Nurse Mays told the children that today was Tyler’s birthday so for a special treat they were going to have a clown entertain them. So the children gathered “round. Some pushed their own chairs and two nurses slid Betsy”s bed around so she could see as well. All the little ones at Piedmont Children’s Hospital enjoyed one clown in particular. Luckily for them, Rascal the Clown was on his way. Nurse Mays looked out the round window down the hall and told them he’s on his way. “Wait, I think he disappeared. I’ll go out and have a look around.” She said.

As soon as she was gone, “Howdy boys and girls! Honk, Honk, I’m Rascal and this is my friend ….Oh..I think..I.. forgot…someone..”

With that introduction Rascal started a show that lasted for an hour. He told jokes. He told some jokes that were funny, too. He did a whole lot of magic tricks. Oh, how those kids love a good trick. He poured water into a cup and then poured that cup into a bag and then into his little black hat. He held it over Betsy Arnold’s head and turned it upside down, and when she closed her eyes nothing came out. They oohed and ahhed at that trick. When Rascal took the hat and put it on his own head all the water ran down his face. They erupted into laughter and even little Betsy smiled. He did a rope trick where he cut one rope in two and another rope into three sections. All the ropes were put in a bright red box and closed. He shook the box so they could hear them inside. He said a long word with lots of esses in it and then he handed it to Tony. Open it and count the ropes he said. Tony fumbled with the latch with his good hand. Boing, it sprang open but there were no ropes in the box. More oohs and ahhs.

Nurse Mays came back through the door, “ There you are Rascal, I’ve been all over this Hospital looking for you.” That was the signal they had when it was time for the act to end. Rascal signed a few casts and gave a lot of animal balloons away. He bowed and the little ones clapped as he left through the doors. Honk, Honk they heard as he walked down the hall.

Norman Clingler got on the elevator to ride down to the lobby. As he stood outside the Hospital with his hands in his large pockets a yellow taxi pulled up. “Where to bud? Got a party to go to?” the driver asked. Take me over to the Wakeland Hospice. “Okay, be there in about five, no six minutes.”

He paid the fare, took in a deep breath and walked inside. He and another man got on the elevator. “Which floor, hey you’re Rascal the Clown aren’t you?” the gentleman asked. “Honk, Honk” was Rascal’s reply. The man got off and Rascal rode up one more floor. He made his way to room 515 where a nurse was waiting. He told her to hold on a minute as he walked into the bathroom. When he walked out she handed him a glass of water and two large blue pills. He was wearing just his robe and slippers. She helped him up onto the bed. “That clown routine is taking a toll on you isn’t it, Norman?” she said softly. “No, those kids keep me going! You know what happened tonight? The little Arnold girl smiled.”

“That is amazing. Now you must rest and I’ll check in on you soon.”

He rolled onto his side and pulled the blanket up close to his neck. “Ellen?”

“Yes, Norman?”

“Did I tell you… Betsy smiled!”