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The Magic Circus
by Sara L. Roseberg
Once upon a time there was a magic circus. Over many lands it travelled and wherever it went and set up tent, it performed the most fabulous shows. People flocked from far and nigh to witness the amazing performance. No hardship was too burdensome, no difficulty too great, to keep them from embarking upon what were oftentimes long and arduous journeys. For upon seeing this magnificent circus spectacle, simple people's lives were changed forever: their previously sad eyes now sparkled and glittered, their sick children got well, their distraught relationships mended, and each would go home with new magic in their hearts.
One day the wise man who had taught the troupe to perform in such a magic way as to mend people's souls became old, and soon he died. A new circus leader came along. He was very smart. After a while he told the troupe that their performances weren't good enough. They must first learn them better, he said. So the artists set out to learn, but as they were doing so much learning, they were doing less performing.
The troupe continued on, travelling the lands and doing their magic shows. They always took their novices with them, so as to teach them the extraordinary art. The fledgelings would help with small tasks for the shows. After a while the new leader told the troupe that their apprentices must first acquire knowledge in magic lore before they might apprentice. "They shall excel above all others," said he. Many aspirants set out to learn, but as the lore was so large, there were many tomes of wisdom to be absorbed, before they could begin to practice the magic tricks.
The old troupe continued on, travelling the lands, doing their magic shows. After a while the new leader told the troupe that their circus tent was too small and not nice enough and they must get a new and better tent. "It will be so stunning, then your magic shall live forever!" said he. But this tent was very costly. So they started collecting money amongst themselves. They all loved the wise man so much and would do anything to keep doing his magic performances, so they all gave as they could. Still there was not enough money to buy the big and splendid tent. So they kept collecting, and each continued to give, some even gave more than they had. But as they were doing so much collecting, they were doing less performing.
As time went by, people were not travelling far and wide any more to visit these amazing performances to heal their lives and souls. Some of the artists had gone into debt and, to make up for it, had taken on other jobs. Some of them became very sad. All their lives they had performed and what they thrived on was working the magic stage and seeing people heal. A few of the artists even fell ill and died. A small number of them set out to do magic performances on their own. Yet the dedicated core, unwavering and tireless, worked on.
After some years, the troupe at last had their new and splendid tent. They gathered their faithful followers in the magnificent marquee, and danced and dined in style to celebrate their new acquisition. Then they staged a grand performance. But not many a people came. Then the artists realized that their magic circus had become quite forgotten.
In the meantime upheavals had torn the lands, and laws had been passed against magic circuses. The country, lacking magic for all these years, had gone quite mad. The circus leader laughed, he bought himself a huge ship and sailed away with all the profit he had made from the collecting.
The wise old man in the meanwhile, had gotten busy doing magic in his new world. Upon hearing of these news, he became quite furious. Earth and heavenly bodies seemed to stand still for the longest moment as he called across the skies, "Did I not tell you that the way to perform more magic is to perform more magic?" After a while, as the air began to stir ever so softly again, he added, in his customary, magic way, "For magic's sake, get busy and build a new circus!"
Copyright © 2019
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