By Rick Madewell
Assistant Editor

Young Mikey Allegood likes to get high. And he doesn’t have a problem with telling anyone about it.

The 13-year-old St. Cloud student is finding a huge thrill when he gets high with a relatively uncommon activity for today’s teenagers. He’s at his highest when he’s — as the song says — that daring young man on the flying trapeze.

“I really like everything about it,” the enthused teen said. “The wind in your face, all the encouragement you get from others … it’s really nice.”

Strange words coming from a youngster who, only a few years back, was not exactly comfortable with heights.

“There was a time when I was little that I was scared of heights, but I’ve gotten over that,” said Mikey, still admitting he gets butterflies in his stomach just before making a big swing on the trapeze, where he hangs close to 30 feet in the air.

“The first time (on the trapeze) I was really nervous,” said Mikey. “But people there kept telling me I could do it … until I did.”

Mikey, a 5-foot-9 student who attends Canoe Creek Charter Academy, was inspired and encouraged after meeting Jim Cole, youth chairman of Circus Fans Association of America. Cole explained to the young man that his athletic ability would be a great fit as a circus performer. He also emphasized the positive atmosphere on the circus grounds with the performers, something which Mikey’s mom, Linda, couldn’t be happier about.

“He found out the circus has a positive attitude and we said, ‘you’re there,” Linda said.

“It’s really put a change in him — his grades, his attitude — and even his teachers have called and asked, ‘What’s gotten into Mikey?’”

For the past year, Cole has taken Mikey with him to circuses throughout the state whenever he can. Being up on the trapeze, said Mikey, is certainly something he can see himself doing professionally.

“There are lots of things that would really be fun to do in the circus — juggling, trapeze, unicycle. Those would be really fun to do,” Mikey said.

The teen is already off to a powerful start by having met one of the most prolific aerial performers of all time: LaNorma.

LaNorma worked in many circuses during her career, including the famous Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1949 to 1951. She also was a stunt double for actress Betty Hutton in the circus film, “The Greatest Show on Earth.”

LaNorma, who now lives in Sarasota, gave Mikey some pointers about being a trapeze artist and encourages his pursuit of the art. They became fast friends.

“LaNorma thinks Mikey’s just the most charming kid, that’s he’s great,” Cole said. “And in the circus, there are so many positive rewards.”

Mikey’s mom then pulled out an 8-by-10 photo of her son standing at the trapeze platform with two pretty girls.

“What did I tell you?” asked Cole.