{The Welcoming Committee}
“Fresh meat, eh?” Violet muttered, as she and her conjoined twin, Zoe, approached the Big Top. It was to be empty now, everyone having completed their practice for the day--save for the newbie, said to be called Josephine. Zoe pushed a pesky tent flap out of their way. “You’d better be nice,” she barked. “You remember how scared we--well, I--was, when we first got here.” Vi remained silent--her smirk and stare said it all--before scoffing at her own spitting image.
“Whoa,” the flower’s voice wilted down to a whisper. The twins squatted, their target acquired. A whirr of arms juggled skyward, their owner’s back before them. “That’s insane.” “Yeah,” Zoe had to concur. “It is.” They watched in silence for a moment, before Violet incited the greeting with which they’d initially come--well--armed. “Josephine, right?” She thought to tap her shoulder, but feared she’d get jabbed with an elbow or three. “We’re the welcoming committee. I’m Violet.” She gave a quick bend of the head toward her “sister.” “This is Zoe. We’re the Cleome Twins.” Zoe piped up. “Nice to meet you.”
