An old story of mine that I posted elsewhere that disappeared into the mists of time. So I decided to bring it back to life with a few edits to bring it up to date from when it was written back in 2011.
It was Pete’s birthday He was now the ripe old age of 21. He and a group of close friends had decided to go to one of those hypnotist shows for a laugh. Joe one of his friends had got the tickets. He had gone a few weeks before and had spent most of the since talking about it. Now here they were sitting in the pub next to the theatre waiting for Joe and Amy (his girlfriend) to arrive. There was Susan his on-again-off-again girlfriend (more off than on at the moment). Her best friend Jane. Steven one of his good friends, Pete had known Steven since school they had grown up together and had a habit of playing practical jokes on each other.
“You know there is no way I can be hypnotized,” Pete said smugly. “Why is that?” asked Jane. “Too strong-willed willed” He answered. “That's bull,” said Susan “You can get talked into anything” she went on to say. “Come on you two no fighting tonight”. “We are out to celebrate Pete's birthday not fight,” said Steven. “Ever the peace maker Steven said to Jane. “You know me” he replied. Just then Joe and Amy arrived “Hi guys who wants a drink” asked Joe as he walked up to the booth we were sitting in. After a minute or two we had worked out what everyone wanted and Pete and Joe walked to the bar to get the drinks.
About ten minutes later they got back to the booth with the drinks the pub was busy that night. Pete saw his friends talking to another guy who looked familiar but I couldn’t place him. Pete thought to himself “Oh there you are “said Susan looking up. “This is Bob” she continued. “Hi Bob, “I said looking at him. “I know this will sound strange but have we met before” Pete asked him. “Don't think so” was his answer. “Strange you look so familiar,” Pete told him it was at this point he looked round the table and everyone else had big smiles on their faces. “What is it” What have I done now” He asked. “Nothing, “ Susan said this is Bob Powers otherwise known as Dr. Robert Powers the man we are going to see in a few hours. “Oh sorry but at least I recognized you from somewhere | just couldn’t remember where,” Pete said to Bob apologetically.
“Not to worry it happens a lot” he replied. “I was sitting in the next booth having a drink before the show and I couldn't help but overhear what you said before you went to the bar,” Dr Bob said to Pete. “What was that got your attention” Pete asked him. “Well you said that you couldn't be hypnotized” he replied. “Yeah that's right I'm strong willed he said to him. “I have heard that a lot over the years but one by one I have managed to put them all under” came Bob's reply. “I would like to propose a harmless little wager with you” he went on to say with a twinkle in his eye. “Really what might that be” Pete asked. “Simple”. “You come backstage after the show and I will try to put you under”. “If I do it you will admit to everyone here that you can be hypnotized,” he said. “And buy us all a drink each” shouted Steven. “That part you can work out yourselves,” said Bob. “What happens if you can't put me under” Pete asked. “Oh that's the best bit as far as you are concerned”. “I will give you £100 on the spot and give you all a free ticket to any show in the theatre” Bob went on to say. “Sound like a win, win situation but how do we get backstage?” Pete asked Bob “Not too worry I will fix that,” Bob said. “Are we agreed then? “ he asked. “Why the hell not” was the answer from everyone sitting at the table.
With that, Bob went about signing the back of all of our tickets with his name a word which he would let the theatre know about so that we could get backstage after the show. He sat with us for about another half hour and then left to start preparing for the show.
I won't bore you with the details of how we passed the time until the show started or what the show was like by now most people have seen one of these shows or have a good idea of what it's like. Everyone enjoyed it a great deal and would make sure they told Bob that when they next saw him. So now after nearly three hours, they headed to the side of the stage to go backstage to meet up with Bob and get what Pete thought was an easy £100. As they got nearer we were stopped by one of the security staff. The group showed him their tickets and he took them through a few doors and told us to wait outside another door. This turned out to be Bob's dressing room. A few minutes later they were shown inside and Bob was having a drink of water.
“Hi guys nice to see you again,” he said. “I will be with you in a minute”. “Just make yourselves comfortable”. We all sat down and waited for Bob to finish what he was doing. After a few minutes, he came over and sat down next to us. “Sorry about that just sorting out tomorrow night it's my last show here for a few weeks I need a little time off you know,” he said with a smile. “Now to our little wager Bob asked Pete to sit beside him and he said he was going to put him under the next thing everyone knew Pete was sitting there staring straight ahead not blinking and completely under Bob’s hypnotic power. Pete had lost the bet. Bob turned to them and said, “So does anyone have an idea of what we can do to prove to Pete that he was under”.
“I have an idea,” says Susan. “Yes and what might that be” asked Bob. “Well just last week Pete was complaining about how much time it took me to get ready before going out” she replied. “So I think it might be fun to give him a taste of what takes so long” she went on to say. “So what do you have in mind and remember I will not suggest he does anything that will harm him,” said Bob.
“Well, there should be enough makeup between us girls here to do his face.” “All you need to do is to make him think it is normal for him to have makeup on.” She said with a smile on her face “That should be easy. Remember we are in a theatre the one thing we are not short of is makeup.” Was Bob’s reply. “ This will be a laugh.” All of the group of friends agreed “I will give a word to say that we bring him out from the suggestion when you are ready to. Tina, could you help these ladies here make this young man look as pretty as possible?” Bob shouted into the hallway asking one of the dancers who had been hanging around the theatre to practice for her show which was starting the following evening.
”Sure thing Bob.” She replied with a smile that was only matched by the other women. “This way ladies.” She said as she led them into a nearby empty dressing room. So the girls got to work while the boys and Bob had a drink. When they returned the males tried their best not to laugh at the birthday boy who was still in the trance that Bob had put him in earlier that evening. Bob got to work and after five minutes he said he was all but done he just needed a trigger word to give me. That done Bob was just about to bring him out
