Eva nodded. “In the winter months I go to a regular school in the East. ’Course then I don’t get to see my mother or father.”
“Do you have to study lessons all by yourself here on the circus lot?” Veve asked.
“Sure. And if I don’t know them, then I can’t have any candy or ice cream.”
Connie and Veve both liked school even though sometimes they pretended they didn’t. But the part they enjoyed best was playing with other boys and girls at recess. And if they occasionally missed having perfect lessons, no one made them go without candy or ice cream.
“I suppose you must get plenty of candy and good things to eat,” remarked Veve. “If I traveled with a circus, I would eat Cracker Jack all day long.”
“Oh, no, you wouldn’t,” Eva corrected her quickly. “Every single package of it has to be paid for.”
“You mean you can’t have popcorn and peanuts whenever you want them!” exclaimed Connie.
“Every sack is counted. If even one is missing, well there’s trouble!”
“Don’t you have any fun at all?” demanded Veve.
“Oh, I get to play some between shows. When we’re in the larger cities, the circus bus takes all the children to the swimming pool, or maybe a picture show.”