Dad steps up onto a box. ‘As you know,’ he says loudly, ‘a new big top is at least a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Or we can rent one for about five thousand a week. Does anyone have savings or know anyone we could borrow the money from?’ He is signing for Jerry.

‘I might be able to borrow a few thousand from my brother,’ says Zanni.

Jerry signs, ‘I have a thousand dollars.’

No-one else speaks up. I know my family has no savings, although maybe Dad could ask his father, who lives in a town out west. Grampy lives in a small cottage and drives a pretty old car, but maybe he has some money tucked away.

‘Our circus is coming apart at the seams, just like the big top,’ says Walid gloomily.

‘You know what?’ says Dad. ‘We need to ask Peter Potts for the money. It’s the obvious solution.’

‘He’s not going to lend us money!’ says Diego. He throws his arms into the air. ‘It’s over. We might as well give up now.’ He walks off into the darkness.

Li Lin hugs Claudie, who’s sobbing. Kit has a twin in pyjamas on each hip.

‘Hold on, everyone! I’m phoning Peter Potts,’ says Dad, and dials.

‘Put it on speaker!’ yells someone.

Peter Potts answers quickly, his voice impatient. ‘Yes? What? You realise it’s almost one in the morning?’

Dad explains that the big top has torn, and asks for the money. ‘Please, Peter. We filled the tent tonight. There were only five empty seats, and the bookings are solid for Canmore. We’re making a profit. Give us a chance.’

‘Let me talk to Merry,’ says Peter Potts.

Dad pauses. ‘She’s not here.’

‘Where is she?’

Dad is silent.

‘Is she okay?’ says Peter Potts. ‘Has she left you? What’s going on?’

‘She’ll be back,’ Dad says.

‘Well, she’s the only one I’ll talk to about this. She’s the only one I trust. She’s got twenty-four hours to call me. I’m flying to China tomorrow at midnight and she needs to call me before that. If she doesn’t, then I might as well sell the trucks and circus name to the buyer I’ve got waiting, because if you don’t have a big top, you don’t have a circus. I’ll give you all your last week of pay, but there will be no more performances. Unless Merry calls me before I leave.’ He hangs up.

Someone shouts, ‘Where is Merry? I can’t believe she’d walk away. Something’s fishy.’

I step up onto the box beside Dad. ‘I’ll get Merry,’ I say loudly. ‘I’ll find her and bring her back.’ I look at Sylvie while I say this and she stares back at me, eyes wide, then shakes her head.