The Magic Misfits - Neil Patrick Harris Page 0,13
magician’s rope stretched out of her coat. Leila wrapped the rope around her forearm, catching it between her thumb and around the back of her elbow, as if preparing to make a lasso.
Theo joined the line, slapping his arm against his leg. His violin bow appeared in his hand. The twins flanked the group on either side, fists raised, their faces uncharacteristically serious. At the front of them, Ridley turned her chair to face the door, feeling like the driver of a tank. She gripped the wheels and steadied herself, taking comfort knowing that her chair was tricked out with all sorts of gadgets she could use to distract, confuse, or vanquish a would-be assailant. She turned off the headlight.
The echoing footfalls slowed as the man came around the corner. A shadow sliced the daylight on the floor. “Carter?” said the man. “I know you’re scared. And you have every right to be.” His voice was slow. Purposeful. Speaking how you would to a cornered animal you didn’t wish to startle. “I’ve been looking for you for a long time now, boy. I’m not here to hurt you.”
The man stepped into the theater. Ridley flashed her light right into his face. “Stop right there,” she bellowed.
The man did as he was told, planting his feet on the warped floorboards, blocking the glare from his eyes. His frayed tweed vest hung from a wiry frame. His greasy, thinning hair looked as if it had been hastily cut without the benefit of a mirror. Stray whiskers poked from his chin. “Carter?” his voice came again, softly. “Who are these kids?”
“Leave us alone,” said Theo, holding up his bow like a sword.
“Yeah!” said Izzy. “We know gymnastics!”
Olly nodded fiercely. “And we’re not afraid to use them!”
“Relax,” said the man. “I get it. You’re a team. A gang. Good for you, Carter.”
“Not one step closer,” Ridley warned, “or you’ll find out what this team can do.”
“Listen, boy,” the man said with a sigh. “I admit, I have not been the best guardian all these years. I don’t blame you for running away at the train yard. I was wrong to try and steal old Ms. Zalewski’s necklace. She was your friend and I should have respected that.” He clasped his hands before himself, worrying at his dirty skin. “After you left, I did some digging deep in my soul, and I realized that how we were living our lives was hurtful to you. To both of us. As a family. I… I decided to make a change. I joined a church group in town. I made some new friends—just like you did here, apparently. Created a new world for myself. One where you and I can finally settle down, have a home, where I can raise you right, and you can help me remember how to be… well, how to be good.” The man took a step toward the Misfits. Ridley gripped her wheels even harder.
Carter managed to answer. “It’s not my job to help you be good.”
Flustered, Uncle Sly went on, “Well, I know it ain’t your job. You’ve got to go to school and to play with your friends and eat well and know your prayers. This ain’t about me, boy. This is about us. I’ve looked for you a long time—”
“I don’t care!” Carter yelled, and the man shut his mouth. Ridley watched a flicker of something cross the man’s eyes. Discomfort? Sadness? Rage? “I’ve been running from you for a long time,” Carter went on. “I have a new family. A real family and friends here in Mineral Wells. Things that you could never give me. Never understand! Forget you found me and get out of here.”
Ridley’s skin went to gooseflesh. She’d never heard anyone talk to an adult that way. She wanted to turn around and give Carter a high five, but she didn’t want to move the light off his uncle’s eyes.
“Bo-oyy,” said the man, a half growl that somehow turned into a chortle. “I know that’s just the hurt and the anger in you. You and your friends follow me out of this alley. We’ll go somewhere. Sit and talk. You got a new guardian? Heck, ask them to join us. You’ll see I’m not all bad.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Carter asked. “I said no!”
The man’s brow darkened. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“Well then, that’s going to be a problem.” Carter stamped his foot, and the Magic Misfits straightened their spines, standing as tall as