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I am going to start airing segments of a story I will be writing on this website. Every two weeks a new chapter will be inserted. Check back every so often and keep up to date with the story.
Comedian: The Story of Rise to Fame
The crowd was anxious and anticipation filled the air. Things were getting tense and the audience was stiff. The first two comedians had stunk out the joint. Most people had left because of the lame material.
It was ten minutes till the spotlight booted up and the nights headliner would come on. The famous Wiley "Wolf" Hunter would be there with his usual routine. Most people had seen his act before but that did not bother them. Wolf was always a high intensity comedian with a thousand jokes up his sleeve.
In the audience sat Ozzie. A fourteen year old kid with big hopes. He had been to this comedy club about a million times. The Zany Monkey was one of the hottest clubs in town and shows would often sell out.
Ozzie sat with a paper and pen in an attempt to study anything about his favorite comedians. Ozzie hoped that one day he would be an all-star comedian and make millions of people laugh. However things did not seem to go his way often.
Just last week he performed at an "open mike" night. At open mike nights anyone could perform. Ozzie gave his hottest material that night and delivered it with a confident attitude. Even so though the crowd did not seem impressed. he even cut his act short because of a couple of hecklers.
Ozzie always faced short comings and never got the respect he deserved. So today he had to spend the night in the audience as opposed to the stage.
The lights dimmed and the crowd quited down. the announcer came over the speakers. Ladies, gentlemen and anyone in between please welcome your headliner "Wolf"! The crowd let out a burst of cheering as Wolf made his way onto the stage.
"Hello everybody. Hey Mr where are you from?" the comedian delivered in a snappy manner. The man replied "Uh Saskatchewan." The comedian replied "Okay, yeah well your farm called and they want those overalls back." The audience delivered a laugh at the joke.
Ozzie smirked but looked puzzled. He had material way funnier than that. So why did everyone think it was something so funny. Ozzie thought it might have been attitude.
Ozzie walked out of the room and down the hallway to the entrance of the club. He walked but the bullentin board filled with sheets of comedians trying to get gigs and different comedy acts coming up. One note stuck out though. It read "In search of Canada's funniest teenage comedian. Try outs start July 29 at Yule Hall in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Ozzie was enjoying his summer break in Edmonton and thought about trying out. He opened the door and stepped outside the club. He had things to think over.
Ozzie had no way of getting there and even if he did there was a very small chance he would get in. Just that instance a flashy black convertible pulled up with two guys in it. The guys were Hank and Gary. They were Ozzie's two best friends.
"Whats up Ozz." said Gary. "Well I was thinking about maybe trying out for a comedy competition."
Both gary and Hank looked at him in suprise. "Well how are you getting there?" "I don't know. I was kind of hoping one of you guys might take me. Gary replied "Hey no way Ozz I got things to do. Besides whose to say you will even qualify?"
The reality of that statement hit Ozzie like a bag full of weights. What if he didn't get in. The whole trip would be a waste.
"Look Hank I know you're free can you take me. No I got no money for gas. Otherwise I probably would go." "Well." Ozzie replied "What if I got the money." "And just how would you do that, sell lemonade?"
"No." Ozzie pondered as he prepared his answer. "I could wash cars or something." "Look how much would you make. One maybe two-hundred dollars at the most. We would need a lot more than that to cover the costs.
Ozzie walked down they street after they talked. He had no way of getting their. He needed someway to cut costs. He wouldn't be allowed to hitchhike. And even taking a car would cost to much. Then he got an idea. He would take a bus. He could afford it.
Sure it would'nt be so luxurious but he could hack it.
"Yeah things are going to be just fine." Ozzie held his head up with pride as he looked out at the resilliant sunset. Then a car speeded by and splashed a huge pile of mud on Ozzie.
So there Ozzie stood. His joy had just been smashed to the ground. Ozzie walked home thinking of new jokes for his act. When he got home the sun had set and everyone was out at soem activity or another. Only his dog named Jake was still there.
Ozzie went up the large wooden staircase to his room and sat down at his desk. He turned on his computer and went to register for the comedy tryouts. There were only 25 spots available and he did not have time to get his parents approval. So he signed up anyway.
Ozzie peered out of his window at the great big city of Edmonton. He knew that this place in life was somewhere but he did'nt feel that it was here. Ozzie floped down on his bed and turned on the TV. Saturday Night Live was on so he figured he'd watch it.
*****
Ozzie awoke to the sun shining brightly into his room. He checked his watched and realized it was already noon. The day was July 21 which meant he only had eight days to earn money for the trip to Winnipeg. He walked down the stairs to his mom. Now was the time. he had to get approval for the trip.
"Hey mom?" Ozzie started "Yes?" she replied. "I was thinking about going to Winnipeg next week for this comedy thing. "Absolutely not, you wasted to much time hanging around at comedy clubs you are definately not goig to some comedy festival. "Actually I would be performing in it." His mom replied "I wont let you go." She was firm but Ozzie figured he could make her break.
Just when Ozzie was losing all hope things got worse. Besides we are visiting your aunt in Ottawa that week, don't you remember anything."
Ozzie felt jolted by the statement. He had completly forgot the whole thing. Just then an idea popped into Ozzies head. He didn't need to get approval. He already had a ride through there!
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