The gatekeeper and the wizard, redux: An Old World fable exported to America (with apologies and homage to Nigel Mathers 1 2 3)

Abstract

Once upon a time, in a country far away, lived a great wizard with wondrous healing powers. He lived in a splendid castle on a hill overlooking the city. The wizard was clever. He knew how to use magic crystals to see inside people to find out what was wrong with them, and he had magic spells and potions to treat their illnesses. When sick people came to see the wizard, he often cured them or made them feel better and live longer. For his work he was paid handsomely.
Down the hill, in a nice big house, though not as grand as the wizard’s, lived a gatekeeper. An important part of her job was to decide who got to see the wizard. She was also clever, and she had magic potions as well. After …