Whenever I tell people about my fear, they look at me like I'm crazy, say I'm irrational, think that I've gone off the deep end.
Yet whenever I see the boldly painted face of a clown, or see their baggy clothing, or see their wild fright wigs, I always break out into a cold sweat, plus my heart feels like it's gonna' jump right on out of my chest. I start to sweat profusely, my stomach turns into jelly, I get nauseated, and I'm always scared I'm gonna' hurl. This is why I don't do fairs, festivals, circuses, or birthday parties for kids. Chances are more than likely a clown'll be there (or clowns).
I'd much rather stay home, thank you very much.
I guess you can blame my unusual fear on my older sister, Imagine. Imagine has always been a horror movie freak: the more graphic, the more horrific, the scarier, the better she likes 'em; no, she loves 'em! She saw one about a killer clown ("It"), and when I saw what she was watching, that's when I lost it. I was just a little kid back then, no older'n the age of four, when I saw this ugly faced clown killing people; eever since, I've had this morbid fear of clowns--or anything having to do with them.
Now, Imagine says I'm being stupid when I wig out at the sight of a clown, but what she fails to understand is this: if it were not for her watching that stupid clown movie, I'd probably have turned out alright. I definitely would have turned out a lot better.
I am 12 years old, and my fear has only intensified. I see a clown in a book, magazine, or on television, and I go nuts. I start yelling and sometimes I'll go into a full-blown panic attack--or worse, pass out colder'n a flattened flounder. I have had to go to the Emergency Room before on account of my clown phobia, and believe me, it's no laughing matter!
In the meantime, I'm doing everything I possibly can to avoid clowns at all costs. No, having a phobia like mine is NOT easy AT all!
~Written by Story Phineas Gossage, aged 12 (phobia sufferer to clowns). :(
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Reviewed by Victor Buhagiar
8/16/2007
There are all kind of phobias and I am not surprised at this one. Personally I do not have it, but I don't like clowns much either. Great story. Victor
I've seen some of those scary movies, too, but even if I hadn't, those clown faces don't make me laugh. Maybe me and the young teenage boy are making similar associations about something scary we witnessed.
Karen,my friend, you do masterful characterizations. You really are a terrific writer.
I am familiar with the book "It" by Steven King and actually read it while camping with my wife outside Bangor, Maine not far from where the story took place. I can tell you I was kind of glad to pack up our tenting gear and move on the next mornings. Anyway Phobias are real and are not somthing that people who do not have them should take lightly.
People have all sorts of phobias: mine is of tight spots...spiders...and storms. *shudder* I can't imagine being scared of clowns...but then, again, with John Wayne Gacy...understandable. An excellent peek into the world of a phobic.
