The editorial staff of the Lakeland Mirror, finding themselves with extra time on their hands, decided to start a flea circus. Production Manager Sirin Avci’s dog has had a flea problem for the past week, making it the perfect opportunity to start the Mirror Flea Circus.

The Mirror’s editors and staff writers took it upon themselves to train the fleas in various acts. By the end of a three-day intensive training program, Sports Editor Brandon Rooker had trained his flea to do an acrobatic act with a three-headed pig with a mustache named Simon, who was actually a finger puppet that Rooker created.

Copy Editor Leah Ulatowski trained her flea to ride on a miniature stuffed elephant, which she pulled across a table top with a string. Ulatowski’s flea ran up and down the elephant’s back as it moved.

Managing Editor Michelle Fromm and Editor in Chief Stephanie Rebek trained a group of fleas to do some complex acrobatics together, including some impressive launches from a miniature trampoline.

Unfortunately, the fleas were lost one night after a training session. The staff suspects that the housekeeping staff may have exterminated the small circus.