Respect for the Office

Bobo beeped his shiny nose, flapped his floppy feet, and smiled at the interviewer.

"It's a relief to be able to be myself again," said the clown. "I had to keep a poker face during the speech. To show respect, you know. For the office."

"If you could clarify that a bit for our viewers," replied the interviewer, "what speech are you talking about?"

"Oh, the State of the Circus," said Bobo, pulling masses of colored ribbons from the pocket of his purple and orange checkered coat.

"And the person giving the speech ...?"

"The Ringmaster, of course."

"So can you explain the necessity of this 'poker face' you mention?" asked the interviewer.

"Well, the guy was so ridiculous!" laughed Bobo, honking his horn while his pants fell down around his ankles. "And he talked about the silliest things!"

"As I recall," prompted the interviewer, "the Ringmaster talked about getting a living wage and safe working conditions for circus employees, humane treatment of animals, and providing outstanding entertainment for the cutomers."

"Didn't I say he was ridiculous?" replied Bobo, pulling up his pants, not for the first time. "It was all I could do to keep from guffawing out loud!"

"So why was it so important for you to keep a straight face?" inquired the interviewer.

"Well, I'm the Chief of the Clown Car!" Bobo squirted the interviewer with his lapel flower. "I have to make sure it's packed full of clowns, don't I? And delivers nothing but clowns! The camera's always on me."

"And you maintained this poker face," suggested the interviewer, "because you respect the Ringmaster. Is that right?"

"The position of Ringmaster," Bobo corrected. He waddled around in a circle and fell flat on his buttocks. "This Ringmaster is a joke. What we need is a clown in the job, someone who knows what a circus is about. That will be no lauging matter!"