The old man tapped his hat with the abnormally long wand once more, then looked at the teenager rolling on the ground. “Such is the fantastic. It is not the faint of...nose.” the old man said. He spoke with a thick accent. His hair was jet black and slicked down around the sides, but he was bald on the top; he also sported a black pencil thin mustache. “The Ever So Great Frissini. Promises to delight and amaze. A magician always keeps his promises.” He turned to the teen standing closest, a large boy with a buzzed head and his own burgeoning facial hair.

“Get him Kyle.” Beanie shouted. Kyle took a step forward and Frissini gracefully took a step back and kept the same distance between the two. He put the tip of the want into the hat and pulled out a gray handkerchief. Frissini flung it at the boy and like wire from a spool, a succession of gray and black scarves flew out of the hat and enveloped Kyle. In moments, he went from flailing to completely wrapped up by the fabric.

“The magician is always outnumbered by the audience, but he chooses that. Anyone who would gang up on their opponent lacks courage and an understanding of theatrics.” Frissini said as he turned towards Todd and others. The girl in the hoodie threw Todd to the ground and walked next to Beanie, but he put his arm out in front of her. The boy who had been on the ground, slowly got up, pulled out a medium sized wrench and lunged at Frissini. The old man easily side stepped him, spun around, and suddenly the boy’s arms were hand cuffed behind his back. “I...don’t have magician’s rule for that. That’s just rude and criminal.” Frissini said, then swatted the teen in the back of the knees with his wand and brought him to the ground.

This time, Hoodie didn’t wait and ran straight for Frissini, who bent down to untie Kyle. He looked up and threw the handkerchiefs at her, and instead of several small scarves, one large gray and black sheet landed on her and then on the ground. Todd’s mouth dropped open as the girl disappeared entirely. Beanie looked around, then looked to Todd, his eyes wide.

“What did you do with Sarah?” he growled. Spittle flew as he spoke.

“A magician never reveals his secrets. You should know that. And I’ve never been able to keep an assistant around for long. Kudos to you.” Beanie held the mallet up as he marched towards Frissini, who simply put up one finger indicating the teen should wait. He patted the pocket of his white button up shirt, checked under each of his read suspenders, then snapped his fingers. He pulled his sleeve down slightly and revealed and egg with his other hand. Frissini studied the egg for a moment then threw it at Beanie. He proceeded to produced many more eggs and pelted the teen until he dropped mallet and started to run. The other two got up and soon were added to the egging. Todd, still on the ground, looked over his shoulder and saw Sarah come around the corner, several discarded wrappers still attached. Frissini merely looked in her direction with an egg and she sprinted over to where her friends stood, covered in yolk and egg shells.

Frissini spread his arms open and bowed. “I thank you for being such a lovely audience. Come back anytime.” Beanie saw Todd standing on the other end of the breezeway and sneered, until his eyes drifted back over to Frissini and his anger turned more to fear.

“Let’s just get out of here. This is stupid.” he said. The teens started to walked away, but almost immediately broke into a run.

“Pick your jaw off the floor and come inside. I do not like bullies.” Frissini said. His back was still to Todd and he seemed entirely unbothered by the incident. He gathered the giant scarf, collapsed the wand, put his hat under his arm and walked inside his shop. Todd quickly walked over to catch up and as he stood in the doorway, took one look in the direction the teens had gone; they were nowhere in sight. Todd smiled and pulled the brass handle on the beat up door and followed Frissini inside.

Bells rang as Todd pulled the door back and entered the shop. There were several cases of various items and curios under glass and tall bookshelves lined the walls. A chain blocked the entrance to a winding staircase which lead upstairs. The store had the smell of older, but not necessarily stale wood. Everything about the store screamed ‘out of time’ when compared to the modern architecture outside. The store was cozy, the lighting warm and inviting; perhaps it was gratitude left over from the whole ordeal, but Todd felt at peace inside the store.

“That’s because this was here long before the ‘outdoor shopping experience’.” Frissini said. He put quotes around the mall’s marketing line.

“I...didn’t say thing.” Todd narrowed his eyes and stopped mid-sentence. Frissini put a hand up.

“Sorry. You were going to comment on how old the building seemed. However old you think it is, think older. Yes, even older than that.” Frissini said. Todd started to speak but Frissini cut him off. “No I can’t read your mind, though a boy your age I can guess.” Frissini started laughing a wheezy, throaty laugh. “This many years I’ve been performing magic I still anticipate without even trying. It’s the key to a true showman. You’ll learn these things.” Frissini said. He pulled out a deck of cards, shuffled it, and fanned them out on the counter. Todd started to speak with hesitation and Frissini nodded for him to go ahead.

“How did you do that? What was that? Obviously not magic, but I’ve never seen anyone do that before.” Todd said. Frissini put both his hands on the counter, hard, and leaned towards Todd.

