These woods are empty, save for me and two horses long since gone to seed. Old master Ambrose sent me out to see them fed, but as it happens, they’ll not see our camp again. The lawman caught me unawares. With a smile that never reached his eyes, he said, ”What brings a lad of so few years to this little-traveled road? Might you belong to a certain nearby carnival?”

I tried in vain to steal away; I barreled right into his men. Each grabbed an arm. Their captain said, “You’re that Tom Cutler’s boy, I’d bet, were I a betting man.” And I thought, “Well, that’s a wager that you’d win…

But a family is more than common blood. It is an oath, it is a promise kept. And me, I have no father but the show. You will not take from me the only home I have.”

“I have other cares than truancy,” he said. “In fact, I could still set you free, if you could single out for me the newest of your band. I have good reason to suspect you've hired some hands.”

I must admit this gave me pause — I’d sooner perish than return — but then the guards relaxed their hold. I broke free and fled into the woods.

A family is more than common blood. It is an oath, it is a promise kept. And me, I have no father but the show. You will not take from me the only home I have.