LONDON Covent Garden Juggler

Subject: Covent Garden Juggler

Ngaire Parkinson, our friend from Christchurch, spent some time with Bev and I in London. She had been travelling around the continent and Ireland . It was lovely to spend time with her going to shows in the west end and wandering through the city looking at all the sights.

After a matinee show we emerged from the theatre into the crowd and drifted towards Convent Garden. Street where performers and musicians were in full swing .

One mime artist was preparing his show . He had arranged small children on a broad step to give himself a clear demarcation of his imaginary stage.

Ngaire and Bev settled down on this step watching the antics of the performer.

I was carring Ngaire's back pack, partly to carry the weight and also for security as pick pockets work the crowd while

people are distracted watching the show.

I wandered on a little and found a place, behind the virtual stage, where I could lean my back against a pillar which would offer some protection from thieves.

He was a clever artist drawing the children into his act . I could see directly into his suitcase.

Amoungst the theatrical props he had to keep his audience entertained I spotted juggling balls and wondered at his skills . I watched closely as he knelt down behind the case with the upturned lid masking his actions to most of the assembly .

He emerged from hiding having slipped on a fake severed arm . He was yelling out in pain and drawing a humorous response form the crown with his antics .

Before I knew it he was at my side . He grabbed me in the crutch taking hold of my family jewels. He held me with such force that I dare not move for fear of increasing the pain. He kept up a high volume of screaming noise and maintained his grip for what seemed like minutes, in reality it was probably 15 seconds.

To the crowd it would have looked as if the severed arm and hand was simply resting across my front . On the contrary it was masking his grip on my genitalia.

He moved off as quick as he arrived . The crowd was having a great hoot at my expense . I looked over to Bev and Ngaire who were unaware of my predicament and laughing heartily that I had become a street juggle with two balls, in Convent Garden.

I wonder what will happen next

Alvin