Short Story Botanisches Theater by Paul KleeAct OneThe professional principle of sticking to the script had not seemed to require debate or discussion. All of the evening’s headlined participants agreed that it made practical sense. However, they did not each claim with the same degree of commitment that the highest priority tied to that principle needed only two words: safety first. Although none of the four tag-teaming competitors believed that this cautionary perspective was unimportant, one had emphasized more than once to his fellow wrestlers that honoring the traditional narratives was just as important. This was the stated position of the Honorable George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron of Rochdale, author of the satiric epic poem Don Juan (and whose ring name was, appropriately, “Juan The Don”). Of the other three, it was known that the grappler most passionate about playing strictly by both spoken and unspoken rules in the new match—with the spoken rules defined largely by whichever particular promoter would be paying the performers—was Carl “The Butcher” Sandburg, the broad-shouldered bard working out of Chicago. Perhaps that was because from the quartet of rhyming wrestlers, he was the one most comfortable with the role to which he had been assigned by whoever had outlined the ritualistic ring rhythms to be followed in the next renewal of a seemingly eternal form of conflict-entertainment. Carl was elated to be slated to perform as a good-sport/good-guy (what wrestling fans call a “face,” short for “baby face”). As a relatively innocent fan favorite, he would almost always keep in character, ready to creep peacefully around the outside perimeter of the ropes in his pale-blue tights and soft new wrestling shoes trimmed with fluffy, gray-white fur at the ankles in near-futile attempts to tag his teammate. During this repetition of frustration, he would be progressively earning the sympathy of the crowd, their collective groaning growing as they watched him routinely get insulted and assaulted outside the ropes by one of the two bad-sport/bad-guy “heels” determined to prevent Carl The Butcher’s outstretched hand from finding and fingering his fellow face, Edward “Scot-Free” FitzGerald. At a predetermined moment he would, of course, appear to abandon his long-held patience, would finally erupt in hard-earned and undeniably righteous rage and pick up a metal chair to mime the motion of smashing it over the head of the notorious heel John “The Dungeon” Donne while Scot-Free FitzGerald would feign the simultaneous smashing of a wooden stool over the head of Donne’s partner heel, Juan The Don.Approximately forty-eight hours before the beginning bell was supposed to ring, a rumor ran rampant around the wrestling world that Juan The Don was a bit worried about “that Ed guy,” a last-minute substitution for a different “Ed”—Edgar Poe having suffered a severe muscle tear in Baltimore while practicing his signature “Ragin’ Raven Elbow Drop.” It was gossiped that the author of all sixteen thousand lines in the seventeen cantos of Don Juan was of the literary opinion that Edward FitzGerald’s reputation among certain arrogantly ungenerous academic critics was destined to be stamped and stained with the esoteric insult label “pseudepigraphic fabrication” and therefore . . . and so . . . well, at least one sophomoric wrestling-oriented sportswriter was wondering in print, “So what?” It was not as though Juan The Don cared all that much about whether or not a high percentage of the quatrains making up the text of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam had really been authored by Persia’s most notable polymath before being translated into rhyme-patterned English six or seven centuries later; no, this troubled soul’s perhaps paranoid concern was that this inexperienced opponent—a replacement trained only recently for making what he jokingly and pseudo-poetically proclaimedwould be “my maiden voyage / into that tethered arena / the squared circle / of rope-tempered truth”—might feel free to wander off-script, based on his having wandered that way occasionally as five varied editions of his masterpiece had been revised and released, with some scholars suggesting that several of the revisions resisted being traced to source manuscripts of Omar. the lines of a freely translated poem, might be looking also for ways to improve the lines of a wrestling script and end up disrespecting, intentionally or otherwise, the ancient allegorical hallmarks to be honored in the agreed-upon drama. Sandburg seemed stunned that Byron would take such a possibility so seriously.“Now, Juan The Don,” Carl began in a folksy tone intended to be soothing, hoping to make light of the topic, “unless you think my fellow-face Fitzy will be killing time and his thirst back in the dressing room before the bout begins, I strongly doubt that he will be idly fiddling with the flow of scenic beats in our exhaustively choreographed encounter. I am at a loss to

