I DON'T OWN THE GREATEST SHOWMAN. IF I GET REVIEWS, I'LL KEEP GOING.

March 1849. New York, New York.

Antony Coleman was humming to himself as he balanced a candlestick on his nose. His entire life, which so far was only 13 years. He'd had a real knack for balancing large objects on his nose. He couldn't really do much else. His old man didn't let him get a decent education. He'd gone to school one time and his old man had given him a good thrashing for it.

"You tryin to learn how to read and write boy?" His old man said as he smacked him upside the head. "Who told you to meddle with such foolishness, huh? Who told you?" In fact, no one had told him. He'd simply gone out of sheer curiosity. Antony wasn't allowed to leave the shack he lived in with his old man unless he was begging for money or stealing. Old man Coleman was a drunk if ever there was one. Every cent they got went to whiskey. When Antony's old man got drunk, he raised Hell. He'd spent the night in the jail more than once and Antony was glad of it. Every night that his old man didn't get jailed for plain drunkenness, Antony would get beat. Not just one or two lashes with a belt, he'd get beat bad. Most people, even in those days, would call that child abuse. Antony didn't. It's not that he liked it, it's just that he didn't know any other life. To him, getting the crap kicked out of you for coming home penniless was a daily thing. Every day, you could find Antony on the streets begging or stealing and this particular day was no different. As he was balancing the candlestick on his nose, the shopkeeper whose store he'd taken it from came out.

"Get out of my store, you urchin!" The man shouted as he snatched the candlestick off Antony's nose. Antony ran from the store and dashed into an alleyway before the copper could be called. He'd been begging since the previous night, but had little to show for it. He sighed and prepared to go home to the beating that awaited him when suddenly, he heard 2 men discussing something they'd read in the newspaper.

"I tell you Archie, that Barnum's a humbug. No question." One of the men said.

"Ain't that the truth. Putting those freak on stage, disgraceful." Archie said as he tossed the paper in the trash. As they left, Antony reached into the rubbish pail and pulled out the crumpled paper. An advertisement caught his eye.

P.T. BARNUM'S CIRCUS

A SPECTACLE UNLIKE ANY THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN

NEEDED:ODDITIES AND/OR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL TALENTS

WAGES TO BE NEGOTIATED

SEE P.T. BARNUM OR PHILLIP CARLYLE

Included with the advertisement was the address of the business, it was halfway across the city. Normally, Antony wouldn't dare go so far from home with his old man's permission, but seeing as he was already due for a beating, he decided it was worth a try. Perhaps balancing heavy objects on one's nose was a "special talent."

Antony walked and snuck rides until he reached the address in the advertisement. As he gazed upon the building, he thought that it was the most impressive structure he'd ever seen. Antony saw several posters on the outside.

BARNUM CIRCUS-ANNE THE ACROBAT & THE WHIRLING W.D. THE FLYING WHEELERS

BARNUM CIRCUS-LETTIE LUTZ, THE BEARDED LADY

He went to the front doors, but they were locked. They must not be open yet, Antony thought as he went around to the back entrance. As he snuck in, he saw so many amazing props and sets and costumes. He settled into a hiding place and watched as all the oddities move about, preparing for that night's show. As he was taking it all in, Antony heard a huge growl that frightened him out of his wits. He turned around and saw two ferocious lions in a cage. Antony screamed in terror as he ran for his life, tripping over countless props. He finally found a place to hid as everyone ran towards him wondering what had happened.

"What's going on?" A man who looked like he was covered in fur asked.

"Someone snuck in, it might be one of the protesters." A colored man said, brandishing a iron pipe.

"I'm sorry, I was just tying to get inside." Antony said, afraid for his life. Suddenly, he heard a voice that sounded like an angel.

"He's just a boy. Come out honey, we won't hurt you." The voice said. Antony revealed himself as he saw that the voice belong to a hefty woman with a beard he recognized from the poster outside. "Are you all right?" Lettie asked as she caressed his face, trying to calm him down. Antony nodded.

"I'm sorry, I was just looking for Mr. Barnum and I got scared by the lions." He explained.

"Are you looking for work?" Lettie asked. Antony nodded. "Come with me." She said as she took antony's hand and led him in the direction of Barnum's office.

WILL ANTONY GET THE JOB? IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE? REVIEWS NEEDED.