CHAPTER 18
Emma
When it was Emma’s turn, something very strange happened. Lucy couldn’t find her talent contracts, or her pen, or her purse. They had all vanished into thin air.
“I’ve been robbed!” Lucy screamed.
But as Lucy was about to have a panic attack, Emma revealed each of the missing items—by pulling them out of a top hat.
“Ta-da!” Emma said with a smile.
The room burst into applause.
“Bravo!” Mason shouted. “B-a-r-f, that spells ‘bravo’!”
“No it doesn’t.” Olivia rolled her eyes.
Emma put the top hat on and took a small bow for Lucy. “I want to be a famous magician. I already know five good tricks, my assistant works for free, and I’m okay to travel coach to save on expenses.”
And that’s how the Emm-azing Emma was born. The Ace Agent Agency booked her at birthday parties and small theaters to see how well she’d perform. Emma nailed every show, wowing the audience with her five unbelievable illusions:
Trick 1: Emma could pull animals out of her hat. First, a rabbit. Then a bald eagle. And finally a lion. “Abracadabra!”
Trick 2: Emma could change stuffed animals into real animals. First, a bear. Then a giraffe. And finally a tiger. “Alakazam!”
Trick 3: Emma could blow bubbles through her fingers. Then she could make them into balloon animals. They were usually cats. “Sim-sala-bim-cat!”
Trick 4: Emma could remove her own head and bounce it on her arms. This usually made someone in the crowd faint. “Shazam!”
Trick 5: Emma could use her wand to make someone in the audience levitate—which means to rise or hover in the air. “Hocus-pocus!”
The Emm-azing Emma’s popularity grew fast. Before she knew it, she was performing a SOLD-OUT show in Madison Square Garden. But before her show, a group of six strange adults walked into her dressing room.
“Who are you?” Emma asked.
“We are the secretive Magicka Society, a community of professional illusionists,” said the short, squat man in a purple cape.
“We have seen your shows and would like you to join us,” said a tall, thin woman who wore a red velvet cape.
“All you need to do is to tell us how you do your magic,” said a rather large man wearing a cape of gold sequins.
“I’d love to join,” Emma said. “I don’t mind sharing, but there’s nothing to share. It’s just magic.”
The Magicka Society didn’t believe her. “Are you using mirrors to trick our eyes so that it looks like your head is off your shoulders?” one magician asked.
“It’s a hologram! You’re using computer and camera equipment! I saw a news story about this. With my mom. Who I still live with!” said another.
“No, no, no, you fools! It’s a puppet! She uses a series of pulleys and strings to create her illusions!” said a third magician.
“Nope, nope, nope,” Emma said. “It’s just magic. Here, I can prove it!”
With a wave of her hand, the Emm-azing Emma poofed into a cloud of smoke, then reappeared on top of the large magician with a funny mustache. She took off her head and handed it to him.
“See? No mirrors, no computers, no strings,” Emma’s head said.
The society members freaked out, tossing her head from one to the other. Emma finally caught her head and put it back on.
“No fair!” the mustached magician said. “You’re using real magic! You’re a… a… a… WITCH!”
With torches, the six strange adults chased Emma onto the stage. “She’s a witch! A witch!” they shouted to the crowd.
“Boo!” the crowd hissed. Apparently, people like fake magic. Not real magic. The Emm-azing Emma’s professional magic career was over.
A single tear ran down Emma’s cheek. Then she hopped on a broom with her rabbit and flew away.