A Lawyer Tumbles Artfully Through the Air

When Gary was a kid, his favorite past-time was to head down to Covent Garden with his dad to marvel at the street performers. As they watched, Gary would daydream about the day that he would perform among them.

Then, just after he turned 15 he got the chance to put on his own act – and at Covent Garden no less.

Over the next few years his passion for performing only grew, but when faced with the decision to pursue the life of a street performer more seriously or accept the admission letter he'd received to Oxford Law or, he chose the more sensible path.

*

A decade into his law career, Gary was living comfortably with a six-figure salary and a million dollar home with a pool.

One day he got a call from an old friend. His friend, who he knew from his street performing days, had recently won Sweden's Got Talent and now had his own TV show. He had an ask of Gary. He wanted to use Gary's famous human cannonball stunt for the show.

"When I said yes, it felt like I was handing him the remnants of my dream."

Gary asked only one thing in return: After the show was wrapped, he wanted to keep the cannon.

*

So there it was, a working cannon, sitting in his backyard – a constant reminder of the life he didn't choose.

It was a day like any other when Gary finally decided to brush the dust off his old helmet and give it a shot. He aimed it, as best he could, for his pool. With no audience and no safety team, he lowered himself into the barrel of the cannon.

He lit the fuse and exhaled.

*

On any given evening, from over the neighbor's fence, one could take in the sight of the respectable Mr. Stoker, smiling ear to ear, tumbling through the air, and landing with a satisfying splash.

*

His phone rang. It was Mark, another friend from the old days, also with ask, but this time not for a stunt… He wanted Gary.

His friend has thinking about starting a 1920s-themed travelling circus, and wanted Gary to be his partner – and, of course, the Human Cannonball.

Gary didn't hesitate. All that was left to do was give his notice at work and start packing his leotards.

Life at "the Chaplin's Circus" was as one might have imagined. Long hours. Little pay. The whole troupe lived out of the caravan – every night flirting with death. But oh was it romantic.

*

Today Gary no longer performs the human cannonball stunt. He hasn't since the Chaplin's Circus stopped touring. But he also didn't return to law.

Today he runs a successful escape room in London. In this way, he is still an entertainer, still bringing people wonder and joy. And what could be better than that, short of flying through the air.