“Today’s the day,” Joshua said to his neighbor, Kate.
“We’ve been practicing for weeks,” said Kate. “Finally it’s showtime!”
Joshua and Kate planned and practiced several magic tricks to wow their friends and family. Their favorite trick was the rabbit in the hat trick. The rabbit was Kate’s favorite animal. She loved watching the rabbits come out of the woods each morning to nibble on the grass. Kate hid her stuffed animal bunny in a black top hat to pull out for the finale. They could hardly wait to begin.
Joshua peeked at the three rows of family and neighbors that were set up in lawn chairs in his wooded backyard. His stomach felt nervous with excitement.
Joshua’s little sister Emily announced the dynamic duo. “And now, introducing the magic of Joshua the Great and his assistant Kate!”
The audience clapped wildly.
“Hello to you and you and you,” said Joshua the Great. “What you are about to see will amaze you, you - achoo!” Joshua sneezed. “Kate, can you please bring me a handkerchief?”
“I have one here,” said Kate as she pulled out a colorful handkerchief from her sleeve. It kept going and going in spectacular colors.
“Oh my, Kate! Will this handkerchief ever end? Finally! I think this handkerchief can certainly last me through the entire—achoo—show,” Joshua said. “Now for our next trick! Kate, pick a card, any card.”
Kate picked out a card without letting Joshua see. She walked through the audience to show them it was a Jack. She gave it back to Joshua face down.
“I will now close my eyes, place this card on my
forehead, and tell you what card you picked. Was it the 47 of diamonds, Kate?” asked Joshua the Great. The audience laughed.
Kate said, “You’re silly! Try again.”
“Was it the Jack of clubs then?”
The audience cheered.
“You are absolutely correct, Joshua the Great!” said Kate.
Joshua and Kate performed a few more tricks that they learned from a book about magic. The little kids in the small crowd were wide-eyed. Then Josh noticed his sister, Emily, chewing carrots and hugging the stuffed bunny!
“And now Joshua the Great will consult with Kate for our last trick!” Joshua yelled. He whispered to Kate, “Emily has the bunny! Our final trick is ruined!”
“Oh no!” said Kate. “What will we do now?”
They both looked at the hat that was now on its side on the ground. “What is that crunching sound?” Kate asked.
“Never mind that. We better close the show with a joke instead,” Joshua whispered.
Joshua and Kate stood in front of the top hat. “What is black and red and white all over?” Joshua the Great asked the crowd. “An embarrassed rabbit with a top hat on!”
As Joshua started to pick up the hat off the ground, a brown rabbit hopped out with a carrot in its mouth. It scurried into the forest.
“Ummmm. Abracadabra?” Joshua said. The audience cheered.
Emily ran up and said, “A bunny found the carrots I put in the hat!”
“Oh, Emily!” said Joshua and Kate.
~The End~
Illustration Copyright © 2009 Beverly Luria
Copyright © 2009 by Kelly Polark