Hey guys! So my English teacher had us write a short story about insight; or in other words a deep understanding of something. So here is mine. Hope you like it!

Dear Grandpa,

Before you died you told me to be different; to do something worth talking about when you're older. Well I did it. I became a freak

It was the summer of 1935. My parents decided to send me to live with my Uncle Mike and Aunt Sophie. After you died, mom would keep having hysteric episodes, and I guess my dad didn't want me around her. So off I am shipped to Cincinnati, Ohio.

When I got off the plane, my Uncle Mike was waiting for me. He picked me up and twirled me around, just like he did when I was little.

After we got out of the airport, he took me to an ice cream parlor. He got me something call a root beer float. I've never had one, but it was really good. I looked around and something weird.

It was a poster. It said the following:

"Coney Island proudly presents its very own freak show! See living, breathing monstrities like Zip and Pip the Pinheads, Schitzie, The Hilton Sister, the Half Boy, the tallest man in the world, and many many more!"

I have never heard of a freak show. The tallest man in the world? The half boy? Is that even possible? It sounded so cool. I looked at my Uncle Mike.

"Uncle Mike." I began. "What is a freak show?"

Uncle Mike looked at me. "Freaks shows are like human zoos. You pay a dime to go and see people with deformities put themselves on display. They are freaks of nature Lori." He told me.

I nodded, knowing that this wasn't the whole truth. When we were done we went home, where Aunt Sophie was waiting for us.

She gave me a windpipe crushing hug. "Oooh you have gotten so big!" She squealed. "You MUST come to the next meeting of the garden club with me. You can play with the others girls." She said.

"Greaaaaaaaat. "I muttered.

Soon enough the next meeting came and I'm sitting at a table filling with girls who only care about their appearance and "girly" stuff. The worst part: I look like one of them. With my light blue baby doll dress and Mary Jane's and braids with white ribbons on the end.

So I sit through an hour of boring chatter of movie stars, the latest dress, and the nail polish colors when finally, finally my Aunt Sophie came over to take me home. One of the girls looked at me.

"Lori, do you want to come with us to Coney Island? It will be loads of fun." She asked. The other girls nodded.

At first I wanted to say no, because the last thing I would want to do is spend another afternoon with these babies. But then I thought of the poster I saw the other day. The freak show at Coney Island. I have wanted to check it out, my uncle and aunt would never take me. This is my chance.

I opened my mouth, but it wasn't my voice that came out.

"She would love to!" Aunt Sophie squealed.

A couple days later I went to Coney Island with them. After much arguing from Aunt Sophie she let me wear my favorite pair of overalls. But my hair still had to be in braids.

When we got to Coney Island the girls went straight to the soda pavilion. Something told me that they weren't going to ride any of the rides. I stayed with them for about 10 minutes before running off to find the freak show.

I found it. I took the dime that I stole from Uncle Mike out of the pocket. I put it in the little box and went in.

There were little stations that looked like a small stage. The person or people on it were considered "freaks".

I went from station to station looking at each "freak." One stage labeled "The Hilton Sisters." They were twins, but they were connected at the hip. They sang and danced.

The next station had a really tall man. Robert Waldow was his name. He looked down and smiled at me. He bent down and shook my hand. I smiled.

I saw many more. A half man, a really thin man courting a really fat lady, and even a boy whose hands were those of a lobster.

I got to the second to last station, where a man with no arms or legs was shown. A man was standing beside me. He was taking notes and watching intently. The roly poly man (that's the nickname I gave him) lighted a cigar with his tongue.

"Wow" I breathed.

"Fascinating isn't it?" I looked and saw that the man beside me was speaking. I nodded.

"Tell me girl, do you think these people are freaks?" He asked me. I looked at him, then the roly poly man.

"No, I think these people are wonders of the world. The freaks are the people who think these are freaks." I reply, not because I didn't want to seem mean, but because that's what I believe and you that. The man smiled.

"You and I think alike kid, what is your name?" He asked. Now if this wasn't this man, I would just run out, but I think you told me that this man is to be trusted.

"Lori Chevy." I said.

"Robert Ripley." He said, and he shook my hand. "You know, one day I'm going to make a museum and display wonders like these. I will call it an odditourium." He told me.

"Well then Mr. Ripley, I will have to come and see your odditourium." I said. He bow at me and left.

I walked to the last station. I saw a girl bending her body in inhumanly ways. Foreword, backward, she even bended herself into a pretzel. Then I realized something.

I could do everything she did.

When I was little I would to gymnastics on the floors. Bending my body the way she was doing. But I never thought of it as weird. I thought everyone could do. I could be one of these people.

"Lori!" I turned around. These were the girls.

"It's time to go home." They said. I ran out and went home.

A couple days later I was about to walk into the kitchen when I heard Aunt Sophie and Uncle Mike talking.

"I can't believe you got laid off." Aunt Sophie remarked. "What are we going to do for money?"

"Sophie I don't know ok? I'm doing all I can to get money for food. We may have to send Lori back to John and Becky." Uncle sighed. I gasped and ran back to my room.

I paced around, thinking on what I could do. Then it hit me.

