Pagliacci's Treatment - by Frog - Myths, Mostly

I wrote this story as a thread on Twitter. It turned out a lot of people liked it, so I have transcribed it over here where it should be easier to find and share. I have made no edits at all, merely copying each tweet as a separate paragraph. Thanks for reading Myths, Mostly! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Heard joke once: man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him." Man goes to Pagliacci's show. The theatre is full of laughter from the moment the clown trips onto the stage late. Man is overwhelmed with joy and an impression that life is bursting with meaning. He comes out of the theatre singing, and dances home under the stars. The next day, he thinks he'll go again. But when he turns up at the Box Office, they say Pagliacci has disappeared. H

I wrote this story as a thread on Twitter. It turned out a lot of people liked it, so I have transcribed it over here where it should be easier to find and share. I have made no edits at all, merely copying each tweet as a separate paragraph. Thanks for reading Myths, Mostly! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Heard joke once: man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. G