Will Cook

"The lights glared down on the stage"

The lights glared down on the stage. The curtains were anxious to unfold. Everything up to this point had been a preparation for this magical moment. The floor creaked, as he cautiously stepped onto the old wooden floors. So many before him, had made this journey, from back stage to the front of the stage. He laboriously went over his act in his head. One card trick, one bunny in the hat, one joke, and then he would end with a blowup doll. Everything seemed well planned out in his head, but just as he was stuffing his tricks up his sleeves, the curtain was accidently opened so that his entire show was unfolded quicker than anyone would have wanted.

He shook and without a moments notice, everything fell on the floor: the bunny, the folded hat, the doll. He slumped down and began to weep. The audience, slowly agonizing over the embarrassment with him, stood up and began to clap. “I don’t know what to say”, said Charles. “ My whole act is ruined.” The applause pounded until he figured he would have to figure out a way to finish the show.

He ran back stairs and grabbed the only trick he had not done. “But I haven’t practiced this one since I was a kid,” he thought to himself. He knew it was his only hope, so he put the deck of cards into his pocket and plodded himself back on stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this next trick would dazzle the minds of young and old alike. What I need is a volunteer. You sir, you with the tall black hat.” As young Chireesius stumbled up the stairs, his chest pounded with anxiety. He had never stood before a crowd before, but he knew there was a first time for everything.

Charles unbuttoned his sleeves, and pulled out the cards. He began to tell the crowd about how the trick would work, but meanwhile Chireesius was too fascinated by the way his heart was beating. He had never heard such a rhythm before. It seemed as if, his heart might as well jump out of his chest at any moment. However, when it came time for him to take the card from Charles’s deck, he carefully selected the card, and put it in his pocket. “No,” said Charles. “Keep the card in your sight at all times.” As little Chireesius slipped the card back out of his pocket, it was evident to Chireesius that he had a deep fascination about how and what Charles was about to do. But even before Charles had time to comprehend the future, the card had magically changed colors and was no longer in Chireesius’s hand.

The audience cheered, and Charles bowed, along with Chireesius. After the show, Charles invited Chireesius back stage and they had a talk about the future that they might be able to have together. However, as Charles was only seven years old, they both saw that it would be difficult for them to pursue a future together. Chireesius was busy with school, and there was no way his mother would allow him to skip school just so they could go on tour. So instead, Chireesius said goodbye to Charles, and Chireesius’s family left.

Charles packed up his bags, and without even desiring payment for this show, made his way to his Ford Model A car. He then drove home across the bumpy cobble stone roads, and before he knew it, he was home. He unlocked the driver’s door, and before he could even step foot outside. He found himself being gagged with a bag over his head. He drifted off, and the next time he awoke was when he felt water being splashed on him. “Get up, you filthy scum.”

With that, Charles stood to his feat, and to his surprise has hit in the back with a chair. After he fell over, they pulled the sheet off and sat him upright. “Is this him boss?” said Bernard. “You idiots,” said the boss, “I was looking for Chireesius, the magistrate’s son, not Charles the magician. How could you be so stupid? I told you several times that this job could not be screwed up. Do you all not understand that my life is at stake? Return him at once.”

(7 months later)

Charles, sat patiently waiting in the magistrates office. “Was this the man, they were looking for? Why had it been so hard for them to find this man? He was nothing more than a common man, but something must be special about him.”

“He is ready to see you Charles”, said his secretary.

“Very Well”, said Charles.

He stood up and walked past the double doors, and saw sitting his with back turned towards Charles appeared to be the magistrate. Bernard turned around and Charles soon became aware, that they had found this man. A huge gash appeared on his right cheek and he saw that he had a patch over one eye. “Have a seat Charles,” said Bernard. “ I have called you hear today, to talk about what took place on July the second of last year.” Do you remember anything of that day at all?”

“Well,” said Charles, “I do believe that that day was the debut of my show in London. It was the day, that my show was ruined and I was forced to pull sympathy from the audience by pulling a boy from the audience.”

“Do you perchance, happen to remember that young boy’s name,” said Bernard.



Charles began to sweat; his brow glistened under the reflection of the fireplace. Was he in trouble for using this child without consent? “Surely this could not be the case,” so he mustered all the strength he had and without warning blurted out. “Chireesius!” said Charles.

The magistrate glared at him with disgust. “Do you have any idea of who that boy is?”

“In fact I do not,” said Charles. All I know is that he wore a tall, black hat and seemed to be nervous with stage fright.”

“Yes that is the child all right!” said Bernard. “We have been searching for that boy, my son, for several months after he was mysteriously taken from our house that night.” “Do you remember if he said anything peculiar to you, as you departed.”

“No, nothing to strange, but now that I think of it, he did happen to wink at me almost as if he was performing a magic trick on me.” Said Charles.

And with that, Bernard stood up and began pacing across the room. Charles noticed the various awards on the wall, and saw just how many pictures of Chireesius, that Bernard had. Some of him, painted by eloquent painters, and others: photographs, longing to be dusted. Charles knew that Chireesius must not have been an ordinary son, and the thought of being able to help this man find his son, soon turned a key in his soul, and he suddenly remember to here details from the conversation from the car which had taken him to where he was kept for a few hours. They said the boy’s powers had manifested themselves over time, and he was now able to do things that were otherwise thought to be impossible. Everyone was trying to lay there hands, on this young boy. “The card!” Thought Charles. “He made the card disappear, but I could never think of how he actually performed this trick. Here I thought I was the magician, and the next thing I know, I’m the one who was getting the joke played on him.”

“Exactly,” said Bernard. “He had special powers that were otherwise not supposed to have existed.

And with that, Charles stood up. “We must find this boy!” He has powers that could be used worldwide. Surely something must be done to find him.