The Magic Misfits - Neil Patrick Harris Page 0,47

heard about what happened,” said the teacher, glancing over her shoulder. “Quick, get inside.”

“What do you mean?” Ridley gripped the wheels of her chair. “What happened?”

“Ridley, we don’t have time for this. They’re coming for us. Get. Inside. Now.”

HOW TO…

Instantly Change Water into Ice

I don’t know about you, but I’m still shivering after that dunk the Misfits took in the lake. Or perhaps it has something to do with our next lesson, which allows you to change a cup of water into cubes of ice before your audience’s very eyes. Brrr! You might want to put a sweater on for this one.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

A plastic cup (Make sure it’s not clear, or the trick will be revealed.)

A drinking glass with a small amount of water inside

A sponge

3 or 4 ice cubes

TO PREPARE:

Shove the sponge into the bottom of the opaque cup.

Place the ice cubes in the cup, on top of the sponge.

HELPFUL HINT:

Make sure not to tilt the cup toward the audience. You don’t want to give away the secret!

STEPS:

1. Present the glass of water to the audience and tell them you’re going to change the water’s color. (This part is a fib, but that’s okay, because it will only make the trick more surprising later on.)

2. Pour the water from the drinking glass into the opaque cup. (The sponge will soak up the small amount of water.)

3. Wave your hand over the top of the opaque cup and say some magic words. (I’m sure by now you have a few up your sleeve.)

4. Then pour the “water” back into the drinking glass.

5. When the ice cubes clink into the glass, act as surprised as the audience. Try saying “Oopsie!” It usually gets a laugh. Dad jokes work too. Try “Do my ICE deceive me?” Or “Man, that trick is COOL.”

6. Give a wink and take a bow!

TWENTY-ONE

Ridley wouldn’t budge. “Tell me what’s going on,” she said to Ms. Parkly. She felt movement in the doorway behind her. The Magic Misfits had her back.

Ms. Parkly shook her head. She seemed to be standing straighter, more confidently. There was no giggle or singsong to her deadly serious voice. “I’m here to help.”

Ridley clutched the arms of her chair. “What’s. Going. On?”

“Not out here!” But when Ridley still refused to move, Ms. Parkly’s answer came out in a rush. “I know what happened up at the ice cave. With Dean and that box. And Kalagan. Quinn, Gregor, and Tara saw you disappear down the tracks. You were so foolish to do something like that without consulting Dante! What were you thinking? We all worried that you were… but you’re not! You’re here. And you must let me in! I’m on your side.”

When Ridley continued to glare at her, Ms. Parkly sighed. She plucked a leaf from one of the rhododendron plants growing up around the Larsens’ front porch. Cupping it in her palms, she held it out to Ridley. “Go on, take it.” Against her better judgment, Ridley reached out and lifted the leaf from her teacher’s hands—only somehow it was no longer a leaf. A bright pink blossom dangled from Ridley’s pinched fingertips.

Her eyebrows raised up, as if on their own. A bunch of gasps wafted out of the foyer behind her. Ridley started to ask, “How did you…”

Ms. Parkly rolled her eyes. “Oh boy, you’re going to make me say it? Fine. Ridley Larsen, I am part of Mr. Vernon’s Magic Circle. Under his request, I have been watching you, guarding you, since the end of the summer.” She glanced over her shoulder at the seemingly quiet street. “The longer we stand out here, the more likely it is that one of the mesmerized will spot us. I’ll explain everything if you let me in. I promise.”

“Why should I trust you? After everything that’s happened today?”

“You’re right.” Ms. Parkly looked beyond Ridley to the others. “Leila, I know you always carry a pair of thumb-cuffs. Toss them over. I’ll put them on.”

Stunned, Leila reached into her pants pocket and brought out the cuffs—big enough only to fit between the first and second knuckle of a pair of thumbs. She tossed them to Ridley’s teacher, who immediately clicked them into place. Holding up her hands to show the group, she said, “Good enough?”

Ridley looked to her friends. She knew they didn’t always agree, but right now, they all wore the same expression—one that said to let Ms. Parkly into the house. “All right. But we’re watching you.”

“Understood,” Ms. Parkly replied, not