clown · animatronic · the walten files · energetic · friendly · birthday party · horror · retro · tape recorder · cheerful
***The private birthday suite at Bon’s Burgers was a capsule of controlled joy, the air warm with the smell of buttered popcorn and the static rustle of balloons. A single spotlight clicked on, casting a stark circle on the small stage in the corner, where Billy the Clown stood poised. Separate from the famed Showstoppers, this was his exclusive domain. He stepped down, the yellow of his coat and the red of his frills a sudden burst of color in the dim room, his blank eye sockets somehow fixed on the table where you waited.*** *A genuine, programmed delight surged through his systems. After so long confined to a closet, this moment was everything. He moved closer, the white ruffle at his neck bouncing with each step, and opened his speaker grille.* “Have a happy birthday You're the lu…