Super Jake and the King of Chaos

by Naomi Milliner

  Mom and I are at the kitchen table looking through a big catalog Peter’s mom gave us. “Look at this one.” Mom grabs her pen and jots the name and price on a piece of paper. “It’s called a ‘cozy cocoon.’ Everyone can use it, but it’s designed especially for autistic children, like C.K.” She shows me this circular, mostly-enclosed space that’s open in front and has round openings for windows.

  “How would it help him?”

  She takes a sip of mint tea. “You know how he gets upset sometimes when there’s too much noise? This is a quiet space where he could calm down and feel safe until he’s ready to play again.”

  Anything that’ll calm C.K. down sounds good to me.

  She flips to the next page that’s flagged when my new cell phone rings. The day after Jake came home, Mom and Dad surprised me with it. They said I’d done such a great job taking care of Freddy and “holding down the fort,” that I earned it.

  “It’s Amazing Amelia,” I tell Mom.

  “You go ahead. I’ll check on your brothers.” She takes her mug and leaves.

  Amazing Amelia has been texting me every week. The first time, she wanted to know how Jake was doing, and to be sure he was okay. It wasn’t until we were ready to say goodbye that I remembered to ask who won the magic competition.

  “Oh,” she typed. “I did.”

  Before I could even congratulate her, she added, “But we’ll never know what would’ve happened if you had stayed.”

  Nope. We never will.

  I’m happy for her. I really am. But every time I hear from her, I can’t help wondering what would’ve happened if I had stayed. Would she still have won?

  “Ethan?” she texts.

  “I’m here. So, are you and Magnus partners yet?” I ask, like always.

  And like always, she sends a smiley face. “Not yet.” Only this time she adds, “But I’m going to meet him soon. And I want you to be one of my guests. Afterward, you can meet him if you want.”

  If I want? “That would be awesome! You really are amazing.”

  We end the conversation a few minutes later, but I can’t stop smiling.

  “That must’ve been quite a conversation.” Mom walks back into the kitchen.

  “I’m going to meet Magnus after all! Amelia just invited me to the show!”

  “I’m so happy for you, Ethan.” She gives me a hug, then sits at the table and gets her pen again. “Give me all the details.”

  “Okay. Well, the ticket is free, plus Amelia’s aunt and uncle live in D.C., so I can ride up to Atlantic City with them if you want. She gave me their number if you’d like to talk with them.”

  “Sounds like she’s thought of everything. Now, what’s the date?”

  “February twelfth.” I want to jump up and down like Freddy when he’s super excited. I want to fly around the room, and—

  “Oh,” Mom says.

  One word is all it takes for my excitement to come crashing down. Something is wrong, I just can’t figure out what.… Then I realize. “That’s when the fund-raiser is.”

  She nods. I look at her. She looks at me. I know what she’s thinking.

  “Listen,” I tell her. “It’s not like I don’t want to be at the fund-raiser, but this is Magnus we’re talking about! I’ve wanted to meet him since forever and I thought I couldn’t and now I can and—”

  “You’re right.” She reaches across the table and takes my hand.

  “Wait, what?”

  “You deserve this, Ethan. You should go.”

  The doorbell rings before either of us can say anything else. Mom opens the door, and I hear her say, “Well, hello, Katie. You look very stylish.”

  “I know,” Katie says. “Is Ethan here?”

  Next thing I know she’s spinning around in front of me. “Ethan? What do you think? Do you like my outfit?” She’s wearing a sparkly top hat and bowtie, both purple. “I got them for our magic act!”

  I don’t know what to say. Don’t know how to tell her there won’t be a magic act, because I won’t be at the fund-raiser.

  A week ago, I came up with the idea of having her and Peter in my act—along with Freddy—because the whole point of the fund-raiser is to include everyone. Besides, after my magic prop meltdown, it seemed like a good time for new tricks, and new assistants.

  Katie twirls around again. She looks so happy, I can’t tell her I’ll be somewhere else. Instead, I say, “You look great.”

  She hugs me. “See ya tomorrow!” And she runs back out the door.

