As he sit there looking at the mirror he felt different ‘I am finally alive’ he murmured to himself. He almost didn’t even recognized himself, he smiled a wicked grin and the makeup amplified it. A strange feeling tingled through his body, he sensed he was evolving and he could feel it both inside and out.

Ben spent a few more moments perfecting his clown giggle and changing his voice to a more unusual tone as to not be recognized. Becoming a different person was only exciting him more. He embraced the thought of totally anonymity, no one could tell what his true emotions or motives were under all this make up.

Night fell and he had a volunteer help greet and seat the children while he prepared himself for the show. He could hear them filing into his home now, into his homemade little stage area.

He burst forward from behind the curtains and the young little crowd was elated. Their giggles of joy increased as he went through each practiced routine, all designed at making himself look the fool. Ben felt the youthful energy in the room soaring and he tried to soak the feeling up like a sponge.

After the show was over he raced to the bathroom and took off all his make up and clown clothing, as he did he noticed that his appearance somehow looked more alien than ever. This was not his true form; the clown was.

Ben went out to help serve the children pizza, they were so riled up and excited they could barely be contained. He could still feel their energies filling the room and was still basking in the glory from the success of his show. All the children asked what the clown’s name was.

His face became puzzled; A name? A proper title for his alter ego?. A quick thought slammed its way into the front of his head and he easily blurted out ‘His name is Mr. Giggles and he is the best clown ever’. All the children shook their heads in agreement.

When Monday arrived he was called to the church by the elders. Ben already had a foreboding feeling about what was to come; somehow he really didn’t care inside. Of course as he sat before the elders they chastised him for his choice of entertainment and how it had not been in the least bit related to religion.

As Father Kyle stood he pointed his bony finger towards Ben ‘You are hereby relieved of your duties as youth minister’. Ben’s head hung in shame for a moment, his face frowned and he turned to leave. He made a solemn mental promise to never return. He’d had his fill of religion anyway, it had never brought him the kind of happiness that clowning or the children did.

When the children saw him in his office packing his things one of them inquired in a soft voice ‘Are you leaving us Ben?’. That question broke his heart; he could see the sadness in their little eyes. He also knew the children would trust whatever answer he gave.

Ben took this knowledge and used it to his advantage ‘I am going to take a vacation and see if I can help Mr. Giggles become a better clown’. This answer seemed to please the children; in only one night they had become attached to the fictitious character.

This was a great sign. If he could no longer access the children through the church, he would use Mr. Giggles to approach them. After all, he and the clown were two different people. Ben grinned to himself. ‘I need to start plans for another more potent show. One in which I can be surrounded by the children’s’ youthful energy again.’

At home, Ben once again rummaged through the boxes of clowning, he suddenly came a cross a small leather bound book. It had a strange feel to it, a certain feeling of evil seemed to emanate from it, he was curious and began reading.

As the pages turned his mind was enlightened with more secrets of the clowns. Although Ben had not remembered ordering this tome, its instructions gave specific details of how to actually absorb the and use the energies of children for himself.

He knew full well this book held darker secrets and he was prepared to exploit them, he read on and made several notes as he scribbled manically onto a piece of paper. When he raised his head from reading he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror; his eyes had dark circles under them now. Ben frowned in disgust, this face was not his ‘true’ self.

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