The Clown: The Upside-down Smile

Tricia, an excited six year old, grinned at the picture of an upside-down smile of a clown. “I love clowns.” She was getting ready to go to a parade with her mother, younger brother, Todd and their little sisters, Jennifer and Jocelyn.

Joanne, a single mother, gazed at Tricia’s happy face. “How can I keep my oldest daughter and other children safe?” wondered Joanne. “Everything is not always as it seems especially when there are large crowds of people.”

“Especially happy clowns. Do you like clowns, Mommy?”

“Sure, but remember there are clowns and then, there are clowns. Sometimes, clowns are funny, but not always, as there are good clowns and clowns that are not so good. A good clown makes us laugh. That is a clown's task in life. “Laughter is the best medicine” so it can heal our sadness.”

“Clowns have big smiles. Some clowns have big frowns, smiles that are upside-down too,” commented Tricia. “Why?”

“Everyone is not always happy. There are ups and downs in life.”

“Like a happy face we can turn upside-down?”

“Exactly.”

“We can trust clowns, right, Mommy?”

“Remember we never talk to strangers? Clowns are strangers too.”

“You don’t want Todd, Jennifer and Jocelyn talking to them either?”

Realizing this was a sensitive area in her children’s world, Joanne paused, not knowing how to respond. “If I say yes, it may take some of the fun out of the parade. If I say no, it could leave my children vulnerable to anyone masking as a clown.”

“Most clowns like children. They won’t hurt us. We should ask your permission to speak to clowns, especially ones that frighten us. Todd will be all right, but Jennifer and Jocelyn might get scared,” continued Tricia. 

“Young lady, you are wise beyond your years,” thought Joanne.

“We’ll stay close beside you and we’ll be safe, Mommy. Can you paint our faces like clowns?”

“I can do that,” replied Joanne. “Do you want happy faces or sad ones?”

“Right side-up ones,” replied Tricia, with a huge smile.