Not a finalist; a semi at best. *sigh* I still liked it and hope you do too.
Viola!
Sure it was my first professional gig; but as a magician, I should CERTAINLY be able to hide my debut jitters. Viola! What jitters? I made sure my props were ready: Never-ending hankie? Check. Trick playing cards? Check. Hat and rabbit? Check. I put them on the counter while I heated up the iron. I had to press my magic coat and pants AND get my business cards ready because after this party, they’d be speechless. Make way for the new Blackstone, Henning or Copperfield. Big time Vegas money, here I come!
Oh NO! All that daydreaming made me late! I couldn’t be late for my first birthday party. What would little Jimmy or Danny or whoever think? I scurried about, cramming all my tricks into my trunk. Some serious apologies would have to appear when I got there.
I careened into the driveway, jumping out before my Aveo came to a complete stop. I could hear the party was already in full swing; laughter, shouting, even caught a glimpse of a couple high maintenance critters hovering greedily over the M&M’s. I hoped I’d brought balloons. They’re great to get the kids hooked. Mom and Dad were a little stiff but I calmed them down, smoothing it over with promises of a fabulous party. It was going to be absolutely unforgettable.
I pulled my trunk out to set up. I closed my eyes concealing horrendous embarrassment, gut wrenching panic as I realized the stupid rabbit was on my table. My finale was missing. But a good magician can always improvise. I saw out of the corner of my eye a hutch; with a FABULOUS bunny in it. Whew! I smiled grandly. The show would go on. Renewed confidence told me to begin with a poodle or two out of my stretchy balloon collection.
Squeak!
Pop!
“ WHOA! Here ya go Birthday boy! A hat just for you!”
I was bringing them in. I read their minds, dazzled them with some of my card tricks, wowed them with my dancing hankies and last but not least, asked for a volunteer. Everyone jumped up, waving until I thought their arms would fly from their sockets. I grandly stepped past them all; even the birthday boy, pulling the rabbit from the hutch.
“ This little fella will do.” I said and stuffed him into the hat.
Mom and Dad were smiling. Everyone was happy. This was like shooting fish in a barrel. Vegas Baby! I just knew I was on my way. But the impromptu Hasenpfeffer was not used to being handled. It wiggled and squirmed as I chanted my magical disappearing words. Then POOF! It was gone. Those kids’ eyes were as big as half dollars. No smoke. Nope. Just gone. Of course it was in my jacket digging with its hind quarters and biting at me. It was killing me but I kept it pinned under my elbow. The harder it jerked, the tighter I pinched. I even popped a seam in the back of my jacket. Silly rabbit, this trick was for kids!
Well the big moment arrived at last. I plopped my hat down. The little boy kept asking where his bunny was.
“Don’t worry Son. He’s riiiight….”
I stretched my arms out to cast my last phenomenal magic spell; the one that would make me
famous.
“HERE!”
I shook my hands to bring the rabbit forward from my jacket so I could slip it into the hat where it would wiggle its nose and flip its feet. Everyone would clap. I was seconds away from my star studded rise.
Instead, the rabbit fell out of my coat hitting the ground with a sickening “whump”. It hadn’t been my seam after all. I’d broken its neck.
There was a maddening silence as they stared at me; speechless.
Voila.
