juggled six plates at once. Eddie had spent countless hours practicing on
the boardwalk—pebbles, rubber balls, whatever he could find. It was no
big deal. Most pier kids could juggle.
But now he worked the two rocks furiously, juggling them faster,
impressing the guard. Then he stopped, held the rocks out, and said,
"Get me another one."
Crazy Three grunted.
"Three rocks, see?" Eddie held up three fingers. "Three."
By now, Morton and Smitty were sitting up. The Captain was moving
closer.
"Where are we going here?" Smitty mumbled.
"If I can get one more rock.. ." Eddie mumbled back.
Crazy Three opened the bamboo door and did what Eddie'd hoped he
would do: He yelled for the others. Crazy One appeared with a fat rock
and Crazy Two followed him in. Crazy Three thrust the rock at Eddie
and yelled something. Then he stepped back, grinned at the others, and
motioned for them to sit, as if to say, "Watch this."
Eddie tossed the rocks into a rhythmic weave. Each one was as big as
his palm. He sang a carnival tune. "Da, da-da-da daaaaa.. ." The
guards laughed. Eddie laughed. The Captain laughed. Forced laughter,
buying time.
"Get closer," Eddie sang, pretending the words were part of the
melody. Morton and Smitty slid gently in, feigning interest.
The guards were enjoying the diversion. Their posture slackened.
Eddie tried to swallow his breathing. Just a little longer. He threw one
rock high into the air, then juggled the lower two, then caught the third,
then did it again.
"Ahhh," Crazy Three said, despite himself.
"You like that?" Eddie said. He was juggling faster now. He kept
tossing one rock high and watching his captors' eyes as they followed it
into the air. He sang, "Da, da-da-da daaa," then, "When I count to
three," then, "Da, da-da-da daaaa.. ." then, "Captain, the guy on the
lefffft.. ."
Crazy Two frowned suspiciously, but Eddie smiled the way the
jugglers back at Ruby Pier smiled when they were losing the audience.
"Lookie here, lookie here, lookie here!" Eddie cooed. "Greatest show on
earth, buddy boy!"
Eddie went faster, then counted, "One... two.. ." then tossed a rock
much higher than before. The Crazies watched it rise.