Happy

By Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher

In the quiet of his dressing room, Jerry somberly sat in his chair applying textured white powder to his face. He hadn’t been with anyone since his wife Isabella passed away. He wasn’t an ugly man and he knew his thick eyebrows brought out the hazel in his eyes, but he couldn’t bring himself to fall in love again. All he had was his job and a lonely apartment.

Jerry slipped into a white satin costume, pasted a smile on his face and entered the arena seeking, as always, a clown-sized release from his sadness and a chortle from the audience.