The freaks shows at Coney get paid. A lot. I could be one of them. I raced down stairs and out the door.

"Where are you going!?" Aunt Sophie shrieked.

"The girls are taking me to Coney Island today! I forgot to talk you sorry!" I lied.

"Have fun!"

I put a dime in the box and ran in. I looked around and saw a door that said "Manager." I went in. The manager looked up at me and laughed.

Before he could say anything I spoke. "I want to be a freak." A said. He was clearly taken aback by this. I mean it's not everyday someone asked to be a freak.

"You can't be a freak." He said. "Why not?" I asked.

"Because you don't look like one." I opened my mouth in shock. "The flexible lady doesn't look like a freak but she is." I pointed out.

"And you can do what she can?" The manager asked. "Actually yes" I said. "Show me."

I looked around and saw a glass and a sink. I took the glass and filled it with a little bit of water. I put it on the floor in front of me.

I did a chin stand. I watched my feet pick up the glass. I brought it to my lips and bit it. I drank the water.

The manager was amazed by this. I stood up and he spoke.

"That was amazing! You got the job!" The man said. He shook my hand.

"Send all the money I make to this address." I quickly jot down Uncle Mike and Aunt Sophie's address. The man nodded.

"You start next week." I nodded.

My time at the freak shows was fun. I never knew how interesting these people could be. These people quickly became my new friends. I worked every day, told my aunt and uncle that I got a job as a face painter. They believed me.

One day all of "freak" went into the woods to have some fun. They only ones that didn't come were Robert and Bunny. Pete laid down a played his harmonica. Daisy and Violet clapped as the rest of us pranced around him. The half boy walked on hands. We all had so much fun. We all acted like children, and we didn't care who thought otherwise. But then, something happened.

"LORI!" Someone shrieked. I reluctantly turned around. The group of girls from the garden club was standing there; disgusted.

The "freaks" were frightened by the "normal" people and ran behind Daisy and Violet, who were the farthest from the girls.

"Lori why are you hanging around with these freaks!?" She shrieked. I heard the "freaks" gasp. I opened my mouth in shock.

"What did you just call them?" I asked.

"Freaks! They are disgusting little freaks of human nature!" The girl repeated.

"These people are wonders of the world. They are unique; there is no one like them in the whole world. Unlike you; I bet there are plenty of you around the world. They are not freaks, they are human beings. Like you and me. And I would choose them over you ANY day of the week. I have been." I said. The girl was clearly shocked, as no one dared to ever speak to her like that. But I kept going.

"We "freaks" has a code. You offend one of us, you offend us all. And since you offend them, you offended me. Because I am one of them." The girl smirked.

"You are not one of them Lori, you are one of us." The girl sneered. I raised my eyebrows. I bended my body back and formed a perfect circle. I rolled myself over to Daisy and Violet. I released and stood up.

"Can you do that?" I asked. The girl rolled her eyes. "Didn't think so." I smirked.

"You freaks are disgusting, we are out of here." The girls turned their heels and left. I turned and whispered to them.

"At least here not normal like them." They all laughed and we continued our fun.

Well it turns out that the girl told her mom, who told my uncle and aunt. They did not approve. They called my parent to come and pick me up.

The day my parents picked me up I ran to Coney Island. I didn't tell anyone. I walked my dressing room and changed. I told my friends that this was my last day at the freak show. Then it was opening time and I stepped onstage.

I saw the girls, Uncle Mike and Aunt Sophie, my parents, the ladies from the garden club. They all looked at me with disgust.

"Lori! Come down from that stage this instant!" My father demanded. I panicked. But then I saw someone that gave me hope.

Robert Ripley was standing behind them. He was smiling at me, watching on what I was going to do. I looked to the side of me, where I saw my friends. They all nodded at me.

I ignored everyone who was telling to come down. To me that sounded like them wanted me to be normal. I focused on what made me different.

I did all my tricks and felt that I was on the top. I did the water trick, the rolling trick, and many more. Sadly, it came the time that I had to get off.

I got undressed and hugged all my friends' goodbye. They gave me a gift, a notebook with all their autographs in it. I took a deep breath and walked out of the dressing room.

Angry relatives swarmed me. But my mother pulled me aside first. She looked into my eyes.

"Why did you do this?" She asked kindly. I sighed.

"I made Grandpa a promise to be different." I said. My mom smiled and kissed my forehead. Then she hugged me.

"You're not mad?" I asked. She shook her head. I turned around.

Mr. Ripley was standing in the back. I excused myself and went to go talk to him.

"Did you enjoy the performance Mr. Ripley?" I asked, acting like I was oh so proper.

"Very much Ms. Chevy." I smiled.

"In fact, I would like you and your friends to be featured in my odditourium. Would you do me the honor of accepting my offer?" Mr. Ripley asked.

I looked at my friends. They gave me thumbs up and nodded. I looked at my relatives. My mother nodded. I looked back at Mr. Ripley.

"We would love to." I said.

So I did it grandpa. Fulfilled your promise. I am different. I am proud. And I hope I made you proud.

Love,

Lori