ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, September 30, 1996 TAG: 9610010101
SECTION: NEWSFUN PAGE: NF-3 EDITION: METRO
It takes a lot of work to set up, perform and tear down the circus every day. Here's what 9-year-old Alan Davis' typical day is like:
7 a.m.: Arrive in town and start unloading and setting up. Help put together the elephant and snake displays.
9 a.m.: Breakfast
9:30 a.m.-noon: More setting up. If he has time, Alan will get some school work done, but if somebody needs help putting together a tent or exhibit, he helps them.
Noon-1 p.m.: Most of the performers and workers go to sleep, but Alan stays up and plays with his friends or catches up on his school work.
1 p.m.-4 p.m.: Sleep. He didn't get to bed last night until very late.
4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Wake up and eat dinner. Then Alan gets dressed and gets ready for the first show.
5:30 p.m.: The first show starts. Alan takes tickets for the snake show and tells the audience about each snake.
7:30 p.m.: The second show starts.
9:30 p.m.: After the last show, it's time to tear down the circus. Sometimes it takes two hours to tear down, sometimes it takes three or four hours. If he has time, Alan will do more school work late at night before they leave town.
1 a.m.: The circus is finally all packed up and ready to go. The caravan of trucks, trailers and campers moves out and heads to the next town to start all over again. Alan usually sleeps or watches out the window while they travel.
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Alan.by CNB