Tiger Town Read Online Free PDF Page B

tricks like that.”
    “He can do all sorts of things. Buddha is one smart tiger, and I was one smart trainer. Sounds like you were doubting one of us was smart.”
    Nick smiled. He always was able to figure out faster than I could when Mr. McCurdy was joking around. “I never had any doubts about the tiger,” Nick said.
    Mr. McCurdy chuckled. “Did I travel all this way to get this sort of grief?”
    “Could Buddha still do tricks like that?” Nick asked.
    “He could, but he’s not going to ever again.”
    “Why not?” Nick asked. “It would be cool.”
    “No, it wouldn’t,” Mr. McCurdy said. “What it would be is hot … very hot. And dangerous. How’d you like it if I made you jump through a ring of fire?”
    “You wouldn’t have to make me,” Nick said. “Build me a ramp and I’ll get on my Rollerblades. I’ll jump through all by myself.”
    I shook my head. I knew he wasn’t joking, and that was the scary part. Put my brother on his aggressive inline skates, and he’d jump and grind and spin until he either got really tired or fell down and hurt himself. It seemed to end either way about the same number of times.
    “Maybe you’d do it gladly, but a smart animal like Buddha wouldn’t want to go anywhere near fire. All animals are afraid of fire.” Mr. McCurdy paused. “Hated to train animals to do things like that.”
    “Then why did you?” Nick asked.
    “Not much choice. I didn’t own the circus. I just worked there. Besides, the crowds loved it when something looked flashy, and nothing’s as flashy as fire.”
    “But Buddha would still know how to do it, wouldn’t he?” Nick persisted.
    “We’re not going to find out. Buddha and I are retired. Nobody’s going to make either of us jump through any hoops ever again.”
    “They made you jump through flaming hoops?” Nick asked in amazement, and Mr. McCurdy burst into laughter.
    “Nick, it’s just an expression.” I explained.
    “It wasn’t with Buddha,” Nick argued.
    “But it is with people. It means making people do things they don’t want to.”
    “That’s right,” Mr. McCurdy agreed. “And now that I’m an old man, I’ve earned the right not to have to do anything that I don’t want to. Buddha’s earned the same right.”
    “Where’s your car?” I asked. Mr. McCurdy drove an old pink convertible.
    “I lent it to the same guy I borrowed the trucks from. They don’t need the trucks for a week ’cause they’re set up in town, so he’ll drive around in my car until he needs to load up and move to the next place.”
    Suddenly the sound of another truck could be heard. I turned and saw a second big rig creeping along the rutted driveway. It pulled up and halted right behind the first. The truck had barely stopped moving when the driver’s door burst open and out came Vladimir. The second truck was the same size as the first, but it seemed smaller compared to Vladimir. He was just about the biggest human being I’d ever seen, and somehow he looked even bigger than I remembered. Leaping to the ground, he came charging toward us, and I fought the urge to take a step back. I knew Vladimir was just a big, friendly teddy bear, but with his massive size, beard and long hair, he reminded me of a grizzly bear.
    “Vladimir!” Nick called out as he rushed to meet him.
    “Nicolai!” Vladimir wrapped his arms around my brother, and Nick practically disappeared from view as the Russian picked him off the ground and spun him around. He then gave Nick a big kiss on first one cheek and then the other!
    “So good to see you, Nicki!” he said with his thick accent, as he put my brother back on the ground. “And big girl Sarah!” he bellowed. “Good to see you!” He reached out and grabbed me, practically pulling me off my feet. Wrapping me in his arms, he did pull me off the ground. Vladimir spun me around, and I felt like a rag doll. He gave me a kiss on both cheeks before returning me to the ground.
    “Don’t