I riffled through the sections for both
magicians and entertainers. No such luck. Only three magicians
were listed in the local book: Fingers the Magnificent, Bimmy
the Clown, and the Incredible Martini. Now I felt my creativity,
driven by my insatiable curiosity, challenged. How does one
find a magician when he really needs one?
I decided to try calling each of the magicians
to see if they had heard of Maximillion Vi. Bimmy the Clown didn’t
answer. Neither did Fingers the Magnificent, but I did leave a
message after listening to some recorded foolish banter about
fun for all and thrills of a lifetime.
The Incredible Martini, however, was there.
"Martini’s Magical Mystery Show,"
he answered.
"Hi, my name is James, perhaps you can
help me. I’m looking for a magician," I stated.
"Well, I’m a magician and I work
cheap," he chuckled.
"No, I'm afraid I misled you. I meant
that I am trying to contact a magician by the name of Max Vi,"
I said. "Would you, by chance, know him or know how I might
find him?"
"Well I don't know of anyone going by
that name, but if it’s a show you want, I’m reasonably
priced and really quite good, I might add. Humility, though, is
not one of my best qualities. It’s so hard to be humble
when you’re omniscient, you know. Anyway, I do this one
trick in which I eat a lighted cigarette, swallow a fish, and
then..."
He sounded so enthusiastic, I almost hated to
interrupt. No use for him to work so hard. "I'm sorry but I’m
not looking for a show; I just have something I’d like to
return to him," I said, cutting off his sales pitch.
"Well, if you’re sure that that’s
all you need, let me tell you. If you really want to get in
touch with a magician just click your heels three times and ask,
‘What is the number for the Society of American Magicians?’
If he isn’t a member, then he’s probably not much of a
magician anyway," he said.
"Do you have that number?" I asked, "I
didn't even know there was such a thing as the Magician’s
Society."
"Sure, just a minute," he said, and
I could hear him put down the phone and search for it. Picking
up again, he continued, "Hello, yes, I've got it right
here. It’s area code 317 243-0774. If this magician you’re
looking for is among the living, then chances are that he’s
a member and they'll be able to help you find him."
"Thanks, I really appreciate your help."
