“One of you,” he continues, “wants to find a buried treasure. You’ve gone several times to Carson City, Nevada, with your uncle to search for missing gold. You dreamed of being an archaeologist until your father told you to pursue a ‘real’ career. Look down in front of you, Billy. History awaits. Your rightful path unfolds before you! Dig for your life and they shall call you the Explorer!”

The audience claps and shouts, “Ex-plo-rer!” as Billy, who is standing the closest to Hypnotist Jerry, begins feverishly digging through a box of sand in front of him. “I think I got something. Look!” he shouts. “Holy shit! Ancient bones… and… and… gold. So much gold!” Billy lifts the sand with closed fists, afraid to drop his precious booty.

“Now don’t be greedy, Billy. Share your gold!” Billy begins picking actual gold coins from the sandbox and throwing them into the audience. I am astonished. This can’t be happening. I want to run over and claw away as much of the gold as I can for myself, but I manage to stay calm in front of all these spectators. A million thoughts begin running through my head: How much is gold worth? Where can you sell it? How much is in there? Will there be some left when we finish? Frustration at missing out on all that treasure grows as I watch the audience scramble to grab the coins Billy is throwing. I stare at them with envy until I notice people peeling away gold wrappers, revealing chocolate underneath. I breathe a sigh of greedy relief.

Hypnotist Jerry snaps his fingers and Billy stops digging. He stands, baffled, and looks out at the crowd, while everyone claps and eats chocolate in glee.

“The greatest show on Earth,” Jerry proclaims while flinging his arms above his head again to receive the applause ringing around the room. He makes a sweeping motion with his hands and everyone stops clapping at the same time, as if on cue. I am terrified that I will be next and try to will my body to walk off the stage, but my legs won’t move. I try to scream instead, to beg Bryce and his friends to come rescue me, but my mouth won’t open. What kind of sorcery is this? I wonder fearfully to myself. And what is he going to do to me?

“Next,” the showman continues. “We have the one who wanted to leave the planet altogether and investigate outer space, but decided on law instead to make Mommy and Daddy happy. You’re not a lawyer!” Hypnotist Jerry yells with impassioned, performative rage. “You’re the astronaut! Charles, are you ready for liftoff?” Charles shakes his head enthusiastically. “Well then, strap in, sonny boy!”