Circus Jack - Chapter 11. Illusion or Reality?

Join Richard Carlton London as he narrates the enchanting tale of Pepe, the hero of Circus Jack, in Chapter 11: "Illusion or Reality?". In this episode, Sweetie and Pepe's bond deepens with each passing town and feat they accomplish together. Sweetie helps Pepe unlock his hidden potential, leading to breathtaking performances that blur the line between illusion and reality.

Witness the duo's stunning acts, from Pepe's seamless portrayal of various fairy tale characters to their awe-inspiring metaphysical illusions. The climax of their performance leaves audiences gasping as Pepe levitates and even vanishes, only to reappear in the most surprising of places.

As word of their incredible shows spreads, Sweetie and Pepe become international stars, captivating audiences everywhere. Dive into this magical episode and discover whether their feats are mere illusions or something far more extraordinary.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Music.

(00:10):
Hi, this is Richard Carlton London. You're listening to the story Circus Jack.
Now let's continue on our story about Pepe, the hero of Circus Jack.
Chapter 11. Illusion or Reality?
Sweetie and Pepe's bond deepened with each new town and feat they accomplished together.

(00:30):
As Sweetie gazed into Pepe's eyes, she saw his unbridled potential shining through.
She connected to his thoughts, whispering concepts, encouragements,
and images, coaxing out abilities that Pepe himself didn't know he possessed.
Soon they performed elaborate dramatic scenes with Pepe taking on various characters

(00:52):
and acting out fairy tale storylines.
He shifted seamlessly between Rolls the Sly Fox, Three Little Pigs,
a bumbling sidekick, eliciting gasps, and thunderous applause from spectators.
Sweetie swelled with pride watching Peppy fully inhabit these personalities,
conveying nuanced emotions that brought the tales to life.

(01:16):
Their most stunning acts involved a metaphysical illusion.
Peppy would enter into a trance closing his eyes as Sweetie would describe an
audience member and something they had on them.
Bringing Peppy out of his trance, she would say fetch, and he would go straight
to the person she described and touch the item.
Entering deeper into the world of transcendence, Sweetie and Peppy devised an

(01:41):
illusion that stunned even themselves.
Pepe would enter into his trance state to a hushed audience,
and when brought out, Sweetie would throw a ball through a standing hoop.
Pepe would run after it, jumping to grab the ball as it entered the hoop,
and would disappear as the ball dropped to the floor on the other side of the

(02:01):
hoop to the gasps of the audience.
Pepe would reappear sitting beside Sweetie as if nothing happened.
As word of their breathtaking performances spread, read, Sweetie and Peppy became international stars.
The newspapers of the region wrote, was it an illusion or an ability?
No one knew, including the performers. But they never lost that intimate connection,

(02:26):
the two of them dreaming up impossibilities and then miraculously making them real.
Even Spectivelli, who often said he'd seen it all, couldn't help but be in awe
be of this adorable dog who simply wanted to spread joy to others.
Ladies and gentlemen, Spectivelli boomed to the seated audience.

(02:47):
You have heard of accounts or possibly read of a dog so amazing that his feats
are not even humanly possible.
Let me introduce Peppy the Wonder Dog. With thundering applause,
and people rising from their seats with anticipation.
And in the excitement whipped up by the master of ceremonies,
Peppy, came from behind the ring curtain, riding on the shoulder of Sweetie

(03:10):
wearing a black cape and holding a magician's wand as they walked to the center.
Sweetie addressed the crowd. Please sit down everyone. This next trick requires your participation.
All of us are essential to Peppy safely performing his next trick,
looking at nearly every face in the stands she said to the audience.

(03:32):
Peppy and I will need to be of one mind tonight.
Can you do that? The crowd roared, yes.
Come to the center, Peppy, and sit. He did so as Sweetie moved to the ring's edge 30 feet from Peppy.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you're sitting, fold your hands into your lap and relax your body.

(03:53):
A quiet hush came over the crowd.
Feel the relaxation with every breath, Sweetie said. Breathing in and out.
Pay attention to your calm breath as it centers you in and out.
She paused to allow the audience to bring attention to their breath.
Relax your jaw and loosen your tongue.

(04:15):
Feel your feet on the ground. Feel the back of your seat against your body as
your breath comes in and out. Again, she paused.
Now close your eyes and allow the light of life to appear behind your eyelids.
Look at the colors behind your eyelids.
Colors of red and splashes of yellow come and go as you sit relaxed.

(04:38):
Focus on those colors and your breath. On the other side of the earth,
your eyes closed in vision peppy and his small body gathering weightlessness. Relax.
Now open your eyes to the center ring. As the audience members opened their
eyes, Sweetie aimed her wand at Peppy, sitting 30 feet away.
As she lifted the wand, Peppy's body began rising.

(05:01):
The crowd let out a hushed gasp as Sweetie lifted the dog higher with waves
of her wand, first one foot off the ground and then another,
without any apparent support or attachment to the earth.
Some of the crowd let out shouts of amazement.
Sweetie then slowly moved the wand in a circular fashion tracing the ring,

(05:23):
as Peppy moved with the circular motions while suspended above the ground,
then returned to the dirt floor from where he had begun.
A stunned silence hung in the air, until a single clap of hands started an avalanche of applause.
People jumped up from their seats as the two held deep bows to the the cheering audience.

(05:44):
Bec de Ville came strolling out and with his megaphone bellowing,
would you like to see this again?
Sweetie strolled to where Peppy was seated before the crowd and gave him a special treat.
She bent down and spoke in a low voice to him. He wagged his tail and received another treat.

(06:04):
Ladies and gentlemen, Peppy believes he can do more for you today.
Day. Are you ready to be amazed by this wonder dog?
Sweetie repeated her request of concentration from the audience,
asking them to close their eyes and focus their thoughts.
Upon opening their eyes, the audience watched Peppy levitate three feet in the air, as before.

(06:28):
After several moments, Sweetie stretched her hands out toward Peppy and brought
them together with a sharp clap.
Peppy vanished the quiet stands
of men women and children appeared stunned
at what they had seen and broke their silence with
shouts of concern for what had just happened sweetie raised
her hand high above her head to request silence the audience of the big top

(06:54):
obeyed and sweetie shouted peppy's name from beneath the stands among the audience
his bark rang out as he came running from under the seat of a surprised young girl.
Jumping into Sweetie's arms, she held him aloft in triumph to the crowd's hysteria.
They both gave a deep bow to the audience members of each section of the big

(07:15):
top who stood in an ovation.
With one last bow, they ducked behind the curtain.