"I know," said the ringmaster merrily to the clown-girl, "I know the ice has melted from your eye. Now you see clearly, but even before there was no ice in your heart. It would have served you well to use it to see with. Yet, you did not. From lack of use your heart has frozen and if you should it ever melt the ice that is your heart, it will CRACK and you will die."

"Some threat," said the clown-girl defiantly, unaware that she was already shaking fearfully, "You're surely pulling my leg."

"Oh, I wouldn't do that," replied the ringmaster, "because if I do you'd topple over like the silly clown-girl you are! Don't worry. You can still lead a normal life--being a good little clown making people laugh. Just don't tell anyone, they won't believe you, and they won't help you. Scream if you're afraid."

"No. I'll believe there was something in my eye," said the clown-girl, "but I won't believe my heart is a lump of ice. That can't be."

"But it is and you know what? Not chickenbutt! You should've been nicer while you still could. Now, you can't even say thank you or please or bless you, it will start small CRACKS in your heart," the ringmaster said in a high sing-song voice, "Better yet, you can't ignore compliments. They start CRACKS too! Unless you say something mean back."

"Come on. Tell me you're just joking. If I can't today then..."

"I know what happens if you can't. Know what else? Not chicken smells! You really don't have to believe me. You can always find out for yourself. If you're not afraid that is. CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!"

--
"When we have jumped into the sea
the waves will go on breaking
for we are only foam
and no more."