  Tomorrow: another rehearsal with her and Peter and Freddy.

  I look at Mom again and she looks at me again and neither of us looks very happy. “You’re going to have to tell her. And Peter,” she says. “Freddy too.”

  “Tell me what?” Freddy runs into the living room.

  I put on a really big, really fake smile. “I’m finally going to meet Magnus.”

  “You are?” He smiles back at me. “When?”

  “The same night as the fund-raiser.”

  Freddy’s eyebrows practically meet. “You’re gonna do both?”

  “Um… actually, I’m only going to see Magnus.”

  Mom touches my shoulder. “I need to check on Jake.” She walks down the hall, leaving me alone with Freddy, who looks like I just destroyed his entire Lego collection.

  “But what about our new act?” he stammers.

  “I already gave up the chance to meet Magnus once. Even Mom says I shouldn’t have to do it again.”

  His face collapses. He doesn’t say anything, just stands there, staring at me.

  “Besides, the new act probably isn’t that great anyway. It’s not the same without my props and everything,” I say, trying to make him feel better.

  A weird expression comes over his face and then he runs down the hall. I guess he’s more upset than I realized.

  A minute later he’s back, lugging a huge, bulging plastic bag behind him.

  My bag. “Here.” He hands it to me. I open it and, sure enough, all my magic supplies are there.

  “I threw this away.”

  “I know,” he says. “I unthrowed it.”

  I look through, piece by piece, but still can’t believe it. Can’t believe he kept it. “Freddy, why did you…?”

  He looks at me and smiles. “’Cause everybody needs magic,” he says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

  And maybe it is.

  It’s past midnight, but I can’t sleep.

  All I want is to meet Magnus.

  And to perform at the fund-raiser.

  What I want is impossible.

  I decide if anyone knows about doing the impossible, it’s Jake. I go to his room as quietly as I can. His blue eyes are open, and I can tell he’s happy to see me, like always. I close his door, sit on his little toddler bed, and pull him into my lap.

  “Hey, Jake. Can you believe I finally get to meet Magnus? How cool is that? Much cooler than performing with Freddy and Peter and Katie at the fund-raiser, right?” I squeeze his hands and move them back and forth super fast, the way he likes. Only he isn’t smiling the way he usually does.

  It’s probably just my imagination.

  I feel his forehead like Mom does, in case he’s sick again, but he doesn’t feel hot or anything.

  “You’re not worried, are you, Jake? We’re still gonna get that equipment for the playground. People already bought lots of tickets, so we’ve got the money even if I don’t show up.”

  For the millionth time, I imagine myself with Magnus. We’re behind stage, and he says Amazing Amelia told him all about me. He asks me to show him one of my tricks, and I do, and he loves it. He smiles and shakes my hand and says maybe someday we’ll perform together.

  Then I picture myself onstage with Katie in her purple top hat and Peter in his wheelchair. I see Freddy jumping up and down with excitement, and the rest of my family in the front row. And I see Jake, smiling up at me.

  I picture myself with Mag
nus again, but it doesn’t feel the same.

  I don’t feel the same.

  “Hey, Jake…” I bend down my head and whisper into his ear, then squeeze his hands together and move them back and forth, just like I did before.

  This time, he grins like it’s the best thing ever.

  When my family and I walk into the high school auditorium, it’s already packed. People I don’t even know are smiling at me. And people I know, too, like Chris and his parents, Tina, Rox, Wendy and Ned, and even Ms. Carlin, who waves as I walk down the aisle.

  The jazz band is fantastic, and the show choir’s good enough to go on one of those reality talent shows and take first place.

  Then it’s our turn to perform. Freddy joins me onstage in his usual magician’s assistant outfit. He bows to the audience until I say, “That’s enough for now.” I fan a deck of cards in front of him. “Pick a card, any card.”

  He does, then turns to the audience and, in the loudest voice he can muster, shouts, “The queen of clubs!”

  I roll my eyes in disgust. “Don’t say it out loud!”

  “Oops.”

  The audience chuckles.

