Samuel just adjusts them and shrinks smaller.
Something cold settles in my stomach.
Because I know that posture. The way you learn to take up less space when the world keeps telling you that you’re taking up too much.
Leo is beside me, inflating a balloon with the grim efficiency of a man who’s made seventeen balloon dogs and has accepted his fate.
“Leo,” I murmur as he hands me another balloon.
“Mm?”
“The kid by the wall. Glasses. Dark hair.”
Leo’s gaze flicks over, then back. His expression doesn’t change, but something in it sharpens. “I see him.”
“The two bigger ones have been?—”
“I noticed.”
Of course he did. Leo doesn’t miss much.
“We should do something,” I say.
“Agreed.”
I blink. I’d expected more resistance…. Maybe suspicion about whether this is somehow another elaborate prank.
Instead, Leo just looks at me with those dark eyes, waiting. Ready to follow my lead.
The warm feeling in my chest intensifies.
It’s dangerous. Very dangerous.
“I have an idea,” I say.
I finish the balloon segment, handing out dogs, swords, and one very ambitious giraffe.
Then I clear my throat.
“All right, everyone! Time for Captain Giggles’ssuper special assistant selection!”
The children freeze mid-chaos.
“As you know, Snugglesaurus is my faithful companion.” I gesture at Leo. “But today’s magic requires somethingmore. Today’s magic requires…ahero.”
The children start bouncing, hands shooting up. “Me! Me! Pick me!”
“But not just any hero,” I continue, letting my voice drop to a stage whisper. “This hero needs to be chosen by themagic itself.”
I produce a velvet bag from my props.
“Inside this bag are special tokens. Most are silver. Butoneis gold. And whoever draws the gold token will become…thesupreme magical champion.”
The children’s eyes go wide.
“Everyone, form a line,” I instruct. “One at a time. Reach in without looking. Show us what you draw.”
They scramble into formation. Samuel hangs back, letting everyone else push ahead of him.
