My sister Zow has always been afraid of clowns, she says they look evil hiding behind their painted faces. Today was Zow's daughter Amy's birthday. We were having a party for her, we had planned it for weeks. Everything was going great, the kids were eating cake and ice cream. Zow and I were trying to hurry and get ready for the games, because it looked like it was going to rain soon. We heard Amy yelling at us, are we having clowns for my party mommy? Amy, what are you talking about, Zow asked? clowns mommy clowns in the yard, I saw a clown run across the yard. Zow and I both looked where Amy was pointing, A clown was running across the yard, very brightly dressed in a clown suit of , purple, red and yellow, with a big red nose and a goofy smile, the kids were hysterical with laughter. I started to run after the clown, needless to say, Zow did not budge from her spot. I was well behind the clown. I had almost reached the edge of the river, when I spotted the clowns, they were squatted by the riverbank, very intent on what they were doing, they had toy clowns and were stuffing money into them, then they put the toys into a large bag and tied it to a rock, lowering it into the river and looping the rope over a pole hidden by the water. The clowns stood up and that's when they saw me. I took off running, heading up canyon trail, my heart was pounding, stopping for a minute to catch my breath, I heard the two clowns behind me, I was more frightened than I had ever been, I guess Zow was right, after all, clowns are evil. I bent down to tie my shoe and I felt someone grab me, it was one of the clowns, I saw his big pointed shoe beside me, I screamed very loud, he let go of me for a second and I ran as fast as I could, the clown in hot pursuit. It was starting to rain, I would never make it up the hill, I could see the dark river below, the rain was falling fast. I froze in my tracks when I heard gunshots behind me, then a splash as someone hit the water, I looked around to see a clown coming up the hill, closing in on me. At that moment, I slipped and fell, sliding down the hill, I slammed into the clown, knocking him into the river, he made a loud plop as he hit the water. I was soaking wet and holding onto a tree branch as I saw a policeman coming up the bottom of the hill. Are you alright miss, he asked? I believe I am, I said. We slowly made our way down the hill. When we reached the bottom, I saw that the other policeman had the two clowns in handcuffs. I walked over to where the two clowns had tied the bag. For a minute, I thought about becoming a rich woman, then I came to my senses and told the policemen about the bag. They pulled the bag out of the river, opening the bag, they found the four small toy clowns stuffed with hundred dollar bills. Seems the clowns had robbed a bank. Zow got out of her car and walked over to where we were. Zow, look at the cute clowns, I said. Zow said, I have never dreamed of a cute clown and these two or their toys, would never be welcome in a nightmare.

Copyright © 2004 lois thurman