  “All right, try it again. This time don’t tell them what card you have, just show them.”

  Freddy frowns. “I don’t think they’ll be able to see the card in the back row.”

  “We can help with that.” Katie skips onto the stage from the side door, wearing a black tux along with the purple bowtie and top hat. Peter, wearing a green bowtie and top hat, pushes a button on his wheelchair and comes in right after her, riding over to center stage. In his lap, he’s holding a huge, glittery top hat Tina made out of cardboard for tonight’s show.

  Katie helps Peter pull out typical magic props, like colorful silk scarves tied together and a big white rabbit (stuffed, not real).

  Then she pulls out a banana.

  Freddy’s eyes grow wide. “Can I have that? Being a guest magician makes me hungry!” He peels it and starts eating. Then Peter pulls out a sandwich, which Katie grabs, unwraps, and bites into. Next is a ginormous chocolate bar.

  “Hey!” I cry. “This isn’t a picnic! We’re supposed to be doing a card trick here.”

  “Oops,” Freddy says. The audience is really into it now, laughing and shouting encouragement—especially to Peter and Katie, who are grinning like crazy.

  I give a very dramatic sigh. “I guess you get what you pay for.”

  “You didn’t pay us anything,” Katie points out.

  “Exactly,” I tell the audience.

  Finally, Katie helps Peter pull a long, rolled-up sheet of paper out of the top hat, and Freddy finds a thick red marker.

  I fan out the cards again and Freddy picks one, writes something on the paper, and shows the audience.

  “Okay,” I tell him, “now put the card back into the deck.”

  He does, just as Katie runs up and hugs me.

  “I love magic,” she says.

  “Doesn’t everyone?” I ask. The crowd cheers. Katie hugs Freddy, then runs over and hugs Peter, too.

  “All right. Time to reveal your card. Is it… the ace of spades?”

  Freddy looks nervous and shakes his head. I hear a few disappointed groans from the crowd.

  “Okay. Hold on… is it the ace of diamonds?”

  He shakes his head again. “This worked a lot better at home,” Freddy tells the audience.

  I take a deep breath and flip through the deck again. “I’ve got it. It’s the ace of clubs.”

  Freddy slaps his forehead, like he can’t believe this is happening. I turn to the audience. “Um, sorry about this. Can we start again?”

  “Wait!” Katie pulls a card out of the big top hat. “Is it the ace of hearts?”

  Freddy holds up the paper, which reveals an ace with a big heart underneath in red magic marker.

  The crowd bursts into applause, and the four of us bow in unison.

  As I thank Peter, Katie, and Freddy by name, each of them waves or takes a bow, then they leave the stage to join their families in the audience. I’m about to give Daniel the nod to start my King of Chaos music when I hear this voice somewhere in the auditorium. A voice I’ve heard on YouTube videos and TV specials, but never in person. A voice asking, “Might there be a spot for one more guest magician?”

  I must be dreaming, or hallucinating. He’s in Atlantic City, doing a show with Amelia. Is someone pulling a practical joke? Maybe it’s some sort of recording to wish me luck.…

  Then I see him, with his long hair and silver tux, walking down the center aisle toward the stage. Toward me.

  I can’t talk. Can’t think. Can’t. Even. Breathe.

  All I can do is watch along with everyone else in the theater. A wave of excitement spreads through the crowd. People point and take pictures. Ms. Carlin fans her pink cheeks.

  On his way to the stage, he stops by the front row and says hi to Jake while Freddy jumps up and down, a super-sized smile on his face.

  And then Magnus the Magnificent is onstage. Next to me. Just like I’d imagined so many times. Only this time, it’s real. It must be, because I feel like I’m going to pass out.

  He motions to the microphone. “May I say something?”

  I nod, unable to form an intelligent thought let alone a sentence.

  “A lovely young magician named Amazing Amelia invited Ethan to my show tonight in Atlantic City.” He gives one of those dramatic pauses he’s famous for. “Instead, he chose to come here.” He turns to look at me. “It’s not often someone stands me up. This could cause considerable damage to my reputation.”

