The Clown

John Edwards was an avid collector of antiques. He would travel all over the United States to find unique antiques and anything else that most collectors would pass on. John was happy with his collections, but he was looking for something his friends would say why did you add this to your collection.

Just as John was traveling through a little town called Pleasantville. The town was so small you could throw a rock from one end of the town to the other end. John just about missed the town and his long awaited rare antique to add to his collection. Then all of a sudden he slammed on his brakes. He backed up his car in front of a sign that was dusty and barely hanging on to the wooden post. John got out of his car to read what was on the sign. He dusted off the sign and said, "Wow! I'm glad I stopped in the nick of time or I would have never known about this place.

John got back in his car and traveled down the gravel road in search of this antique store. John must have been traveling down the gravel road for more than thirty minutes. Just as he was about to say forget it, and drive back home, there was a sign that read Pleasantville Antique store.

John pulled in to the Antique store and parked his car. He looked up at the sky and got one glimpse as the sun was setting. As he got out of his car the wind was picking up and a storm was on the way. As John opened the door to the antique store it started storming. John called out to see if anyone was in the store. Then an old man shouted out and said, "I'll be with you in just a moment there are milk and cookies on the table if you're hungry from your long drive."
John went over to the table and poured a glass of milk and picked up one of the cookies and said, "Your cookies are wonderful. They're still warm as though you were expecting company."

Finally, the old man came to the front of the store to greet John.

"I'm glad you like my cookies," replied the old man.

"Why don't you have a seat at the table and tell me what you are looking for?" exclaimed the old man.

"You see, I'm somewhat of an odd collector of antiques. I mainly get a rush out of finding something that my fellow antique buddies don't have," answered John.

"Well I think you came to the right place John," replied the old man.

"How do you know my name? I really don't, I just got lucky and guessed the right name," laughed the old man.

John got up from the table and looked out the window and said, "It looks like the rain has stopped. I really need to get back soon before the rain starts pouring down again."

"Follow me behind the curtain at the back of the store. That's where I keep my rarest and most valued antiques. I'm sure there is something you will like," replied the old man with a smile on his face.

John followed the old man behind the curtain and the old man said, "Since you are looking for something your antique collecting buddies wouldn't dare think to collect, this is what you need to complete your collection."

"This is what I've been looking for, you've got to be kidding me," replied John as he laughed.

"Don't be so quick to think this is some kind of joke," exclaimed the old man.

"A clown costume, I'm not sure this is something I need to complete my collection," answered John.

"This is no ordinary clown costume. This clown costume dates back to the mid-eighteen hundreds.