Before puberty kicked it, I used to imagine that I was actually there in the rented arena or gymnasium to see a troupe of trained trapeeze monkeys. Some of the stunts those monkeys could pull! Breathtaking stuff.
Onset of puberty, before I knew what to do about it, I volunteered for kitchen duty. Standing over that vat of steaming potatoes with my thick wooden masher, thrusting it up and down, sweat beading up in places no sweat had gone before...was oddly satisfying. The monkeys were on their own.
After puberty, I just cut out from the assembly and took girls out on the town, some my age, some a bit older. Sightseeing, walk through the park, out for lunch, whatever. Breathtaking stuff.
After sixteen, it didn't matter, I was out on my own.
Eric