"Hello?" a stranger's voice called out. "It's a little boy," the voice said. "What is a little boy doing in the middle of a desert?" The voice asked. "I'll just have to take him in for now," the voice concluded.

That voice sounds so smooth. What is this sensation? Am I being held? Why is it suddenly so warm? I open my eyes and take in my surroundings. I'm in a very colorful room. It looks like a clown's room, decorated whimsically. I get off the bed and look at the vanity. It has a mirror with three lightbulbs arranged in a descending pattern. On top of the table are makeup and colorful beads. I survey the area, strategizing an escape route. First, if possible, I need to sneak some food and find some normal clothes. Before I can proceed, I see a shadow lurking around the corner. The shadow has big curly hair in an afro and a large, round nose. It's laughing and showing sharp teeth. I quickly hide under the bed to avoid being seen. The door creaks open further. I see bright red-heeled boots ambling. I get nervous and cover my mouth.

"Oh no, they'll know I'm gone. What do I do?"

I quickly look around and find a rubber ball. It's yellow with a light blue stripe and a red star. I roll it out from under the bed, creating a distraction. I watch as the boots move toward the closet and inspect it. I seize the opportunity and crawl out from under the bed, heading toward the door. Suddenly, I feel a firm yet gentle grip on my shoulder, pulling me back. I turn and meet the eyes of a clown. Not just any clown—this one is rather attractive. The makeup isn't overwhelming, and they don't seem scary at all. However, I'm not easily swayed by appearances

"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!"

The clown covers my mouth and tells me to hush. I bite their hand, and they release me. I dash towards the door for another attempt at freedom, but I'm pulled back again. This time, the clown says,

"Hello, you must be quiet. This circus is colorful but not friendly to children. Please calm down; I have some food." "Not friendly to children?"

Before I can respond, they introduce themselves. "Hello, I'm Lefty!"

Lefty is captivating. Their bright red hair, big curly afro, glowing brown skin, sharp teeth, and manners are striking

.

"What's your name?" Lefty asks.

I don't want to say my name, so I remain silent. They didn't press me. After a while, Lefty goes to get us some food, explaining that this circus isn't kid-friendly. It's for adults engaging in adult activities like drinking and smoking. That's why children aren't allowed. After they explained everything, I finally told them my story—why I was stranded alone in the freezing desert. The look on their face is a mix of emotions I've seen before, plus one new expression. Their eyebrows are slightly raised, and their eyes are sparkling as if they're about to cry. Before I can ask what's wrong, they hug me, saying, "You're now my son. I will be your new parent. "I accept because I have nowhere else to go, and If it weren't for them finding me, I would have been dead by now. So, I accepted the offer of being their son while they became my parent. It came at a cost. Since this is an all-girls circus, I had to wear feminine clothes because they didn't have any male clothing at all. I had to dress like a girl and sometimes act like one to fool everyone. I didn't mind it or think much of it. I just needed to survive. I adopted a dark aesthetic at the time because my hair was black. Since my hair was short like a boy's, I had to wear wigs until it was long enough for me, Lefty, or the other girls to style