#2 Carving A Niche

1924
"No Eugene, you've got to become part of it, don't think about what you're doing, just do it".
Eugene Judd picked himself up off the ground, spitting earth, grass and a few very confused insects free from his mouth. Looking up he saw the wire suspended from the specially constructed frame.
"Get yourself back up there and try again".
Eugene climbed the ladder and tentatively placed his right foot on the wire, slowly he started to make his way across. He attempted to focus past the wire, but a Jackrabbit, it's slumber disturbed, darted from a bush to his right, stopping suddenly, it stood on it's hind legs, thumping the ground, as if protesting the presence of these interlopers, then it's dash started again and it disappeared into the undergrowth. Eugene felt himself falling, instinctively he grabbed the wire, spinning around it's length, he waited until he was at the top of his upward arc and released his grip, throwing his weight to his left, he performed two perfect somersaults and landed perfectly on the platform at the end of the wire, he then slid unceremoniously backwards down the ladder, catching his head as he fell. He ended up as an ungraceful heap at the bottom of the ladder. Cameron McIntyre burst out laughing,
"Serves you right for being a cocky little sod",
it was only then that he noticed Eugene wasn't moving and blood was pooling around his head.

Later "Well how is he Doc?" "He's fine, a mild concussion, but he's made a real mess of the side of his head, he practically tore his ear off on his way down, I've stitched all the bits back together as best as I could, but even when it's healed, it's going to look ugly".
"What about balance, will that be affected?"
"Cam, his balance is excellent, and this little accident isn't going to change that".
...
Eugene Judd lay on his bed, trying his best to hold back the tears, the dull ache on the side of his head, had suddenly become a severe pain, it was the only thing keeping him awake.
Martha McIntyre, Cameron's wife and greatest critic entered the room with a tray. "Hello Genie, Thought I'd bring you a little something to eat",
"Is Cam angry with me".
"Of course not Genie, he was more concerned than anything else, he said to say. You got to learn to walk before you try to run",
a small smile broke across Eugene's face. After Martha had left he tucked into his food, surprised about how easy he found it to eat. Finished, he laid the tray on the floor, prevented from sleep by the ache in his head, his mind began to drift...................

He had been so sure of himself when he walked away from the foundling home, but the first plaintiff cry of an awakening nocturnal animal almost changed his mind. He was so sure of his intentions, he would go and find his father and he would be so happy to see Eugene again, they would hug and cuddle and then be a proper family. The fact that his father had not even responded to inquires from the authorities after his mother's death and the fact that he had no idea where his father might be had no bearings on the eight-year-old's plans. The three days he had spent wandering around in circles not five miles from the home, were a painful memory forever etched into his mind. The first two days he had spent eating berries and surviving on stream water, the third day he had actually managed to eat game. Granted he had not caught it in the snare he had set from his own design, all that had done is almost taken his fingers off when he had tried to make adjustments. He wasn't sure who had been more surprised, himself or the baby rabbit enjoying the early morning, momentarily, before he had trodden on it in his flight from the irate farmer who had almost caught him stealing the eggs. He realized he had a choice, eat the rabbit or starve, as the eggs where now just a littered memory on the trail behind him. Preparing the rabbit had almost broken his will there and then, accusing eyes followed him through every step, until he had had no option, but to look away and prepare it that way. By the time he had finished there was more meat on the ground than in his hands and he looked like he had been involved in some horrific happening. It was then that the rain had started. It was this same, bloody, soaking; weeping form Cameron McIntyre had almost driven over, three hours later.
.....................
Cameron Mcintyre had been on the road most of his life, first with his father and then alone until he had met and wooed Martha. Primarily a tumbler, he hooked up with any Carnival that crossed his path, but when need arose; he had flimmed flammed to make enough for food. It was only providence which had bought him to the small form that night, he was going to lay up in the last town, but too many questions and suspicions regarding the disappearance of a eight year old dwarf from the foundling home had persuaded him to leave. After Martha had cleaned up the boy and fed him, Cameron insisted they take him back, but by then Eugene was sleeping. Somewhere during the night, Martha had persuaded Cam to let him stay for a while, maybe the boy's insistence, that if he was taken back he would only run again had had some bearing, or maybe it was because Cameron had seen something of himself in the boy, if asked he could never actually pinpoint the cause. One day had turned into one week and then a month, two years later Eugene was still there and it had all been one big adventure to him. He had met so many people, the 'Find the Queen' man, who had taught him how to train his fingers to be fast and manipulative, no longer an encumbrance, but a tool he use with impunity, the so called mind reader who had taught him to listen to all the sounds he heard and then think about them, then Cam himself, who had trained his body, so that, for all it's stunted growth, it became a supple form which Eugene could control and utilize almost to perfection. He was not sure how he felt about Cam or Martha, he couldn't say he loved them, his every emotion was centered on memories of his mother, love, sadness and anger left a trail leading straight to his mother.
..........
Eugene smiled then yawned, the last memory subsiding, again being replaced by the dull ache, the last image in his mind's eye, his mother's face, then sleep claimed him. Twenty minutes later Martha walked in to remove his tray, stooping down she kissed his forehead, pulling the blanket up around his shoulders.

One Week Later
Eugene climbed the ladder and steadied himself on the platform, starring across the length of the wire; he prepared himself, a quick glance at the ground six feet below.
"Are you sure your ready for this Eugene, your ear still looks like a horses ass", Eugene just grinned at Cam, placing his foot on the wire, a breeze blew, he chose to ignore it, blocking out ambient sounds he began his walk starring straight ahead.
...
"Come on Eugene, you can do it, come on, come to mummy",
One foot tentatively placed in front of the other, a quick release of the chair, swaying and then six sudden steps, he was there, familiar arms enfolding him, her scent a familiar odor that triggered a sense of security throughout his small form, a shriek and then garbled words that had no meaning,
"He walked Conrad, Eugene walked",
Conrad Judd barely glanced up from his paper.
..............
"Yeah Genie!" Martha's voice pierced the vague memories, he returned to reality, a glance behind showing the rope behind him, a look at his feet planted firmly on the platform, elation flooded through, so intense it almost spilled him for the second time in a week. Clambering down the ladder, he let out a shrill yelp and tumbled across the ground, adrenaline preventing him from just walking, he planted a perfect landing at Cameron's feet, a huge smile splitting his face.
"I did it Cam, I did it", a hug and then a gentle pat on the back,
"I said you could Eugene, well done, now...let's eat.........