Magic Show

As kids, Eric, Brent, and I were very creative. We’d always be constructing new contraptions and exploring new places. One year, after watching a series of magic shows on TV, we decided we had to put on a magic show of our own. All three of us are pretty competitive and want to be the best at whatever it is we decide to do. So, we couldn’t put on any old magic show. We had to put on the best magic show that had ever been imagined by even the most visionary magicians. We researched existing tricks and put our own ‘flare’ on them to make them doable for us. In our minds our ‘magic’ was stealth and sneaky. But I’m sure in actuality we were stumbling around in a clunky and obviously not magic way.

I don’t remember exactly what the tricks were, but I do remember pieces of three of them. One involved a large cardboard box (possibly a refrigerator box), one involved our toy chest, and one involved blankets draped over a bunk bed with a secret walkway behind the bed. A lot of them involved me hiding in cramped spaces and trying to move without trashing around which is apparently quite difficult for me to do. Eric and I had partnered on a number of tricks so we could tackle the more complicated stuff. Brent decided to stay rogue and only perform tricks that allowed for one man sorcery.

Brent began to get ambitious as our magic planning progressed. Like a studious little magician’s apprentice he researched everything related to magic tricks that existed. Through this extensive research, he began to develop a large repertoire of tricks that he wanted to be able to perform. This did not sit well with Eric or me. We confronted him. This did not sit well with Brent.

Eric and I wanted to keep this a joint effort with a fair share of performances from all involved. We had an even distribution of appearances for the three of us in the game plan that we had on the table. Brent wanted to show the full spectrum of his new knowledge and talent. A large argument broke out where everyone threatened to give up everyone else’s magic trick secrets. Brent decided that he didn’t want any part in our show anymore. He was going to create his own show.

With the threat of another show to compete against – another show that would actually take away from our show (either we would have to repeat his tricks or live with a very short performance), Eric and I discussed our options. We weighed the costs and benefits of re-including Brent in our act. Of course there was a threat of a repeat incident in which he would abandon us to pursue his own show, so we had to head that off. Eric pulled out a piece of paper and began to scribe a contract that Brent would have to sign once he rejoined our amazing team.

We went through several iterations of the contract before we agreed on one what was suitable to present to Brent. Some of the conditions that we considered were:

1. Brent has absolutely no say in what happens, no matter what
2. Brent has to act as more of a side-kick – meaning no real magic for Brent
3. Brent has to act as some sort of servant, providing us with food and water as we prepare for the shows
4. Brent gives up all rights to his magic, and if he leaves then he relinquishes the tricks to Eric and me
5. If any rules were disobeyed then Eric and I got to beat Brent with a stick

The final contract was a little less harsh than some of the early drafts. It did, however, enforce equal performance time for all members of the magic trio. Brent agreed that it would be more fun to have a team to perform with and agreed to sign the contract. And with that the rehearsals commenced!

But unfortunately, my mom unknowingly saw us rehearsing through a window. I was sneaking around a secret passageway that regrettably went past an open window, when I saw my mom on the other side. This ruined everything! If that trick was exposed, what was the point in doing anything?

The magic show never happened.