The Magic Misfits - Neil Patrick Harris Page 0,37
rest of the group organized the props they’d brought for the “magic show rehearsal.”
Crunching footfalls sounded on the gravel trail. Dean appeared, and Ridley felt her stomach cramp.
(Mine is in knots as well. How about you? This is where things start to get dicey.…)
“Hey, all! Wow! This looks amazing!”
“Hi, Dean!” Leila called back nervously. “We’re so glad you’re here.”
“My pleasure,” Dean replied. “Where do you want me?”
Leila pointed toward a small boulder at the foot of the path. “Right there should work for now.” She glanced at the group. “Is everybody ready?” The others gave a quick nod and then assembled before the magic box as they’d planned.
Ridley moved into a shaft of sunshine that resembled a spotlight in an auditorium. She tried to transform her worry into excitement. “Surprise! Surprise! The Magic Misfits have returned!” She waited for Dean to applaud. “And what a show we’ve devised for you! Prepare for thrills! Get ready for chills! Brace yourself for a journey into the mists of magic!”
The crew gave a brief choreographed bow, then broke apart and stood in different parts of the cave, as they had practiced in the days prior. Ridley kept her eyes on Dean the whole time. Was he acting suspicious? Was he suspicious of them? This had to look like a real performance in order for them to get Dean to do what they needed him to do.
Leila went first. She performed the netted-rope trick that she’d done the previous weekend for Ridley’s surprise celebration, to wild applause from the one audience member.
Next came Carter. He stepped forward and, with a hand flourish, fanned out a display of what looked like three decks of cards. “I have a secret,” he said, keeping his voice low. Still, it echoed around the space. “I have long hidden that I have a twin brother!” The others gasped in mock surprise. Carter grinned and then nodded at the empty space beside him, holding out his hand as if to introduce someone who wasn’t there. “And here he is! Go on, Carl. Give the audience a wave.”
After a moment, Carter went on, “You may have noticed that my brother is invisible. But he doesn’t let that stop him. You ready, Carl?” Carter looked to the empty space again and grinned. “Olly, Izzy, if you would.” The Goldens brought over their pink silk cloth and held it up where Carter had indicated Carl was standing.
Carter moved a few feet away but continued to address his “brother” behind the silk cloth. “Like all brothers, Carl and I like to compete. And sometimes we quarrel. Like this morning, when I bet Carl that he couldn’t catch all one hundred fifty-six of these playing cards if I tossed them at him. Well, Carl, now’s your chance to prove me wrong!”
Carter whipped out the three decks of cards again. Palming them in both hands, he bent the cards and then raised his arms toward the Goldens’ cloth. He let the cards fly! They shot swiftly behind the cloth. When all the cards were gone, he continued. “All right, Carl! Let’s see how you did!” He nodded at Olly and Izzy, who dropped the cloth and moved aside.
To Dean’s shock, the space into which Carter had shot the decks was empty—not a single card was on the ground.
“Oh,” Carter grumbled, looking sheepish. “I guess you did catch all of them. Sorry, Carl. I was wrong. You win.” He held up a hand to his ear. “What’s that? Now you want me to try to catch the cards? Well, I suppose that’s only fair.”
Seconds later, from behind the twins’ cloth, dozens of playing cards flew at Carter. They shot out so fast, Carter had to cover his head. Soon, the flurry of playing cards petered out and Carter looked over at his “twin” in mock anger. “I wasn’t ready!” he shouted.
A pause. Then he added, “Fine, then. You’ll help me pick up all the cards when we’re done!” The Goldens dropped the cloth again to reveal the empty space behind it, then moved out of the way. Carter grinned, then pretended to grab his invisible brother’s hand, which he raised over his head before giving a great bow.
Dean let out a loud whistle. Ridley suddenly felt bad about what they were about to do to him. But then she remembered everything he had already done to hurt them.
Theo’s performance came next. “I too must request the assistance of our beloved friends, Olly and Izzy, and their grandparents’