Ned, El Peque o Saltimbanqui

Ned era un ni o de doce a os que viajaba con un grupo de gitanos presentando espect culos maravillosos en un circo. Las presentaciones eran muy atractivas para la gente de los pueblos, especialmente para los ni os. Ned era gil, ejecutaba flexiones inveros miles, como contorsionista consumado, y era, por lo dem s, un acr bata, en toda la extensi n de la palabra. Cuando la gente de un pueblo rodeaba, llena de curiosidad, la carreta para ver la habilidad de aquellos vagabundos, los mejores aplausos eran para Ned, y con justicia plena. Cierto d a los gitanos se detuvieron para plantar la carpa de su circo en un pueblo que aparec a dominado por un magn fico castillo. Los hombres de la compa a tomaron sus tambores y comenzaron a recorrer las calles para anunciar la hora de la representaci n. Este anuncio despert , como ocurr a siempre, mucha curiosidad. Pero nadie contempl a los forasteros m s absorto que un ni o que no deb a tener m s de ocho a os y que se llamaba Pedro. Aquel ni o pertenec a a la familia que habitaba el castillo. Nunca hab a visto nada semejante. Le admiraron, sobre todo, las pruebas de Ned. Y cuando ste hubo concluido y se inclin en un saludo gentil a la concurrencia, lanz un bravo tan fuerte que el peque o acr bata, halagado, se volvi hacia l y le dirigi una sonrisa de agradecimiento. A la ma ana siguiente, Pedro corr a por la carretera persiguiendo una mariposa; cuando se encontr con Ned. Se reconocieron y se saludaron. Pedro dijo cu nto envidiaba al acr bata. Este le refiri su vida de miserias y de trabajos, triste vida sin hogar, ambulando siempre. Pedro le dijo que en todo caso esa vida deb a ser m s agradable que el tener que estudiar.

Qu creen ustedes, queridos lectores, que pasar en esta aventura entre Ned y Pedro?
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Ned: The Young Acrobat

Ned was a twelve-year-old boy who traveled with a group of gypsies in a circus, presenting outstanding shows. Their performances were very attractive for the townspeople, especially for the children. Ned was an accomplished contorsionist, so agile that he flexed his body in unbelievable ways. He was also a fantastic acrobat. Each and every time these wandering artists performed, the audiences in each town were so impressed that Ned consistently, and rightly so, received the loudest ovations. On one occasion the gypsy troupe set up their circus tent in a village overlooked by a magnificent castle. It was customary for the men to play their drums and walk the streets to announce their performances. The spectacles were of great interest for the townspeople, but no one was more curious than a boy who must have been no more that eight years old and who watched the acrobat's performance that night. This boy lived in the castle with his family, and he had never seen anything similar. Ned had a strong impact on the little boy, to the point that when he finished his performance and bowed to the crowd, the boy yelled "bravo" so loud that the little acrobat, flattered, looked his way and smiled in gratitude. The next morning Pedro, which was the boy's name, was chasing a butterfly when he ran into Ned and told him how much he admired him. Ned told him about his own life full of misery and hardships; a sad life, without a home, always on the road. Pedro said that, in any case, that kind of life should be more enjoyable than going to school.

What do you think, dear readers, will happen in this adventure between Ned and Pedro?

Ned, El Peque?o Saltimbanqui - pokkari, espanja, 2023