Egan Kate - The Disappearing Magician

The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this e-book you are reading infringes on the authors copyright, please notify the publisher at: us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.

To my magical friends, the Pols kids.

K. E.

To my 6-year-old self, who loved magic, pursued it, and never, ever stopped believing!

M. L.

Mike Weiss had his eyes fixed on the classroom clock. It was 1:58. The minute hand lurched forward, it seemed, about once an hour. When would it be 2:00, then? Some people would say two minutes. Mike knew it would be forever .

Mrs. Canfields fourth graders were gathered in a circle as she talked about different kinds of rocks. Some kids were passing rocks around the room: One had layers in it, like stripes, while another one was studded with shells. Yet another one was black and shiny.

Who can remind me how sedimentary rock is formed? Mrs. Canfield asked the class.

Who can remind me, Mike wondered, what that is? Or why I need to know?

His eyes wandered back to the clock. 1:59.

Eventually, the rock talk would be over and his class could go downstairs to meet their first-grade book buddies. Reading stories with pictures to a bunch of little kids that was Mikes kind of schoolwork. From now on, theyd get to do it once a week.

Mike? said Mrs. Canfield.

He blinked. Yes?

Still with us?

He sat up straight, like hed been paying close attention.

Mrs. Canfield prompted him. Sedimentary rock comes from

Mike cleared his throat. The whole class was watching.

Next to him, Emily Winstons hand shot up like a rocket. Mike didnt know the answer, but Emily did, and she could hardly wait to blurt it out.

Then there was a click from the clock. The minute hand jumped ahead!

Mrs. Canfield stood up and smiled. Well get back to this tomorrow, she told the class. Two oclock. Time to go! Our book buddies will be waiting.

Lucky break, Mike thought. Just in time!

There was a rush of activity as the kids stuffed their backpacks with folders and notebooks, lunchboxes and sneakers, so theyd be ready to go home at the end of the day. Then everyone lined up at the door to walk downstairs. It wasnt easy, but Mike managed not to speak above a whisper in the hallway. That was the rule, and he wasnt taking any risks.

Mike tried really hard not to get in trouble at school these days. If he went to the principals office, shed call Mikes parents. And if Ms. Scott called his parents, hed lose an important privilege: biking downtown, all by himself, to The White Rabbit. The worlds best magic shop.

The fourth graders filed into Mrs. Kavanaughs room and stood in a row. The first graders observed them, quiet as mice, from their tiny chairs. Who would he be paired with? Mike wondered. The girl in the unicorn shirt? The boy with the glasses?

The classroom was bright and cheerful, with kids art all over the wall. On a table in the back, Mike spotted a jumbo bag of pretzels and two bottles of apple juice. Snacks! Mike thought. The afternoon was looking even better. He clutched the book hed brought to read to his buddy. Sometimes he liked little kids, like his cousins Jake and Lily, better than kids his own age.

Welcome, fourth graders! said Mrs. Kavanaugh. Are we ready to get started? She passed around a cardboard box, and each of Mikes classmates selected a name from it.

When it was Mikes turn, he stuck his hand in the box and read the name out loud. Lucas? he asked, scanning the faces in front of him. A boy with long, shaggy hair raised his hand. Thats me! he called out. He and Mike walked to the snack table together.

Mike took charge of the apple juice, and unfolded his getting-to-know-you worksheet. This was supposed to make the first grader feel at home with him. Do you have any pets? Mike asked. What are their names?

Lucas just sat there with his mouth hanging open. His two front teeth were missing.

Can he talk? Mike wondered. It might be hard with missing teeth.

Can he eat pretzels? Mike wasnt sure what to do. Break the snacks into pieces?

Maybe we should just start reading, he said. The book hed brought was called The Magic Hat. He was pretty sure a first grader would like it. Mike showed Lucas the cover.

I knew it! said Lucas, just about jumping out of his seat. Youre the magician!

I do like magic. Mike admitted.

I saw you on the playground! Lucas said. When I was waiting for the bus!

He must have seen the Great Escape, Mike realized. With that illusion, hed tricked Jackson Jacobs, the meanest kid in school!

Lucas was really excited. I saw you in the lunchroom, too! he insisted. Youre famous!

Suddenly, Mike felt two feet taller. Famous? He liked the sound of that. Too bad he didnt see what was coming next.

Could you do a trick for me? asked Lucas.

Mike looked around the room. All the names had been chosen and all the kids had broken up into pairs. Mrs. Kavanaugh and Mrs. Canfield were moving around slowly, making sure the getting-to-know-yous were going well.

Im supposed to make Lucas feel comfortable, Mike thought. And nobody said I couldnt do magic.

He was trying so hard to do everything right! When magic was involved, though, Mike couldnt help himself.

As usual, he had a deck of cards in his pocket. He pulled the cards out and held the four jacks in front of him, like a fan. See these jacks? he said to Lucas. Im going to put them right here on top of the deck.

Okay, said Lucas, watching.

Mike put the four jacks on top of the deck and lifted the first one off again. Now, Im going to place this jack someplace inside the deck, he said. He stuck it in with the other cards at random and continued, Ill do that with the other jacks, too.

Next, he handed the deck to Lucas. Can you hold these for a second? When Lucas got hold of them, Mike said, Now, take the four cards off the top for me, okay?

Lucass jaw dropped as he peeled off four jacks in a row.

Voila, said Mike, scooping the cards out of his hands and wishing, like always, that he had a good magic word. The four jacks jumped to the top!

Thats sick , Lucas said in awe.

Mike looked over at Mrs. Canfield. She was talking to Oscar and heading in his direction. Mike stuck the cards back in his pocket.

I think we should start the book now, okay? he said to Lucas.

The story was about a wizard, not a magician. He had a hat that could make him invisible and allow him to fly. It could make stuff appear and disappear, too. But even the wizard didnt know it could shoot red-hot lightning boltsuntil another wizard tried to steal it!