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The Circus rolls into town, and a jobseeker (J.S.) is sent there by the employment agency to do some casual work.
He presents himself to the Boss Man (B.M.), who says that J.S. is to become the Lion Tamer for the circus's stay in town.
J.S. says "no chance, I'm off" and make a dash for the door.
B.M catches him and says "Hold on a minute, let me explain. We can't afford to employ a Tamer full time, so we set someone on casually as and when we need to. Come on, I'll show you" , and he takes J.S. down to the Big Top.
Inside, the ring was enclosed by a high metal fence, and contained therein were the lions. Some were asleep, and the others were pacing round and round the inside of the circular fence, snarling, and having a swipe at things with their massive paws.
"As I was saying," said B.M. "We've had these since they were cubs. We give you a chair and a whip, and you prance about in there, holding the back of the chair, jabbing the legs at the lions, and cracking the whip as though you are fending them off."
He went on " They know the routine. It's all they've ever done. They know that when they've performed, that's it for the day. They get fed, go to sleep. Couldn't be simpler"
J.S. was very much not impressed. "What if they knock the whip out of my hand?" He queried.
B.M. " Just keep jabbing the chair at them, and slowly move backwards towards the gate."
J.S. "But what if they keep coming, and knock the chair out of my hand too?
B.M. "Then just bend forward, down to their level, look them straight in the eyes, and keep going backwards until you get to the gate."
J.S. " But what if they try to pounce on me?"
B.M. "Reach behind yourself, scoop up a handful of $hit, and throw it at them."
J.S. "But what if there isn't any $hit?"
B.M. " Oh, there will be !"
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