Dad Runs Away with the Circus

Etgar Keret, master of the short story and favorite among young readers, has published his first book for pre-schoolers, written in the same spirit as his books for adults. This is a comical story, told from a child`s perspective. The father in the story acts like a little boy and runs away with the circus, while his children behave like mature adults. In a sense this is a sophisticated story about the generation gap, where the father is the romantic adventurer and the children, little yuppies, belong to the hi-tech generation and have a much more practical attitude towards life. It all begins the day that Dad announces to the narrator and his sister that the circus is coming to town. “We`ll all go,” Dad announces with childlike enthusiasm. The children make an effort to look happy, so as not to insult their father. But the idea of the circus does not really excite them. After all, what is so exciting about a bunch of animals and acrobats? In truth, nothing could interest them less. Mandy will have to miss a judo lesson, and her brother would rather stay at home and watch television. Their father, on the other hand, has a great time and immediately decides to join the circus. In the letters he writes from distant lands he tells the children how much he misses them, and all about his training. The children, on the other hand, want their father to come home. And their wish comes true. The second time they go to the circus is nothing like the first. The second time around is very special, because their father is performing. When the show is over, the father joins his wife and children and takes them home. On the way he promises never to run away from home again.