“ and now the act Expectations will be presented to you”

the ring master shouts.
The very first juggling ball is thrown to me,
the ball says “Do your homework”.

My makeup stays on
A plaster smile is caked onto my face
My costume glistens in the stage lights
and I’m a star juggling this one ball.

Another ball is hurtled at me,
“Have a social Life” is a bit harder to juggle
but nonetheless I manage.

“Chores” is tossed at me, now the struggle is on
“Be a part of the family”
is mixed in with all of the balls.

Finally the last ball I have to juggle is directed towards me.
“Take care of yourself” soars through the air.
All of a sudden I stumble,
“Do your homework” falls to the ground.

“Have a social life” soon discovers the same fate.
My plastered smile begins to shift into a frown.
I pretend not to notice.
The show must go on I think

“Chores” “Be a part of the family” are thrown into the audience.
I try not to show emotion as I toss around one ball.
BOOM! I slip on “Do your homework”
and I tumble to the floor.

“take care of yourself” an already fragile ball
breaks as it smashes on to the hard, black wood
The microphone screeches and my eardrums bulge.
I throw the microphone to the side of the stage

I pull my shaking legs up to my chest and rest my head on my knees.
My Juggling act is no longer a sight to see
but a crumpled mess of makeup, sparkly costumes and emotion
splattered across the stage.