1985
I walk to the mirror to make sure my tie was on right. "Why do I suck at this so bad?" I say as I undo my tie and try putting it on for a third time. I finally get it looking good. "Alright, time to get going." I check my hair one last time before walking out the door.
I take a deep breath, taking in the outside air. "Today is the day my life will change forever."
I step down the stairs and make my way to the car.
"Hey, Mister Allen!" Cody said to me. He was a younger boy who has always loved my work.
"Hey, kiddo. What are you up to?" I wave to him.
"Just came to wish you good luck. I can't wait to see your shows in a bigger showroom," he said.
"Don't you worry. I'll make sure you have a front row seat to all my shows."
His face lit up after he heard that. I wave bye to him and get into my car.
Driving through the city felt much different this time. I felt like I was finally fulfilling my purpose. This was my calling.
I take in the city. "I'll change this place for the better."
I arrive at my destination. It was an office building. It looked to be three stories tall. I park my car and go inside. It was incredibly nice inside—glossy patterned floors with lights hanging from the ceiling.
I walk to the front desk and ask where I can find the room where I had my meeting. The lady at the desk was polite, and she pointed me in the direction of the elevator.
I step inside and click the third floor. I wait in the elevator, the nerves starting to hit a little bit. "My new life is just moments away."
The elevator stops, and the doors open.
Alright, third door on the left.
I knock on the door.
"Come in," I hear from the other side.
I open the door and see a man sitting at a desk. He looked on the older side, maybe in his sixties.
"Ah, Mister Allen. Please have a seat," he said.
I sit down and shake his hand. "It's very nice to finally meet you, Mister Westbrook."
He nods. "Shall we get started with the paperwork?" he says.
"Oh yes, sir."
He shows me a bunch of papers. "You'll need to sign all of these, and once you're done, the property is all yours."
I take the papers, trying not to seem too eager to sign them.
"Two hundred fifty thousand is quite a lot of money for someone your age. May I ask where you got it from?" he said.
"I'd been saving it up for many years, sir. I've worked harder than you could imagine."
A slight smile runs across his face. "If that's the case, I'm very interested in what you could do with the place."
I finish signing the papers, then hand them back to him. He looks over them to make sure it all looks right. Then he sets them down and hands me a set of keys.
"The place is now yours," he says. "I look forward to seeing what you will do with it."
I take the keys. "Thank you, sir. I believe you will love what I do with the place," I said before shaking his hand once more and leaving.
A new feeling was running through me while I headed out of the building and back to my car.
I sit down in my car. "HAHA, YES!" I practically jump in my seat.
I start the car and immediately drive to what was now my new life.
I pull into the parking lot of the building I had just bought. "Man, it looks even bigger than I remember."
I walk to the front door and use the key, then push the door open. I flip the light switch.
The place was nice.
The front door opens into what will soon be my main showroom for my acts. There was a stand near the front door.
This is where they will buy tickets.
I walk through all the tables and to the stage, taking a deep breath as I take it all in.
I step onto the stage and look out across the room.
"Finally."
I spend most of the day cleaning up the building and setting things up. I've mostly figured out where all the rooms are.
Once you walk in the door, the stage is straight ahead, and to either side there is a hallway. The one on the right leads to the restrooms, and the one on the left goes to a kitchen. Through the kitchen, there was another door which led to another hallway. It had three rooms: one storage room, a break room, and another bigger room which I would turn into my office.
I hadn't been backstage very much yet, but I know there's another room back there.
I check the time. 8 p.m.
I've been working here for hours, and at this point I was starting to get tired.
I walk out to my car.
"Now I just need advertising".
I drive home and head to bed.
The next morning, I get up early and start printing fliers. I print about two hundred of them. I put them in a box and place it in the back of my car.
I see Cody walking down the road.
"Hey!" I shout.
He looks over, waves, and starts heading my way.
"Want to work for me?" I ask.
His face lights up. "Really?" he said.
"Yep. We're putting up fliers to promote my first show."
"When do I start?" he says.
"Right now. Get in the car. That is if your in.
He stands there for a few seconds thinking.
"I'm in," he says before getting in the car.
We drive through town.
"So when's your first show?" he asks.
"Next week. It's the grand opening," I say.
"This is so cool. I can't wait," he says.
He grabs one of the fliers.
"Allen's Home of Mysteries. Grand opening Monday at 7 p.m. Tickets for sale at door. Hope to see you there."