Childish chatter and shouts of glee echoed through the House. Tasha looked up excitedly as her mother carried in a beautiful, iced cake with seven candles blazing on its surface and set it down before her. She beamed as the traditional birthday chorus of 'Happy Birthday to you,” rang through the room. Her brother, three years her senior, sidled up to her as she prepared to blow the candles out. There was a sudden rush of wind, and the candles were extinguished.
Tasha let out a wail. “Mum! Reuben's blown out my candles.” He looked down to hide a smirk as his sister sobbed.
She remembered all the times he had tormented her. Only last week, he had laughed as he tore her favourite doll limb from limb. “Oh! How I wish he wasn’t here,” she thought. Her mother relit the candles, saying, “Don’t forget to make your birthday wish as you blow them out.” Tasha thought carefully before leaning forward and puffing hard, whispered the words: “I wish Reuben would leave.” Everyone cheered the Birthday Girl, before moving to the adjoining room. As the children jostled through the doorway, Reuben bumped against Tasha and viciously pinched her arm. “Ow!” She threw an appealing look at her mother, but she appeared not to notice. Tasha sighed heavily. “It’s just not fair!”
An amazing figure stood there. Dressed in a full-length, black gown covered in stars with matching hat, the man held a long, silver wand. Twinkling blue eyes smiled at Tasha from his lined face as she and her friends sat down. Reuben pushed against her back and tugged at her hair. Tasha decided to try and ignore him and focussed on the entertainer.
Their mother spoke, “Children, please welcome Merlin the Magnificent, and his magic.”
“Huh!” Reuben snorted derisively. “Bet I can spot how he does his tricks. They’re all frauds, you know.”
“Don’t say such things,” Tasha cried, “he’s going to do real magic.”
The magician looked at her closely and smiled his thanks.
“Let me begin!” He went through one trick after another, holding all the children spellbound. That is, all except Reuben. He kept up a derisory commentary throughout the act, ignoring all the glares that came his way. “And now for my final trick,” Merlin proclaimed. “I need a helper.” He looked directly at Reuben. “How about you?” The boy swaggered to the front, whispering to Tasha as he passed her. ‘Now I’ll see how he does it.”
The magician covered Reuben with a large cloth. All the children watched with bated breath as the magician waved his wand over Reuben. With a cry of “Hey presto!” he whipped the cloth away. There was a gasp of wonder. Reuben had disappeared.
Merlin smiled at Tasha. “Okay?” Her eyes sparkled as she nodded.
“Goodbye then!” He dropped the cloth over his own head. There was a puff of smoke and he, too, was gone.
Tasha smiled. “Magic really does exist! My birthday wish has come true.”
Bio.
Emmie Blake lives in the UK and has, for much of her life, been involved in working with, and for, people who are severely disadvantaged by society: ex-offenders, addicts and refugees. She is currently co-administrator of the online writing group, ‘Aspiring Writers Society’, and regularly has her short stories published in their E-zine. She contributes to the online journal, ‘Different Truths,’ and has had work published in an anthology, “Vintage Voices’.