Magic Trick

Closing 'The Wind in the Willows', Michael blinked, feeling his eyes beginning to dry. The sudden gust of wind had taken him by surprise. Beside him, Jane giggled. She had enjoyed watching the way his hair blew backwards, his collar flicking upward in the strong breeze.

Opening her own book, she squealed in fear, slamming it shut again. Michael returned her cruel laughter from earlier.

"I suppose the Sword in the Stone wasn't a good choice," she muttered, staring down at the cover. As if she expected the sword to burst forth from the drawing on its front.

"I told you to pick carefully," Mary lectured. "Once again, you never listen."

Opening her own book to read, she had chosen Doctor Doolittle, a story she enjoyed. From inside, they heard a dog bark happily up at her from its pages.

While she was distracted, Michael leant closer to Jane, whispering furiously. "I told you she was tricky. These are all just magic tricks."

Mary slammed her book shut, glaring across at him. "Tricks? A respectable woman like me performing silly parlour tricks? How dare you!"

Seated by the window, Bert looked up from Robinson Crusoe, the blazing sun shining through. He jumped to his feet when he heard her exclamation, slowly closing his novel of choice. The Caribbean sun had been a welcome distraction.

"You wanna see a magic trick, Michael?" he asked. His enthusiasm only made him more suspicious. "A real magic trick?"

"All magic tricks are unseemly," Mary haughtily noted.

Ignoring her, he flicked out his hand, a red carnation sliding from out of his sleeve. Bert caught it with expert precision. Bowing dramatically, he held out the carnation in Mary's direction, his grin only getting wider as he noted the smile she was trying to repress.

"For you, Mary Poppins."

Mary held it daintily between her gloved fingers, taking a moment to inhale its scent. "Yes, well, I suppose this kind of magic is quite alright."

Jane was disappointed, clasping her hands behind her back. "It's a shame you don't have another one."

For me- she hadn't finished the sentence.

"I wouldn't know about that." Bert flicked out his other hand, a sunflower appearing from his left sleeve.

Jane and Michael were too distracted to hear Mary ask him when he had the time to fit a sunflower in his jacket. Not that Bert told her; a magician never reveals his secrets