The Entertainer Everyone Loved

The theater is packed.

As usual.

Monday nights are always hopping.

Weird, but that’s just the way the cash flows.

They even added another Monday this year.

And the entertainer soaks it in.

This is what life’s all about.

The work.

The struggle.

Nights like this make it worth it.

He wouldn’t give it up for anything.

He couldn’t give it up for anything.

He knows poverty, and he’s not going back there.

This is his ticket out.

It’s the only ticket he has.

He had given up on all the other ones.

And he’s going to hold on tight.

Hold on for dear life.

He knows the suits are living off his back, but that’s a small price to pay.

The crowd is soaking it up too.

The merch.

The beer.

The vibe.

And the people know what’s right around the corner.

The risk.

That’s what keeps them coming back.

They’re safe.

But the entertainer isn’t.

Perfect.

Occasionally the stunts don’t turn out as desired.

But the show always goes on.

You could barely tell the difference.

Same color.

Same story.

The same stunts.

Some in the crowd would feel bad.

Others wouldn’t care.

They would all forget.

Tonight is going to be a good one.

Maybe one of the best.

The entertainers keep getting stronger.

Which means the stakes keep getting greater.

And this guy is elite.

He had the neck issue the one time.

Maybe a seizure as well.

But he came back.

The money was too good.

And it’s what the people wanted.

He starts the routine.

A little slow at first.

The crowd gets restless.

Was that a jeer?

It doesn’t matter.

The good stuff’s coming later.

The stuff that makes him a hero.

It’s why all the kids look up to him.

They want to be just like him.

Minus the jail time.

But maybe that too.

The volume picks up.

It’s deafening.

Isn’t that the point?

No one hears the thud.

A pause.

It’ll be brief.

It always is.

But this one’s long.

There’s a flurry of activity.

It’s not part of the show.

Some in the crowd start gasping.

And everyone starts wondering…

Is the entertainer okay?

Really, is he okay?

It’s hard to know.

And then it gets silent.

A stunned silence.

Tonight, the show won’t go on.

The crowd files out.

How could this happen?

It doesn’t make sense.

Then the movement slows.

There’s a collective thought.

A moment of introspection.

What’s going on next Monday?

The flat screens say it all.

It’s going to be a good one.

And that’s when the line forms.

Hopefully there are still tickets left…

To see the entertainer.