---
title: "Benny the Brave Clown"
description: "Benny loves making people laugh backstage, but the bright ring makes him nervous. With Tina's patient friendship, he practices for one small audience at a time until he is ready to share his gentle clown act under the big top."
tags: ["Circus Tales", "bravery", "friendship", "perseverance", "confidence", "preschoolers", "kindergarteners", "early-readers", "funny", "read-aloud", "classroom", "uncertainty", "ShyClown", "StagePractice", "CircusFriendship", "SmallSteps", "GentleComedy"]
language: en
source: "Stories for Kids"
url: https://www.stories4kids.net/stories/circus-tales/benny-the-brave-clown/
---

# Benny the Brave Clown

_One Small Audience at a Time_

Benny loves making people laugh backstage, but the bright ring makes him nervous. With Tina's patient friendship, he practices for one small audience at a time until he is ready to share his gentle clown act under the big top.

Category: Circus Tales

Topics: Circus Tales, Bravery, Friendship, Perseverance, Confidence, Preschoolers, Kindergarteners, Early Readers, Funny, Read Aloud, Classroom, Uncertainty, Shy Clown, Stage Practice, Circus Friendship, Small Steps, Gentle Comedy

## Story

## Meet Benny the Shy Clown

In a bright circus tent lived Benny, a clown with orange shoes, a blue bow tie, and a laugh that sounded like hiccups.

![Illustration: Meet Benny the Shy Clown](../../../assets/stories/circus-tales/benny-the-brave-clown-1.png)

Benny loved making people laugh backstage. He could balance a spoon on his nose, make a flower sneeze, and walk into a pretend wall.

But when the ringmaster asked him to perform in front of the audience, Benny's knees knocked together.

"What if nobody laughs?" he whispered.

So Benny helped behind the scenes instead. He lined up props, swept the ring, and made the other performers giggle before their acts.

He was part of the circus, but he still wished he could step into the light.

## Benny Meets Tina, His New Friend

One afternoon, Tina the trapeze artist found Benny practicing a tiny bow behind the curtain.

![Illustration: Benny Meets Tina, His New Friend](../../../assets/stories/circus-tales/benny-the-brave-clown-2.png)

"That was a careful bow," Tina said.

Benny jumped. His hat popped off and landed on his shoe.

Tina laughed softly. "And that was even better."

Benny picked up the hat. "I am funny by accident. On purpose is harder."

"Then we practice on purpose," Tina said. "One small audience at a time."

"One?"

Tina pointed to herself. "Me."

## Benny's Practice with Tina

Benny began with his smallest trick. He squeezed a rubber chicken. It squeaked once. Then it squeaked again. Then Benny pretended the chicken had surprised him and hid behind Tina's cape.

![Illustration: Benny's Practice with Tina](../../../assets/stories/circus-tales/benny-the-brave-clown-3.png)

Tina clapped. "I laughed."

"You are my friend," Benny said. "That does not count."

"It counts as one," Tina said.

The next day, Benny performed for Tina and the costume maker. The day after that, he performed for Tina, the costume maker, and two musicians.

Sometimes he forgot a step. Sometimes he spoke too quietly. Each time, Tina asked, "What helped?"

"Breathing," Benny said.

"Good. Use that again."

## Benny's Big Moment

On show night, the big top was full. Benny waited beside Tina with his rubber chicken tucked under one arm.

![Illustration: Benny's Big Moment](../../../assets/stories/circus-tales/benny-the-brave-clown-4.png)

"My knees are knocking," Benny whispered.

"Let them knock," Tina said. "They can be your drumroll."

The ringmaster called his name.

Benny stepped into the ring. The lights were bright, but he found Tina near the curtain and took one slow breath.

Squeak.

The rubber chicken made its first sound.

Benny gasped as if it had told a secret. The audience giggled.

Squeak squeak.

Benny tried to tiptoe away. The chicken squeaked louder. Benny bowed to it. The chicken squeaked one last time, and Benny fainted gently onto a pile of pillows.

The tent filled with laughter.

## Benny Finds His Brave

Benny sat up. People were laughing kindly. Children were clapping. His knees still felt shaky, but now he knew he could keep going while they shook.

![Illustration: Benny Finds His Brave](../../../assets/stories/circus-tales/benny-the-brave-clown-5.png)

He balanced the chicken on his hat. He tried to juggle three soft balls and "accidentally" caught one in his pocket. He invited Tina to toss him a hoop, then jumped through it with a delighted squeak from the chicken.

When the act ended, Benny bowed. This time his hat stayed on until the chicken nudged it off.

More laughter. More applause.

Backstage, Benny looked at Tina.

"I still felt nervous," he said.

"I know," Tina said. "You were nervous and brave."

## Behind the Curtain

The next afternoon, Benny found a new performer standing behind the curtain with worried eyes.

![Illustration: Benny Takes a Bow](../../../assets/stories/circus-tales/benny-the-brave-clown-6.png)

"First show?" Benny asked.

The performer nodded.

Benny held out the rubber chicken. "Would you like to practice for one small audience?"

"One?"

Benny pointed to himself.

"Me," he said. "And this chicken, but it is polite."