Everyone was in place for the new trick. The house lights went out completely, and Ace walked into the sole spotlight on stage.
"This next trick is for the romantic in all of us. It is a gift to Michael Hanover, one of the stage hands here, and Regina Martinelli, who works as my assistant on some ofthe tricks. They recently got engaged..." He stopped, as the audience applauded, and when the applause faded, he continued, "And this is my gift to them. And we have Miss Mona Malone, who will sing her latest original song during the trick."
He walked out of the spotlight a few paces and, as the musical introduction started, so did the trick.
Just before Mona started singing, he had a large cloud form, hovering a few feet above the stage. It was white, tinged around the edges with pastels. In the center, the audience could see something coming from the back. It was a picture of Michael and Regina, when they first met.
When we met, it was the start of something magic,
But I never thought that it would be so fine.
Our friendship grew to be
The most precious thing to me
And I felt that I was on Cloud Nine.
The trick continued, with more pictures coming through the cloud - pictures of the couple working and playing, together and in a group.
It was a friendship that grew to be much more.
Something I never believed could be mine.
But what I came to feel
Was true and it was real.
And with you I journeyed to Cloud Nine.
As the pictures continued to come forward, it was obvious the couple was growing closer. It showed them dancing together, holding hands, Michael holding a crying Regina, them kissing in the moonlight.....
Loving, laughing and crying together;
Wonder in each day we would meet.
Slowly our love grew, til we knew that forever
Without either one of us
The other would be incomplete.
The pictures continued, ending with pictures of Michael proposing on bended knee, and Regina accepting. Then, the top of the cloud started gently swirling up, and sparkling softly. As Mona sang the last verse, the swirl parted, and Michael and Regina were standing on top of the cloud, embracing.
Now the magic will be with us forever.
Through the joys and sorrows we will shine.
And when we're husband and wife,
Together we'll face our life
To keep our place on Cloud Nine.
As the music faded, the spotlight narrowed to the couple on the cloud. There was silence - no coughing or anything. Then, approximately seven seconds later, the applause started. It grew, and grew. The house lights went up, and the entire audience was on its feet. Everyone was shouting and cheering. Ace brought the cloud gently down to the stage, allowing it to dissipate, and Michael and Regina to come forward. He went to the side of the stage, took Mona by the hand and brought her to the center. Together, they bowed and, while Michael and Regina embraced again, Ace kissed Mona's hand
"There's going to be only one recording of that song, Ace," Mona whispered. "Yours."
They all turned to the audience, who still clapped and cheered, and bowed again.