I don't dare to move. As the hand on my shoulder turns me I feel a lump in my throat, and even though I'm stiff I let myself get turned around. I was expected to scream again but I saw a smiling face staring back at me. "Philip," I whispered. "Hello my lady. I guess I'm a little late," he chuckled. I nodded somewhat relieved. I looked behind me and the twins were gone. "So you decided to join the family," he asked. I nodded as if it was instinct. I never gave thought to my family, my friends. I was doing this compulsively. Being too scared to leave and too afraid to stay.

Phil's bright hope filled eyes was enough to almost make me forget the horrors. "I'm glad. You're one of us. You'll love it. Come on, let's get out of here. I want to show you something," he smiled taking my hand. I let him lead my body. I didn't fight it, my feet just moved. Like I was a balloon on a string.

He walked me to the back of the tent. He pulled back the curtain to reveal a large cage. My heart stopped. I could feel my body shutter. There were 4 children . Three boys and one girl. They were dressed in white tops and black shorts. They were asleep on the floor of the cage.

Phil walked up to the bars and smiled, "aren't they cute. When they get old enough one of them will join me taming the animals. The others will go to other family members. I'm so excited," he said sweetly. "What about their families," I asked with out thinking. Almost as if was impulse. Phil without missing a beat said, "we're their family now. Soon they'll forget and after a few years so will their parents." It was almost like he expected that question.

I looked at the each child's face and asked, "but isn't this basically kidnapping?" I asked concerned. "Kidnapping is an ugly word. We prefer to call it adoption," he smiled back at me and I gulped. His happiness, his joy. It's not fake, yet it scares me. "Why these children," I asked. "These four will be happier here. Our family is full of broken people. We all have issues not many understand. These children know that feeling too well," said Phil with a soft smile. "How are you broken," I asked softly.

Phil looked up as if recalling a dream. "I can't feel sadness. I never have. People didn't understand. How would you act if a boy who can't cry, smiled brightly at his own mothers funeral," he asked sweetly. He looked back at me with the most angelic expression.

I stopped. I looked at him in disbelief. How could someone not feel what I've felt for a great deal of my life. "That's insane," I replied. "You came here because you're broken too. Isn't that right?" He smiled. I guess I never thought about it. "I've been in the hospital for most of my life. Friends start to forget and eventually not show up. I guess I've just been so lonely that I began to think it was my fault," I thought as I stared at the bars. I look at Phil who was warmly smiling at me. "I guess I am," I whispered.

"Don't worry; you make broken look beautiful," he smiled lovingly as he laid a hand on my shoulder. I heard footsteps and before I could say anything Phil waved. "Dan!" He said happily.  "What's going on here," he asked. Phil wanted up to him and said, "just showing her the children." Dan looked almost frustrated. "The show is starting in an hour, people are already at the tent entrance. How would it look if anyone saw kids in a cage," snapped Dan scolding Phil. Yet Phil looked almost use to it. "I know, I'm sorry," said Phil. "Go get ready and you," he then pointed at me. "Come with me," Dan finished.