The laughter didn't die down immediately. It rolled through the tent in waves, mixing with claps, whistles, and amused shouts.
Gray straightened up slowly, one hand pressed to his chest as if deeply offended.
"Almost passed out?" he said loudly, peeking back at the man he had scared. "Sir, I assure you that was a professional heart attack. Very controlled."
The crowd burst out laughing again.
He spun around, tripped on purpose, barely catching himself before face-planting into the stage.
"Oho! See? Still alive! Mostly!"
More laughter.
Children were practically crying from how hard they were laughing.
Gray didn't stop moving as a clown would never let the silence settle.
He pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve, wiped his brow dramatically… then kept pulling.
Grip!
And pulling.
And continued doing so.
The cloth kept coming, long enough to trail across the stage, over the edge, brushing past the first row. A little girl grabbed the end, her eyes shining with excitement.
