The Magic Misfits: The Second Story
Page 17
Leila caught him as he leaned in to give her a kiss good-bye. She took both her fathers’ hands and pulled them into a hug. “I’m so glad you chose to be my parents,” she whispered.
The men leaned back and looked at each other in surprise. Then they both knelt and kissed Leila’s forehead. “Oh, Leila,” said her poppa. “That’s not exactly how it happened.”
Her dad shook his head. “We all chose one another,” said Mr. Vernon. “And we couldn’t be happier about it.”
After another brief squeeze, her poppa rose and waved farewell to everyone. Blowing a kiss to Leila, he closed the door of the magic shop behind him.
The Misfits were already heading toward the secret room at the back of the shop, the leashed monkey in tow. Theo called out, “Leila, come on! I’ve been working on something that I want to show you. Hopefully we can incorporate it into our next performance.”
“Our next performance?” Carter asked. “But when’s that going to be?”
“Who knows?” said Ridley. “The point is we all need to be ready.” The group disappeared through the doorway in the bookcase.
Mr. Vernon shooed Leila away. “Go on. I’ve got some work to do myself.”
As Leila made her way across the room, she reached for the key on the string around her neck, but then she remembered that it was gone now. And in that moment, she felt a strange twinge right in the center of her chest. It wasn’t anything so mysterious as the psychic premonitions that Sandra had claimed to experience—more like a tiny spark of hope that one day her fondest treasure would return to her.
For now, she understood that what mattered most was in the secret room at the back of her father’s magic shop.
You didn’t think I’d let you go without showing you one of Theo’s favorite rope tricks, did you? One of the most satisfying things a magician can do is to make it look like something has been ruined—then, with a flash and a smile, show the audience that all has been set right again.
Just like in our story! After everything that went wrong for Leila in the preceding pages, who would’ve imagined that she’d get her happy ending?
Oh, you did? Well, then, I stand corrected.
In this trick, you’ll amaze your friends by cutting a piece of rope in half and then restoring it to its original size. If you do this one correctly and with a bit of finesse, your friends will gawp at you, wondering where you got your astounding magical powers. You can tell them it was from me. I don’t mind.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
A length of white rope (You can use string if you must.)
A pair of scissors
A volunteer
SECRET MAGIC MOVE:
Before you start the trick, bunch up a large amount of the rope and hide it inside your left fist.
STEPS:
1. Allow the tip of the rope to stick up from the top of your left hand and the bottom of the rope to dangle loosely below. (About a foot and a half of rope should hang.)
2. With your right hand, grab the bottom of the rope and bring it up so that it is even with the tip of the rope in your left hand. The rope will loop down.
3. Ask a volunteer from the audience to use the scissors and cut the rope at the bottom of the loop.
4. Move your hands apart and show the audience that you are now holding two pieces of rope that appear to be the same size.
(Magic Secret: Except they are not the same size, remember? There is still a bunch of rope hidden in your left fist!)
5. Tell your audience that you shall now attempt to restore the two pieces of rope.
6. Bring your hands together and shove the shorter piece into your right fist.
7. Speak some magic words to help heal the rope! Ala-ka-blab-ra! Or whatever you like!
8. Keeping the shorter piece hidden in your right fist, use your right forefinger and thumb to pinch the piece from your left hand and then extend it slowly, pulling the hidden rope from your left fist until it is fully revealed.
9. Hold up your left hand, showing the audience a piece of rope that looks like it has been restored to its original length.
SECRET MAGIC MOVE:
Drop your right hand out of sight, or maybe even slip the shorter rope into your pocket while everyone is focused on the longer rope. Misdirection fools them again!
10. After lots of practice, you’ll have acquired yet another trick to put into your now hefty-looking bag. Take your well-earned bow!
Keep reading with Little, Brown.
Get activities, videos, reading guides, and more!
LittleBrownYoungReaders.com
Facebook.com/LittleBrownYoungReaders
Instagram.com/LittleBrownYoungReaders
Twitter.com/LittleBrownYR
Youtube.com/LittleBrownBooks
Pinterest.com/LittleBrownYoungReaders
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Please refer to Book One. I still feel the same way about all of those helpful people, and it seems a waste of ink to repeat here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neil Patrick Harris is an accomplished actor, producer, director, host, and author. Harris served as president of the Academy of Magical Arts from 2011 to 2014. He lives in Harlem, New York, with his husband, David, their twins, Gideon and Harper, and two hilarious dogs named Watson and Gidget.
WHAT’S MORSE CODE?
Check it out for yourself!
A •–
B –•••
C –•–•
D –••
E •
F ••–•
G – –•
H ••••
I ••
J •– ––
K –•–
L •–••
M – –
N –•
O – ––
P •– –•
Q – –•–
R •–•
S •••
T –
U ••–
V •••–
W •– –
X –••–
Y –•– –
Z – –••
0 – –– ––
1 •– –– –
2 ••– ––
3 •••– –
4 ••••–
5 •••••
6 –••••
7 – –•••
8 – ––••
9 – –– –•
period •–•–•–
comma – –••– –
question mark ••– –••
A PROMISE TO RETURN
I’m so happy you stuck with me through the end of another book, but you should probably know that the adventures of the Magic Misfits are far from over. In the coming tales, our heroes will encounter new dangers that create confusion, chaos, and a little bit of havoc! If havoc is something you’re interested in, be sure to return to Mineral Wells with me. You might even learn a few more tricks along the way! But for now, it’s time to practice, practice, practice the ones you’ve already learned.
Speaking of which, I’ve got one final magical lesson. When someone asks you what it means to escape, I hope you’re clever enough to share with them that it’s not just about lockpicks and rope tricks and getting away from treacherous villains.
Remember: A story can be an escape from an ordinary life. A happy memory can be an escape from an unpleasant present. A game with friends is like an escape from boredom. And being part of a club is an escape from loneliness. The Magic Misfits know this firsthand, and now… so do you!
Now, get out there and tell a story.
Reminisce.
Play a game.
Join a club.
Disappear, transform, levitate, escape.… Show your friends what you can do! Who knows? You might just inspire them to make a little bit of magic.