The Red Circle

Irene adjusted her red top hat and surveyed the colorful chaos of her freak show. Yuki's melting clown makeup dripped as she giggled maniacally at nothing. Sam twisted her arm backward with a sickening crack, grinning as visitors gasped. The conjoined twins Sophie and Sally argued loudly about which direction to walk.

"Left!" Sophie demanded.

"Right!" Sally shot back.

Oliver towered at seven and a half feet, his blue hair nearly touching the tent ceiling. Mikey flickered in and out of visibility against the striped walls. Flash practiced breathing small flames while Shaggy's impossibly long brown hair swept the ground behind him.

Irene's green eyes sparkled with pride. Her performers were unique, extraordinary, and completely hers to care for.

Then she spotted the calendar. Tomorrow's date was circled in red ink.

"Oh no," she whispered.

Haircut day was coming.

The Morning Announcement

The next morning, Irene gathered everyone in the main tent. Her performers sat on colorful cushions, looking sleepy and confused.

"Listen up, everyone," Irene announced, adjusting her red top hat. "Today we're going to visit Sheldon and Bailey's salon."

Yuki's perpetual grin faltered for the first time anyone could remember. Her melting clown makeup dripped faster. "But... but my hair is perfect!"

Sam snapped her wrist backward with a crack. "Mine too! My green hair is my trademark!"

Sophie and Sally started arguing immediately. "We're not going!" Sophie declared. "Yes we are!" Sally shot back.

Oliver ducked his blue head under the tent ceiling. "I like being tall AND having long hair!"

Flash breathed a tiny flame in protest. Mikey flickered nervously against the striped walls. Shaggy's impossibly long brown hair swept anxiously across the ground.

"The salon owners have been cutting performers' hair for years," Irene explained. "They understand people like us."

"No way!" all seven performers shouted together.

Before Irene could respond, her phone buzzed. She read the message and her green eyes flashed red for just a moment.

"We don't have a choice," she said quietly. "The town inspector is coming tomorrow."