My six-year-old mentally challenged sister, Abbie, who would was scheduled for heart surgery later that year, was scared by a clown.
The ear piercing scream broke the revelry the crowd was enjoying and caused them to fall into shocked silence. The whole city block seemed to be still for just a moment in time. The only sound was heard from my sister, Abbie, who was standing flanked on one side by my father and the other, in front of Jackson’s Drug Store and Harris Grocery in Monticello. She had basically caused the circus parade to come to a grinding halt.
Now, understand that Abbie was not solely at fault in this. She had been compelled to scream by what many children and their parents thought to be the funniest, most lovable person in the parade – a singing clown. The clown had spotted Abbie and realizing that she was mentally challenged, he had decided to brighten up the life of a six-year-old by singling her out of the crowd and singing to her.
Abbie didn’t like it. It was not the song she did not like. It was not the crowd. It was not the animals. It was the clown. Where others had seen a harmless person, Abbie had seen a monster.
In that moment, which still seems surreal to me, she had decided for two people, herself and for me, that clowns were evil. Gone were the days of good clowns like Red Skelton as Clem Kadillehopper or the clown I saw each afternoon on WALB-TV out of Albany, Georgia, named Clem Clown. My little sister, who was facing open heart surgery that year had screamed in horror. Because of that, even today, I am creeped out by clowns. Reading the book “It” by Stephen King only reinforced that fear.
This week, we have heard reports of clowns luring children into woods and into cars. Although I used to work for a man and his wife who had gone to Clown College in Sarasota and had done charity events as a clown, I still don’t trust clowns. Clowns have hidden their faces behind grease paint and the smiles of many look hideous. I know that all clowns are not evil, like the one who sang to Abbie could not have been more apologetic and sought my mother’s forgiveness profusely. I even have friends who share Jesus through clown ministries.
Clowns still creep me out today
But still…the older I get, the creepier the thoughts of clowns become and the memory of that moment in time from my childhood remains etched in my brain forever.
Now is not a good time for clowns to be seen in public, unless it’s at a circus. They don’t need to be seen in restaurants or anywhere near schools or daycares, or near my home. If you’re thinking of going dressed as Pennywise at Halloween, please don’t.
I was scared by the clown that evening because I was scared for Abbie — who along with my parents, and my brother, Danny, and sister, Debbie — were the most important people in the world to me. You never know when someone who has a heart condition like Abbie had could be scared to death.
You can get my books “Higher Call,” “Sudden Death: God’s Overtime,” and “Crimes Seen” available on Kindle and in paperback by going to Amazon.com
Jacob's Ladder 