Chapter 22
The circus comes to town, and despite the king and duke's protests ...
Injuns, and everything had to clear the way or get run over and tromped to mush, and it was awful to see. Children was heeling it ahead of the mob, screaming and trying to get out of the way; and every window along the road was full of women’s heads, and there was nigger boys in every tree, and bucks and wenches looking over every fence; and as soon as the mob would get nearly to them they would break and skaddle back out of reach. Lots of the women and girls was crying and taking on, scared most to…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map the Performance Pattern
Think of someone whose behavior sometimes feels like a performance. Write down three specific incidents involving this person. For each incident, note the timing, what they needed, and what emotional response they got from others. Look for patterns in when and how they present problems or needs.
Consider:
- •Notice if crises happen when something is expected of them
- •Pay attention to whether their emotions escalate when they don't get the desired response
- •Consider if their struggles always have perfect timing or convenient solutions
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you realized someone was performing rather than being genuine. How did it change your relationship with them, and what did you learn about protecting yourself while staying compassionate?
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