Little Focus and her pawpaw

 If a poet was to describe my life, they would not find it very fascinating. They would study me with narrowed eyes, glance at my family, my house, and my wardrobe, until they come to a conclusion, that my life is rather dull. And that would only happen if they were in a generous mood - otherwise, they'd just tell me to get lost.

Adults often tell me to get lost. Especially Mister Ghaard. He always seems to be anxious, and focused on his endless work. Papers, papers, papers. All the time. But it's not like I care. I have tons of other adults to keep me company, whenever I'm bored!

The truth is, I rarely am bored. There are so many things to take care of. And I recently turned nine, meaning that I need to do a lot of housework. I also help my family members with preparations, before their performances. I carry their props, clean their stage outfits, I make them coffee... Some of them treat me like their little assistant, which is exciting! Well, some of them still tell me to get lost right after I help them, but it's okay. I understand that.

None of them is a poet, and that is why none of them would call my life boring. I might not be an official member of the troupe yet, but hey, living in a circus is always so colorful! I love it, I really, really do! Especially since it's the one place that feels like home. My pawpaw says so too.

"Right, pawpaw?" I turned my head, so that he knew he was the one to answer. Not that I have more grandpas around the place. But still, just in case.

He raised his eyebrows, just as he always

did while being confused "Yes, dear?"

"I asked you a question, pawpaw. Please, answer."

"What question? I am pretty sure you forgot to say the question out loud." his lips formed a small smile "Are you talking inside your head again, Focus?"

I frowned, as I started to think. Am I talking inside my head? Yeah, I think I am. So I nodded.

"What are you willing to ask me, dear?" he smiled again.

"Living in the circus is fun. I think that it's really nice. And you think so as well, right?"

"But of course." his eyes turned back to a metal stage prop, which he was holding in his right hand. He came back to cleaning it, just like he always did before performances.

"When is the performance starting?" I looked at him again, but he was too focused on his job to look up again.

"In three hours. Meaning that guests will start coming inside the tent in two."

"Awe... so you are too busy to play?" I tried to catch his glance again, but failed to do so.

"I am sorry, dear. We will play after the performance, alright?"

"Okay." I nodded sadly. I finished all my chores, and there was no one around who would need my assistance. With nothing to do, I sat on a wooden box, which was used to carry metal equipment.

Pawpaw was still cleaning his metal prop, and he was paying a lot of attention to it. I knew how important it was to him. How important it was to everyone in my family. So I watched his movements, which were steady and almost automatic. He was a skilled prop cleaner, he has been doing that almost every day for... for how many years now?

"How old are you?" I looked at him, hoping to catch a glimpse of his attention again.

"Fifty seven. Why does it matter now?"

"I was wondering how skilled you are in cleaning stage equipment."

"I am very skilled, dear. I dare to say that I am the best equipment cleaner in the whole circus!" he chuckled softly.

I jumped off the wooden box and skipped to him "Let's do a cleaning competition! I wish to claim your title!"

"Sure, why not?" he handed me a cloth, and a bar of soap "Choose whichever part you like, and show me your abilities!"

I did just as he said. I started cleaning the first metal object which came to my hands with all the passion I had. I was determined to win this competition, because the stakes were high. The main prize was to meet my grandpa's eyes again, after all!

After a few minutes of extreme cleaning my fingers got tired, so I just lied on the floor and admitted my defeat. Pawpaw laughed at me, but it wasn't a mean laugh. It was more of a warm chuckle, and it made me feel a bit better with my bitter loss. So I continued to lay on the floor, as he was working. I didn't have any other questions to ask him, but I am certain that if I did, he would be eager to answer.

That is what I love about my pawpaw. He never tells me to get lost. He never gets rid of me. He never uses me for boring errands. He just spends time with me, as much as I want to. And when he is too busy to play, we just sit together.