Eager to get on with the circus practice, Veve ran back to the Williams’ yard where Connie awaited her.
“Up King of Beasts!” she shouted. “Up on the pedestal!”
When she touched Connie with a stick, the little girl placed first one hand and then the other on the bucket.
“You’re forgetting to roar, Connie,” Veve reminded her. “Go ahead! You can do it.”
The sound Connie made was most unlike a roar. She tried again. This time it was loud enough to bring Mrs. Williams to the kitchen door.
“Connie, are you hurt?” she called, fearful that something serious had happened to her daughter.
Connie explained that she and Veve were only “practicing” circus, pretending to be lion and lion tamer.
“Well, you gave me a bad fright,” said Mrs. Williams. “I do wish you would find a quiet game. Those wild roars are certain to disturb the neighbors.”
“I don’t like being a lion anyway,” Connie declared, as she carried the wooden bucket back to the garage.
Veve was sorry that she couldn’t keep on being an animal trainer. But almost at once she thought of another act even more exciting than taming lions. She would try walking a tightrope!