard." I admonished him.
"It's okay.... Akela." Matthew said as he glanced at my name tag on my uniform. "A lot of kids think that because I am so tall in these that I can't hear them way up here." He then handed Karin a balloon. "Besides he has a good eye. As a matter of fact I am on TV and during our hiatus I enjoy working parades and carnivals."
Karin craned her neck to look up and take a closer look at the man on stilts. "Oh goodness, it is you! You play Birkoff on La Femme Nikita. It's a little hard to tell with the makeup. I'm surprised Josh recognized you."
"Yes. I do and I guess nerd would sorta describe the way I am on there." Matthew laughed.
"My mom watches that show every week." Josh volunteered. "Boy I can't wait to get home and tell her that I saw someone from the show!! She won't believe it."
"Well, Josh, tell you what. Once your pack is done for the day you can meet me before you leave and I'll get my picture taken with you so you can show your mom. Would you like that?" Matthew offered.
"Oh wow! golly that would be swell Mr..... "
"You can call me Matthew."
"Hey!!" the others shouted now. "What about us? What about the rest of the boys!?"
Matthew and Karin just looked at each other and laughed. "Slow down boys. I'm sure Matthew wouldn't mind having his picture taken with the whole pack." she said as she looking questioningly at Matthew.
"Not a problem. You guys can come and find me when the show is all done and you're ready to leave. BUT," he continued, "you have to behave for your Akela or there won't be any pictures. Is that a deal?"
"It's a deal." they all agreed.
*****
After leaving Matthew behind, the boys were so good it was hard to believe that this was the same rowdy ones we almost didn't take along on this trip. We had had trouble in the past and as the trips were a privilege for the boys and had to be earned it was a very close margin for the four boys.
Meeting at the Big Top at the designated time we all filed inside and found some seats in the upper teirs where we would have the best vantage point. The boys were all excited as they told of the happenings before meeting up. It seemed that Matthew had met up with all the groups and it was almost hard to tell who was the more excited. The leaders or the boys. Aly, Trace, Cheryln and Shadoe all had big smiles on their faces as well.
The motorcycle cage was already set up in the middle ring and the two outer rings had elephant rides for the kids. We took turns taking the boys to get their popcorn and drinks while we waited for the show to begin.
It wasn't long before the elephants were taken away and the outer rings dismantled and the lights were dimmed. The first act was the death defying motorcycles in the enclosed cage and that was followed by the trapeze artists and then the clowns in the mini cars. There was a short intermission and then the cages were brought out and the lions and tigers were brought out.
After they had been taken away it was time for the jugglers and acrobats to take their turn. The boys were fascinated with it all and were disappointed when the show came to an end.
"Okay boys." Aly said. "Time to pick up our garbage and dispose of it. Then we'll all take a bathroom break and meet out front."
***** As promised, Matthew was waiting for us as we gathered by the gate to get ready for our trip back home. He had changed into everyday clothes. It had been a long day and the boys were a little tired.
"So boys, what did you think of today? Did you have fun?" Matthew asked them.
"It was great." the boys all said together. "We had a lot of fun."
"Did you all behave yourselves?"
"YES!" they shouted.
"Well that's good to hear." He glanced over at the leaders and we all nodded. "All right then. Let's get our pictures taken together. Looks like your leaders are ready to drop." Matthew laughed.
With that the camera's were gotten out and everyone had a chance to have their picture taken with Matthew including the leaders. We roped a clown passing by to take a group picture for our scrapbook. Matthew was nice enough to give everyone his autograph as well. After saying thank you and good bye we all headed back to the bus for our ride home.
.....The End
This story Copyright 1999, Northstar