Face painted

The park was pretty quiet that Sunday afternoon. I was sitting on one of those green benches with the mayor’s office logo on it. Like painting the old benches makes up for the way this whole damn town looks like. I can’t believe the nerve he has, putting up a couple of swings and benches somewhere between some filthy blocks in a God forsaken ghetto and calling it a park. Then, when elections time it coming up, he’s all… I care about your family and children! Like he gives a damn about either. At least this park isn’t a dump, I thought to myself as I was staring blankly at the colorful helium balloons up in the air.

I was so caught up in my thoughts, that I didn’t even notice the people walking by. Most of them would laugh or make a smart remark as they passed by the bench I was sitting on. I didn’t even realize they were talking to me until this guy stopped in front of me and asked, do they pay you good cash to look so stupid?, and walked way. I turned my head to give him a piece of my mind, but that’s when I saw this clown sitting next to me. I had forgotten all about him, though he had been sitting there all the time making puppies and tigers and flowers out of balloons.

His face was all covered in colorful paint so I couldn’t really tell his expression. But judging by the big smile painted on his face and the fact that he was, after all a clown, I supposed he was happy. I watched him pumping balloons, twisting them into all sorts of figurines, than dropping them in front of the bench. After a while there was a big pile of balloon animals in front of the clown who was still sitting there quietly twisting that air filled rubber. I though about asking him if he was ok, but just as I preparing to do so, a little girl showed up in front of me. She had this really beautiful dark curly hair, big blue eyes and her green and white dress made her look just a little doll. Could I have a heart shaped balloon? she asked me. Of course, sweetie, I replied and got up to pick a red balloon from the jar on the ground. I pumped it up with air and stared twisting it just the way the clown did. I asked her all sorts of silly questions and tried to make her laugh and she replied politely. When the balloon was ready I knelt down and handed it to her. Here you go, I said. She took the heart I had made for her, smiled at me and asked, how much is it? And in that moment there it all became clear to me. I didn’t answer; I just stood there, on one knee, looking at that little girl. And in her big blue eyes I saw my face covered in so much colorful paint that I couldn’t really tell my own expression.