The Orphan's Tale

by Pam Jenoff

I clutched the child tighter and he nestled against me forgivingly. His warmth filled my arms. In that second, everything was all right.

The circus is a great equalizer, though; no matter class or race or background, we are all the same here, judged on our talent.

The girl is prettier than me, I have to admit, cataloging her looks relative to my own in that way all women do.