Once upon a time, there was a wealthy man named Mr. Thompson who lived in a grand mansion in the countryside. He had amassed his fortune through a series of shrewd business deals and investments, and he had become one of the richest men in the land.Despite his immense wealth, Mr. Thompson was not a happy man. He felt a deep sense of emptiness inside and longed for something more in his life. One day, he decided to stage a grand party at his mansion to entertain himself and his guests.He invited all of the most influential people in the area, including politicians, celebrities, and business leaders. He spared no expense in preparing for the event, hiring the finest caterers, florists, and entertainers to make sure everything was perfect.The night of the party arrived, and Mr. Thompson's mansion was filled with music, laughter, and excitement. Everyone was having a great time, and Mr. Thompson felt a sense of satisfaction as he watched his guests enjoying themselves.But as the night wore on, something strange began to happen. The guests started to notice that something was off about the party. The food seemed tasteless, the music was too loud, and the decorations were gaudy and over-the-top.As the evening progressed, the guests became more and more uneasy. They began to whisper to each other and exchange worried glances. Some of them even left the party early, feeling that something was not right.In the end, Mr. Thompson realized that he had staged the party for himself, not for his guests. He had been seeking validation and approval from others, but in the end, he had only succeeded in making himself feel even more empty and unfulfilled.From that day on, Mr. Thompson began to seek out more meaningful experiences in his life, rather than trying to impress others with his wealth and status. He learned that true happiness and fulfillment come from within, and not from the external trappings of wealth and success.

Once upon a time, in a world far, far away, there was a kingdom called the Kingdom of Eldoria. Eldoria was a land of beauty and wonder, with lush green forests, sparkling rivers, and towering mountains. The people of Eldoria were kind and gentle, and they lived in harmony with one another.The kingdom was ruled by a wise and just king named King Alaric. King Alaric was a fair ruler, and he cared deeply for his people. He was loved by all who lived in Eldoria.One day, a terrible darkness descended upon the kingdom. A wicked sorcerer named Malakar had cast a spell to darken the land and bring suffering to its people. The once bright skies were now filled with dark clouds, and the rivers had turned to mud. The people of Eldoria were filled with fear and despair.King Alaric knew that he had to do something to lift the darkness and save his people. He consulted with the wisest advisors in the kingdom, but none of them knew how to break the sorcerer's spell. The king was determined to find a way to defeat Malakar and restore peace to Eldoria.King Alaric set out on a quest to find the sorcerer and put an end to his evil deeds. He traveled through treacherous forests and over towering mountains, facing many dangers along the way. He encountered fierce beasts and fought off bandits, but he never lost hope.Finally, King Alaric reached Malakar's stronghold. The sorcerer was waiting for him, and he was ready to use his dark magic to defeat the king. But King Alaric was not afraid. He drew his sword and charged at the sorcerer.The battle between King Alaric and Malakar was fierce and intense. The sorcerer was powerful, but the king was determined. With the help of his loyal knights, King Alaric was able to defeat the sorcerer and shatter the spell that had darkened the land.The darkness lifted, and the skies were once again filled with bright blue clouds. The rivers flowed with clear water, and the forests were once again lush and green. The people of Eldoria rejoiced and celebrated the victory over the sorcerer.King Alaric returned to his kingdom, and he was greeted with cheers and celebration. He had saved his people from despair and brought peace to Eldoria once again. The kingdom was prosperous and happy, and the people lived in peace and harmony for many years to come.And so, the story of King Alaric and his quest to defeat the sorcerer Malakar became a legend in Eldoria. It was told and retold for generations, and it inspired many to be brave and to stand up for what is right. The kingdom of Eldoria remained a place of beauty and wonder, and it was a place where people lived in peace and happiness.

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the heart of a dense forest, there lived a young girl named Lily. She was known throughout the village for her kind heart and her ability to see the beauty in everything around her.One day, while wandering through the forest, Lily stumbled upon a hidden glade. In the center of the glade stood a beautiful white unicorn, its horn shimmering in the sunlight. The unicorn spoke to Lily, telling her that it was a magical creature, granted the power to grant wishes to those who were pure of heart.Lily was amazed and overjoyed at the opportunity. She had always dreamed of making a difference in her village, and now she had the chance. She wished for the village to be blessed with prosperity and happiness, and for the forest to be protected and preserved for generations to come.The unicorn nodded its head in approval and granted Lily's wish. From that day forward, the village flourished and the forest thrived. The villagers lived in peace and harmony, and the natural world around them was abundant and bountiful.Lily was overjoyed at the outcome and knew that she had made the right decision. She had captured the white wish and had brought prosperity and happiness to her village. From that day forward, she was known as the girl who had captured the white wish and had made a difference in the world.

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Jack who had a dream of becoming a musician. He had a passion for playing the guitar and would spend hours each day practicing and perfecting his skills Despite his talent, Jack faced many obstacles on his journey to becoming a musician. He didn't have the money to take music lessons, and his family didn't support his dream. Many people told him that he would never make a living as a musician and that he should give up and find a more practical career But Jack refused to give up. He continued to practice and play music, and eventually, he was discovered by a talent scout who helped him launch his career. Jack's perseverance and dedication paid off, and he went on to become a successful musician, inspiring others to never give up on their dreams The moral of the story is that success is not easy, but with hard work and determination, anything is possible. Don't let others bring you down or tell you that you can't achieve your dreams. Keep pushing forward and never give up.