9. I Can Fly!

Chapter 9 I Can Fly! "I'm so excited, I can hardly eat my hot dog!" Nate said. "What do you mean?" Brian asked. "You've already gobbled down two!" The kids were sitting next to Mr. and Mrs. Fortunato. The couple looked around the crowd with amazement on their faces. It was intermission time, and in a few minutes, the trapeze act would begin. Every seat in the big tent was taken! Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy were squished between the Fortunatos and Howard the barber.

When Bradley turned around, he saw Mr. Linkletter sitting with three boys who looked like miniature Mr. Linkletters. Bradley waved, and Mr. Linkletter's mustache wrinkled. Ellie was selling ice cream and hot dogs. Mr. Paskey, from the Book Nook, stood next to her, handing out bags of hot popcorn. A band from the high school was playing rock and roll and circus tunes outside the tent. Inside, a sign stood in front of the trapeze net. But no one could see what it said—it was covered with shiny silver-and-blue fabric. So far, the audience had seen a man from the senior center juggling fruit, and Officer Fallon doing magic tricks. Clumsy the clown, who was really Hannah Fortunato, had everybody laughing every time she tripped over her enormous feet. Now it was almost time for the mystery acrobat. Bradley smiled as the lights went down. The Fortunatos had no idea what they were about to see! The music ended. A spotlight appeared in the big ring. Everybody cheered when Mr. Holly from the gas station stepped into the circle of light,

wearing a bright red jacket and black pants. He held a microphone, and a gold whistle hung around his neck. Peter the parrot sat on his shoulder. "Good evening, folks," Mr. Holly said. "May I present the world's smartest parrot!" He looked at the bird. "Tell everyone your name, please." "Peter the parrot!" Peter squawked. Everyone cheered and whistled.

"Very good, Peter! Now tell everyone the name of the president of the United States," Mr. Holly said. "Peter the parrot!" "And who is the vice president, Peter?" Mr. Holly asked. "Peter the parrot!" "Very nice, Peter," Mr. Holly said. "Now tell our friends, who is your favorite singer?" "Peter the parrot!" "Oh, good! Will you sing a song for us?" Mr. Holly asked. Peter didn't say anything. He just tucked his head under one wing. The audience clapped and whistled. "Now for our special surprise," Mr. Holly said. "Surprise?" Bradley heard Maude Fortunato ask her husband. Mr. Holly looked up into the audience, right at Mr. and Mrs. Fortunato. "This next act is dedicated to the Fortunatos by their son, Adam, and their daughter, Hannah!" The spotlight shone on the high wire.

Maude Fortunato gasped when she saw the figure in silver tights and a mask, balancing on the wire. "When did Adam get a new costume?" Maude asked her husband. "I just made him the blue one last month!" "Shhh," her husband said. Bradley smiled. It was Hannah, not Adam, on the high wire, and she looked great. Only her nose and mouth showed beneath her mask. The silver acrobat walked across the wire, perfectly balanced. The spotlight followed her. When Hannah reached the other side, she tied a blindfold around her eyes. Then she walked back onto the wire. In the center of the wire, she flipped upside down into a handstand. The four kids said, "Oooh!" Then they started clapping and whistling. Maude whispered, "I can't look! Adam has never done this before!" Hannah flipped again and was on her feet. Suddenly another acrobat walked to the middle of the wire. This one was dressed in a shiny darkblue costume and also wore a mask.

The two acrobats joined hands. "That's Adam!" Maude said. "I made that costume for him. But who's the other one?" "I think I know," her husband said. Adam bent one leg, and Hannah stepped onto his knee, still holding his hand. Then she gripped his shoulders and flipped upside down. Before anyone could blink, Hannah's head was balancing on top of Adam's. His arms were raised, and Hannah held both of his hands. Then, in a flash, Hannah flipped down to the wire. Adam unhitched the trapeze and held it as Hannah climbed onto the bar. Adam pushed the trapeze, and Hannah floated out above the audience. For the next five minutes, it seemed as if the entire audience was holding its breath. Hannah dipped, soared, flipped, and swung like a silver bird. Bradley snuck a look at Hannah's parents. They had tears in their eyes. When Adam and Hannah flipped down into the net, then onto the ground, everyone jumped to their feet to clap and yell.