You Wanna Be A Funambulist?

Another two-fer! The A to Z Challenge plus Save-a-Word Saturday bloghops. Click on each links to learn more about them. 

This week's theme for Save-a-Word is Footsteps and my word is Funambulist. (Nice how that worked with today's challenge letter, eh?) To see if you can figure out the meaning from the writing, the definition is at the bottom. 

And here's my writing (which is longer than normal because of the A-Z Challenge):

“Have you ever been trained as a funambulist?”

“Well, not really.”

I caught the interviewer blanch, and added, “It came natural.” I shifted in my seat, then straightened up, remembering that this was an interview. “I came from a long line of funambulists. A very long line.”


“Still, there is quite a liability issue.”

“Think of it this way, would you need to ask a frog whether it had been trained to hop onto a lily pad?” He smirked and was about to say something. To prevent him, I continued, “Or a bumble bee what training he had to gather pollen? Believe me, it’s similar. My first steps were made on a rope stretched out on the floor. It’s all videotaped.” I then gave him the name - my family stage name. 

“And why don’t you work with your family? Why go to a competitor.” 

Now I smirked, unable to stifle a small chuckle. “My family has no real competitors.”

Thankfully, he wasn’t offended, knowing the truth of my statement. To answer his question, I said, “My family doesn’t understand me. They don’t see why I want this to be not only my career, but my enjoyment as well. They are, in essence, the opposite of gypsies and don’t feel work and fun should mix. They’ve always said that our profession was a spelling misnomer.”

The interviewer then jumped up, stuck out his hand and said jovially, “Welcome aboard, Claude. You are our new funambulist and can start after you meet the family. As you may know, we gypsies have a large family. And you can familiarize yourself with our tent and setup.”

"No need. But thank you," I said shaking his hand robustly.

"Oh yeah, you're a natural!"

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 Funambulist: (fyoo-nam-byuh-list) (noun) a tightrope walker