Dana had the boy take a bow and return to his seat. "Let's give this boy some applause for coming up here Over and over she tried to go through the hoop and get the treat, but as hard as she tried she found that treat just beyond her reach. Dana finally flipped it into her mouth. "Let's give it up for Lacey the Performing dog." The audience applauded and this time when they put their hands together you get hear so many of the people in the audience clapping with real delight and enthusiasm. and trying something new."
More stunts and gags and acrobatic feats were all in the show. And then Dana asked, "are you ready to see what the dog can do now?" "Yeah!" the audience roared.
Lacey bound off her stool and leaped through the hoop. Not once, not twice, but many times. She kept saying to herself, "I'm going to jump right through that hoop and get that treat Dana is holding in his hand."
Next she jumped up into Dana's arms. He lifted her over his head and set her hind feet on his shoulders and her front paws on his head. Then Dana juggled for the audience while Lacey gazed out over the crowd.
Dana got her a tall stool and Lacey leaped up and sat there. Dana pulled out his ukulele. "You know, 1951 was a very good year for songs with a dog in it. Yeah, 1951 that when you could be a dog, learn a song and maybe if things turned out for you get a good home to live in with a family who would love you."
Lacey just sat there anticipating her favorite part. Dana strummed the ukulele and sang, "How much is that doggie in the window?" and just exactly then Lacey replied, "arf! arf!" Everyone just cracked up. Kid's laughed and parents looked so pleased and amused. Lacey's timing and smart reply was such a happy moment. The song continued and Lacey did her part perfectly. Once more at the end of this routine the audience gave Lacey a rousing ovation. Lacey was working hard for her audience and they were entirely delighted with her efforts.
"And now for the final trick in the show. I'm going to need seven children to help me and Lacey."
Why nearly every little hand in the audience was up in the air. Some kids were so excited to help they stood and were shouting, "pick me, pick me, pick me."
"Now, I can only use seven of you, so please forgive me if I can't pick all of you, I really wish I could."
Lacey sat there on the stool as Dana got seven children to come on up and line up in a row at the front of the stage.
"And now, Lacey for her final trick will attempt to run and leap over the top of all these children!" the kids on stage all suddenly had big eyes. "That's right Lacey is going to run and leap over the top of these seven children and land on this last little boy right here." That last boy smiled and looked at Dana and said, "No, she's not."
"I'm just fooling," Dana said. "Now, I want you all to kneel down and then lean forward.
The kids followed directions. "Now, perhaps you could scoot together a bit closer. Lacey doesn't have wings."
"Come on over here Lacey." Lacey jumped down off the stool and ran right over to the far end of the stage. Dana gave her the command to stay. Lacey didn't. He asked her to sit, but she couldn't.
"Oh, this little dog is so excited. Come on girl. You sit right here."
Dana walked back to the seven children. He picked up the hoop, and then kneeled down just behind the seven children. "Steady now. Stay right where you are. Don't move."
Lacey was alert. Her ears were up. She didn't take her eyes off Dana. She was not more than thirty feet away. Inside this little dog was a little burst of energy about to be let loose. She just sat there with this intense look on her face. She was ready.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, Lacey the performing dog is going to do her impression of a motorcycle stunt daredevil preparing to leap over these seven children who are doing their impression of a bunch of rusty old cars."
Dana moved the hoop over the top of the children. He took the hand with the treat and placed it on the other side of the hoop and then he said, "Come on girl!"
Lacey had been sitting there so long it seemed like Dana was never going to give her the command. All at once Lacey was off. "I can do this." Lacey said. In two strides she was going full speed. "I can make it." In an instant she was practically ready to take off. "I'm going to jump." And then finally up she leaped stretching her front legs as she formed a long thin line. "I'm in the air," she said. Her leap arched upward as she took aim for the center of the hoop and then further she flew across all seven children and finally landing on the ground just past the last child on the other side.
"I did it. I made it. Everyone's okay." Lacey was saying. Dana flipped her a special reward for her efforts while the audience let out their greatest response of the entire show. Every single person cheered loudly and applauded with gusto. There was such delight and pleasure in watching Lacey leap out over the children. It was a moment that everyone just had to see. Most folks had no idea that one simple jump by Lacey could be so exciting.
The children stood. Dana had them all take a bow. Lacey was prancing around them all sniffing them and wiggling her short little tail and making new friends and like everyone else she was enjoying the end of the show. Everyone took their seats. Dana had Lacey jump into his arms.
"Now Lacey and I work for your donations. We are street performers. We make our living by what our audiences give to us after a show. If you would like to give feel free to come up now and do so. If you can't give, don't want to give, can't afford to give, please feel that freedom too. We've been doing this show for a very long time now and Lacey and I have found that the most important part of our show is the feeling we leave you with. The feel in your hearts. And we want to add something to your life, not take anything away from it. Somehow, Lacey and I figure that some days we have more to give to you than you might have to give to us. Most days that just isn't so. Most days our audiences are infinitely more generous than we have ever been able to imagine. So, with that we will set our hat here and say goodbye for now."

Continued 1 2 3 4 5 Next>>