Chapter 11
For the kids
Samuel Foster
It’s one of the few times I feel my heart lift when the curtain raises. Every now and then, Cory lets me fit in apro bonoshow for a worthy cause, and kids are usually at the top of my list. I just got back from my last out-of-town gig, but I’m happy to fit in another act on my way home. The sitter sent a pic of Munchkin napping in the sunshine, just after I touched down, so I’m pretty sure he won’t care if I don’t rush home straight from the airport. Frankly, I know I do that shit for myself more than him.
Today, I’m about to perform for a group of youngsters at a hospital near my home. The Lady of Everlasting Mercy Hospital has a wing for special needs kids, and they’ve asked me to put together a show that will entertain without alarming them. For a moment, I’m nervous. It’s not a feeling that comes often – I’ve been on stage most of my life. But this audience is different.
One of the administrators has strung up a couple of sheets to form a curtain in front of a small, cleared space facing some rows of plastic chairs. I hear her speaking to the kids to announce the show, and then the ‘curtain’ is flung open with a flourish.
“Hey, kids! My name is Atticus Colt. Do you want to see some magic tricks?” I call warmly, arms outstretched. I’ve toned down my outfit to be more child-friendly – I figure they wouldn’t be impressed by a bare chest and freaky make-up. Suits me fine. I prefer a casual look myself. I’ve teamed a black button-down shirt with my dark Levis and boots. The sleeves are rolled up to my elbows, and I’m wearing a black and burgundy striped waistcoat over the top. My only concession to my magician persona is a full-length black cape with red satin lining, and a cheesy top hat. It’s a bit over the top but I’ve always found that kids love it. I swirl the cape around me now, playing up the drama, and I’m rewarded with a small chorus of delighted gasps.
“Do you believe in...magic?” I ask. A dozen upturned faces stare at me, mouths open. None of them say anything, but the fact that most are paying attention to me is promising. I swirl my cape again and when my hand emerges, I’m holding a bunch of white flowers. “Tadaaa!” I say, and a little girl at the front giggles.I have a fan!I twirl again, step in her direction, and when I lift my cape again the flowers have been replaced by a plush toy bunny. I present it to her, and she giggles with delight, dark curls bouncing. Her features are flat and her eyes strangely shaped, but she’s the prettiest little thing I’ve ever seen and my heart swells. There’s a muted round of applause from the others in the room, and I become aware of a small group of adults forming a half-circle behind the children. I give them a distracted smile, then turn my attention back to the kids.
They’re not my most enthusiastic audience, but I don’t mind. The administrator warned that some of them are unresponsive and I shouldn’t be surprised if they don’t even look in my direction. I see a kid on the edge who’s doing that now. He’s small, so I’m guessing he’s younger. His pinched little face is topped with sandy blond hair that’s been carefully combed into a side parting. He’s staring at something in the corner of the room, half turned away from my performance. I know I shouldn’t push it, but everything in me wants to go to that child. I edge a step in his direction, pausing at one of the kids to extract a shiny coin from behind his ear. It’s basic stuff, but I’m still feeling out their reactions. I’ve already cut the fire sequence out, but I’m pretty sure I can get away with something a little more adventurous. I flip the coin to the kid who catches it and beams at me.
I feign surprise as I reach for another coin behind his ear. “Hey! How did that happen?” I repeat the move several more times, looking more amazed each time. “Wow, kid! Are you made of money or something?” He laughs out loud and puts his hand behind his ear as if he’s going to hit the pocket-money mother lode. He’s clutching a handful of coins and the others are pressing closer. The little blond kid is straightening slightly but still staring into the corner.
“Me! Me!” calls another boy from behind him, waving his hand in the air.
“Oh, yeah?” I say. “Are you made of money too?” I reach behind him and produce a deck of cards. There’s a smattering of laughter from some of the others, and even an enthusiastic giggle. “What!” I exclaim. “Don’t tell me you’re a cardshark?” I open the deck and start shuffling the cards with practiced ease. I fan them out, then flip them from one hand to the next, making it look as if they’re flying.
“Wow! How does he do that?” I hear a woman whisper behind the kids. The blond boy has turned a little more; from the corner of my eye, I can see he’s taken his focus off the wall.
“Okay, little gambler,” I say to the boy with the cards. “I bet you’re great with card tricks, right?”
The kid laughs sheepishly. “Nuh-uh!” he denies.
“Oh, nooo,” I say. “I could see right away that you’re a pro. Why else would you have a deck of cards in your ear?”
“They weren’t in his ear!” a little girl calls out, bubbling with laughter.
I wink at her then turn back to the kid. “Okay then, how ‘bout you pick a card and I’ll tell you what it is without you even looking at it.”
He nods cautiously and I reach the pack towards him. He puts out a hand and I notice that his fingers fumble with the edges awkwardly as he tries to grip the card. I nudge it out gently so it slides easily into his grasp.
“Right, no peeking yet,” I say enigmatically, then frown and tap my finger on my lip. “Hmmm...I’m guessing that your card is a...monkey...no...wait. It’s a...bunny!”
“Noooo!” the kid laughs. “You don’t get monkeys or bunnies in cards!”
“You see! I knew you were a pro! How else could you know that?”
He shakes his head, then flips the card over and gasps. “Itisa bunny!” he cries.
“Hmm...that’s odd,” I say, “coz this is just a regular pack. See...” I shuffle the cards again, showing them the aces, spades, kings and queens. I fan them in the air and for a moment they float. The blond boy is now watching with interest.
“Wouldyoulike to pick a card?” I ask him, holding out the deck. He doesn’t look up at me. His eyes are focused on my hands. I fan the cards out and wait as he slowly lifts a hand.
“Oh, my God,” a voice whispers from the background. I ignore it and wait for the kid. The others are leaning forward as he strokes his fingertips over the edges of the cards. He taps one delicately but doesn’t take it.
“Holy smokes,” I say enthusiastically. “What a great choice! That just happens to be...my amazingflyingcard!” I flip it out and for a moment it’s suspended in front of his face before I snatch it out of the air. Big brown eyes widen; his face is transformed. “Oops!” I laugh. “I have to warn you, this one is sneaky. If I don’t take care it will fly right out of the window! Oh no...oh my goodness! I think it’s too late! I clasp my hands together, then open my palms and a small bird soars out and heads for the nearby window. It flits out and disappears into the sky and the kids gasp.
“I don’t believe it,” a woman’s voice says and I glance up, locking eyes with a redhead who’s hovering nearby. The blond boy has the same wide, brown eyes. Except hers are welling with tears. I turn back to my little audience. The boy is now completely engrossed in what I’m doing, and I spin through a full repertoire of card tricks before bringing out some games with balloons and silk handkerchiefs. It is by no means my most mind-blowing demonstration, but I can’t remember when last I got such a kick out of performing.
The administrator thanks me for the show and I turn to gather my gear. No need for a backup crew today, but sometimes it’s good like this. Reminds me of my days on the street, busking for coins on the Strip. I sling my tote bag over my shoulder and head toward the door. Halfway there, I grind to a halt. There’s a blonde with a predatory look in her eye making a beeline to me.
‘Ah fuck,’I think, my stomach sinking. I know exactly what that look means.
