Taking full-time responsibility for a goddaughter was the last thing Jack had initially thought he wanted. His heart belonged to the show, or so he'd thought; he didn't have time to be running around chasing after some brat. He'd liked Ib, of course. Who wouldn't? But taking her in and effectively agreeing to raise her? That was something else altogether.

But after two years of having the child with him, Jack can't imagine how he ever got along without her. He loves her spirit, he loves her courage, and he loves what an adorable little hustler she's already shaping up to be. Everyone said he was crazy to stick a child in a ring with a lion, but Ib's a natural, clearly born for this life. Hardly a day goes by that Jack doesn't find himself delighted by something new that she's done, and she brings more joy to his world than he would have ever thought possible.

He turns to her now with a bright smile, pleased at the unexpected interruption and company. "Well, hello, Buttercup." He sets the paste pot and brush down, and shifts the posters under his arm so that he can fish about in his jacket pocket, searching for something. He finds what he's looking for, a small paper bag with a stick of rock candy inside, and tosses it to her with a wink. The general store had had such a colorful display of them when he'd stopped by there earlier, and, well, what sort of uncle would he be if he hadn't picked one up for her?

"What do you want to bet at least one of those boys pisses himself when he sees your act?"