A month later, they still could not find me. I became like family to Jeremy's family. But my $200 could not last forever.

"I'm out of money." I said. It was just after lunch. I only brought 1 meal, that was all I could afford.

"Oh no." Jeremy said.

"We're going to have to start stealing again," Nate said.

"Maybe we could do something else. Like a magic show!" I suggested.

"We don't have anything you can do magic tricks with."

"Don't worry, I'll earn the money. I'll be back later."


I snuck onto a subway with a school group who looked around my age. I didn't know where the subway was going, but these people looked like rich tourists. I can tell, because one girl's shirt said Aéropostale. The only reason I know that's a rich girl clothing store is because I heard Alex talking to mom about it. But weirdly, And the man who was apparently their teacher had a Pokémon backpack... Anyways, since they were tourists, they probably were going to a place where a lot of tourists go. And tourists love street performers.

On the subway, I saw a homeless man, looking like he was in his 50's, singing 'Lean on Me' by Bill Withers. The school group was singing along with him. That was a nice thing to do. After he was finished, he took his beanie hat off and asked around for money. None of the people in business suits gave him any, but everybody in the school group gave him some. One girl in the group, who was taking out all of her money in her pockets, accidently dropped a nickel. He picked it up and gave it back to her, but then she put it in his hat.

The subway stopped and I got out. The singing homeless man came out too.

"Are you trying to escape your school group?" he asked me.

"No, I don't go to school." I replied.

"Are you homeschooled?"

"Nope."

He looked at my clothes. "Are you homeless?"

"Yes." I said. "Well, I live in an abandoned tenement on the other side of town with a family."

"Not your own family?"

"I lost my real family." Was that a lie? I'm not sure.

"Oh," he said. "I live in a cardboard box around here."

"You can live with us, if you want to." I offered. "Jeremy has to agree, first."

"Is Jeremy your 'father'?" he asked putting air quotes around 'father'.

"Yeah, I guess."

"'Well, hi! My name is John. But when I become famous, I will be known as Johnny Black." He said offering a hand for me to shake.

I shook it. "Cool, mine is Max."

"It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." I replied.

"So, where are you going?" he asked.

"I'm going to perform magic tricks." I said.

"Sure..." He replied. He probably doesn't believe in magic.

I wish that all people knew about wizards, then they would believe me. But of course, if everyone knew I was a wizard, then magic tricks wouldn't be so impressive. And then I wouldn't be able to make money.


Alex was sitting on the orange couch in the living room hugging her pillow with her knees. She had tears in her eyes. She wasn't even watching TV, she was just sitting there. Thinking. She turned into a completely different person when her brother left.

Harper walked in through the front door. "He's not at M&M world."

"He's no where!" Alex cried out.

Harper sat next to Alex and hugged her, "We'll find him. I promise."

"No we won't, Harper." Alex said as she pushed her best friend away, putting down the pillow. "He's been missing for a month."

"He's probably just hiding around FAO Schwartz." Harper said.

"No he's not," Alex cried again. "He probably got himself killed by a gang. He's a 15 year old boy. He's too weak and not smart enough to survive out there!"

"Alex, he couldn't be dead. We just have to find him." Harper said as she forced Alex off the couch. "Let's look around FAO Shwartz again."

Alex wiped her tears away. "Could we also buy ice cream?" Alex asked.

"Sure. I'll pay." Harper knew Alex would trick her into paying, but her little brother was missing. It was the least she could do.

"Thanks." Alex said. And they walked out to FAO Swartz to find Max.


When the day was over, John and I walked back to the abandoned tenement where Jeremy and his family lived. I made around $15 that day. A lot of people love magic.

I walked into the room where they stayed.

"Hi Max. Who's this that you brought with you?" Jeremy asked.

"This is John. I met him on the subway. He can sing!" I said. "Is it okay if he stays with us?"

"I don't know… It's another mouth to feed." He said.

"But I make a lot. Especially today from this generous school group." John said pulling money out of his pockets. "I made around $50 today. I also have money from yesterday. Which makes $70."

Jeremy's family was surprised at how much money he made. He was a really good singer.

"He's magic, mommy." Hannah said tugging on her mom's dress.

"Okay. He can stay." Jeremy said.


For the next month, everyday, me and John went out to a random crowded place in New York and performed. Even on subways, we performed. Jeremy and his family also went out on the streets and begged for money. Mostly the children did that, but sometimes Jeremy, his brother, or his wife would. We made enough money to buy more blankets for us.

One night, something unexpected happened. John disappeared. I had no clue where he went. He seemed happy living with us. I didn't understand.

After John left, we weren't making as much as we used to. John made most of our money. I couldn't do huge magic tricks, people would start getting suspicious.