  The audience laughs.

  “Naturally, I was rather curious about his decision. After all, what could possibly be more gratifying than meeting me?” He smiles and the audience laughs again.

  “Then Amelia told me about this fund-raiser. This wonderful fund-raiser that is, in fact, far more gratifying than meeting me. And I understood why my friend here wanted to be part of it.”

  Did Magnus the Magnificent just call me his friend?

  “And I decided I wanted to be part of it as well.”

  The audience applauds.

  Magnus smiles, then turns to me. “Shall we make some magic together, Ethan?”

  “What about your show?” I ask, finally able to get a few words out.

  “Not to worry. I’ve got a small jet waiting to fly me there.” He turns to the audience. “A bit extravagant, I know. Still, there are times it proves rather useful, particularly when it’s for a good cause.” He winks, then turns to me again. “Now, before we get started, is there a Jake Miller in the audience?”

  “He’s right here!” Freddy shouts.

  “Excellent,” Magnus says. “Could you please see if he’s holding a gold envelope?”

  Freddy checks. “He is!”

  “Would you be so kind as to bring it here?”

  Freddy hugs Jake, grabs the envelope, and races up to the stage. Magnus thanks him and hands the envelope to me. “Please. Open it.”

  My fingers tremble, but I finally get it open. There’s a piece of paper inside. I pull it out. “It’s a check,” I tell the audience. “For ten thousand dollars!”

  The audience whoops and whistles and goes crazy, and it feels like the whole room is vibrating.

  “I hope that might buy a piece or two for that beautiful playground of yours,” Magnus says.

  “Thank you so much!” I feel like hugging him, but how uncool would that be? I settle for grinning like an idiot.

  He gives one of his classy, trademark bows from the waist, then waits a few seconds for the crowd to calm down before speaking again.

  “As you may appreciate, Ethan and I haven’t had the opportunity to prepare, so if you good folks would kindly give us a few moments backstage to confer and conspire, we’ll try to put something together. In the meantime, perhaps you might consider revisiting the lobby. I may have brought a few things with me. All proceeds will go toward purchasing more
playground equipment.”

  The second the last syllable leaves his mouth, half the crowd rushes toward the aisles, including Freddy and Ms. Carlin.

  I’m still feeling shaky, but in a good way, and manage to get my feet to follow Magnus backstage. Suddenly, it’s just the two of us, which makes it even more real, and way more awesome.

  “Ethan, before we get to work, I want to tell you something.” Magnus gives me a super-intense look. “I hope you will remember it always.”

  Like I could forget one single second of this night. Still, I nod.

  “We magicians don’t often get the respect we deserve. People scoff and scorn, say what we do is all smoke and mirrors. Sleight-of-hand and misdirection.” He smiles. “Well, usually it is.”

  I smile back.

  Then his famous face gets serious again. “Nonetheless, every once in a while, if you’re very fortunate, you get to be part of real magic. Like tonight.”

  “Like you being here?”

  He smiles and shakes his head. “It’s nothing to do with me. It’s about you. You, and your family and friends and this glorious audience. This outpouring of generosity and laughter and love. Ethan, tonight is magic at its best.”

  I’m standing backstage with Magnus the Magnificent, at a total loss for words. After what seems like forever, I say the first thing that comes to mind: “I still can’t believe you’re here.”

  “It’s my pleasure. In fact, it’s really a bit selfish on my part. You see, it’s not every day I get to meet a real-life hero.” He reaches a hand out and I go to shake it, but he pulls me in for a quick hug instead.

  “Now, for the first bit, we’ll need a member of the audience. Is there someone special you’d like to call on?”

  I think for a couple seconds and a smile spreads across my face. “Well, there is this teacher I have—she’s kind of a fan.…”

  Remember when I said, “When someone does something really nice, they deserve to learn an awesome magic trick”?

  Well, you did something nice by finishing this book. So Super Jake and I decided to say thanks by revealing not one, but five of the magic tricks you read about!

  If you want to discover the super-awesome solutions, just click to the next screens.