Shane Was Never Deterred.
When Shane was younger, he was a magician. He didn’t just have a kids’ magic kit (like I did) – he actually studied magic. From the time he was eight years old, he was obsessed with learning everything he could about magic. Sleight of hand tricks were his favorites, and he got pretty good at them – for an eight-year-old.
Shane studied and studied, practiced and practiced. We went to dozens of magic shows, everything from birthday party entertainment to Vegas showmen. Shane befriended all the local magicians, many of whom are quite serious about their craft.
As he got older, Shane learned more and more tricks. He did shows at home. I was his volunteer (i.e., guinea pig) for more tricks than I could ever count. He would do a trick, and it would bomb. And then he would do it again, often accidentally explaining how the tricks worked. Sometimes he told me his secrets on purpose, because he thought it was just so cool.
When he was 11 or 12, he started doing appearances at local magic shows. He became a magician’s apprentice and worked as his opening act – and sidekick. They performed together every few weeks at a nearby magic shop, which also featured a stage. Teo, the adult magician, shared his secrets with Shane, who grew rapidly.
Magic isn’t a booming business. In fact, it seems to be rather a dying art.
But Shane was never deterred. He worked and studied and practiced and learned more and more and more.
Then one day, when Shane was supposed to do his apprentice act on stage, Teo got into a car accident on his way to the show.
I wasn’t even with Shane – I’d seen him perform so many times – but Teo called me from the hospital.
“Could Shane could do an entire show alone?” he asked.
“Sure,” I said. “He’d love that.”
So, at barely 11 years old, Shane got up on that stage and did an entire show. It was a short show, with a limited audience that included mostly friends and family. But Shane did a fine job of entertaining.
Then Shane went home, slept, woke up – and never did magic again. After three years, he just stopped.
Until now.
Years have gone by and, quite suddenly and without warning, Shane is learning new card tricks at an alarming rate.
And he’s good. The tricks are good. He’s older, and wiser, and quicker, and more able to “wow” people.
I don’t know what to do.
I guess I have a magician in the family again.