Cuento de Luz (Tale of Light) publishes stories that enlighten our lives to bring out our inner child. Stories that make time stand still for us to live the present. Stories that take the imagination on a journey and help care for our planet, to respect differences, break down barriers and promote peace. Stories that do not leave you indifferent; stories that lift you up. Cuento de Luz respects the environment and contributes to the protection of nature, incorporating sustainability principles through eco-friendly publishing.
Flea Circus All rights reserved. Unless provided by law, no part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, publicly communicated or transformed in any way without the authorisation of the publisher.
Š 2010 Cuento de Luz SL Calle Claveles 10 Urb. Monteclaro Pozuelo de Alarcon 28223 Madrid, Spain www.cuentodeluz.com Text and illustrations Š Monica Carretero English translation by Jon Brokenbrow ISBN: 978-84-938240-0-6 DL: M-47438-2010 Printed by Graficas AGA in Madrid, Spain, November 2010, print number 65691
Mini-Animalist Series
Monica Carretero
Fleas are very tiny insects, and it’s difficult to see them without making quite an effort. They feel the cold terribly, and so that’s why they always choose to live in very warm places, and that’s also why they love animals so much. Especially the ones that are very hairy. The perfect home for a flea is the back of a shaggy dog, a lion’s mane or the huge body of a bear.
Sometimes, fleas aren’t exactly given a warm welcome by these animals, because they have the annoying habit of constantly tickling them. Although it’s nice to be tickled for a little while, if it goes on and on it can be a real torture. Fleas are brown, which is the perfect colour if you want to go unseen anywhere, except for a snowy mountain.
But once upon a time, something amazing happened. A group of fleas who weren’t happy living amongst fur and feathers decided to change their lives, and fill them with colour and magic. They decided to start a circus. The smallest circus in the world: the magnificent, the extraordinary:
Dadadadadadadadadada, Dadadadadadadadadada, Dadadadada, dadadadada, Dadadadadadadadadada! The music played inside the tiny tent.
The audience were settling down into their seats. The baskets of the fleas who sold popcorn were empty. Hopping Henrietta the talent-spotter flea arrived just in the nick of time, and settled down in the best seat in the house. The lights went down.
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls from all over the world,” – on hearing this, a group of African fleas cheered and waved their legs in the air – “The show…” continued the voice, “IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!!!!!” Colored lights span and danced over the canvas of the big top to the sound of a drum roll. Suddenly, everything went dark. Everything was silent. A single spotlight lit up the centre of the ring, and thousands of tiny eyes gazed at it eagerly. And then, into the ring strode Eugene, the great Eugene himself, a flea who was much smaller than the rest but with a voice that sounded like it was coming from the throat of a dinosaur. He wore an elegant frock coat, patent leather shoes and gloves with polka dots, all finished off with a beautiful top hat in blue and white stripes. Eugene looked at the audience, bowed, and then hopped onto a box at the edge of the ring.
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, you are about to witness something truly astounding�, said Eugene, and he looked up at the top of the tent.
Small, seemingly insignificant insects decide to change their lives and create a wonderful circus; a world full of joy, magic and humor. Not judging by appearances, believing in yourself and developing the artist in all of us are some of the learning of this charming story.
US$ 14.95 CA$ 16.95 GBÂŁ 12.95