“The only thing obvious about magic is you do not understand it.” Frissini said. Todd took a step back.

“I just mean between us. There’s nobody around. How did you do that? Is the hat lined with scarves or what?”

“You should be in school. You do not listen well. The Ever So Great Frissini has said before, a magician never reveals his secrets.”

“So there are secrets?”

“Of course.”

“Right. So what’s the secret that let’s you do the tricks?”

“Magic.” Frissini said. Todd rolled his eyes and the old man pointed to the fanned out cards. Todd picked one, the nine of clubs, and Frissini held his wrist so it would remain facing Todd only.

“You expect me to believe you perform spells like a wizard?” Todd asked. While Todd held the card up, Frissini tore the card in half and pinched it together so only the back of the card was visible for both halves.

“Trick.” Frissini said. “Never spells. Magicians are not conjurers. We trade in cheap tricks.” Frissini winked and scooped the cards on the counter back into a deck. He shuffled then placed the deck down and chopped the top of it with his hand. Todd couldn’t help but smile as the deck fell apart in half, as if someone had taken a pair of scissors and cut right through it. Only a single card at the bottom was intact. Frissini pulled it from the rest and flipped it over: it was the nine of clubs. He motioned for Todd to loosen his grip. Slowly, Todd looked back at the card in his hand; instead of being torn it was merely folded in half. Todd flashed the card to Frissini.

“The Joker.” Todd said as a small laugh escaped.

“Whoops. That was supposed to be King of Diamonds. I’m a bit rusty.” Frissini said with a chuckle.

“How-”

“It’s possible because it must be. The job of the magician is to figure out how to merge the practical with the fantastic.” Frissini pulled an egg of out his sleeve. “There is an egg up my sleeve yes. The practical.” He smashed the egg on the counter and picked up his yolk covered hand before scooping all the shell and albumen he could into his other hand then blew on it. He opened his hand and reveled a baby chick. “But the marriage with the fantastic gives birth to wonder. The life blood of every magician. Ouch!” The bird bit his palm. “You little...this is why I like your brother better. Don’t make face with me. Okay you’re forgiven.” Frissini smiled as he patted the bird on the head and set it down behind the counter.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“That’s...” Todd looked at the counter and Frissini nodded.

“I already know.”

“Obvious you have some sort of cleaning solution on your hand which keeps it relatively clean as a distraction or however you pull the chicken out of your shirt sleeve. Maybe a sleeve with a pocket sown inside to hold thing.” Todd tapped his chin.

“Ha. I love it!” Frissini said. Todd smirked.

“I’m right aren’t I?” Todd asked.

“No.”

“Then how-” Frissini wagged his finger and Todd sighed. “I know, a magician never reveals his secrets.”

“You can be taught. Come with me.” Frissini said.

“Where are we going?”

“To teach you the secrets. Also to call your parents. This is a business not a daycare.”

----------------------------------------

Todd hung the phone back up on the wall. The only surprising part about the fact that Frissini still had a LAN line was that Todd hadn’t expected technology even that recent; he would not have been surprised if Frissini had brought out a telegraph.

“He’ll be here in a few minutes.” Todd said, his voice dull.

“Perfect just enough time to get started and enjoy your last few moments of freedom.” Frissini said. Todd slightly tilted his head. “I don’t not need to read minds to know how that call went.” Frissini pulled a small chest from behind the counter and opened it away from Todd. He twirled his mustache as studied whatever was inside. He reached for something, stopped, then looked at Todd before reaching back inside. He pulled out a beat of box of cards and shut the chest. “This suits you to start. No pun intended.”

“Start what exactly?” Todd asked.

“A magician’s first trick is the base of everything he does later. Cards are practical, with a lot of potential for the fantastic without little cost. They have depth and complexity, but require a keen mind, good planning and do not need much physical prowess. Understated, maybe under appreciated, but always spectacular and a great lead. They are you.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I’m very appreciative for your help and everything, but I don’t want to be a magician.”

“You wouldn’t get bullied if you were a magician. The one I saw at the world’s fair as a boy was the most popular person there.”

“I think I’d get bullied because I was a magician.” Todd said. Frissini held his hand out in front of Todd and moved it around in a circular motion. He hummed for moment then stopped and flicked Todd in the forehead.

“Stop thinking and do. Magic is for you. It is good. Impressed your friend. Maybe a special friend.”

“No offense, I just don’t need anything else on my plate. I have this stupid school issue, and I’ve got to find a way to get back into honor’s classes.” Todd’s pulse began to speed up as everything from the last year returned to the forefront of his mind.

“Here.” Frissini handed Todd a red handkerchief, but when he took it more kept coming. Todd sighed as he pulled and pulled on the seemingly endless line of connected tissues when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Todd jumped when he saw Frissini standing next to him despite Todd still being able to pull on the string of scarves. “Joy is a shield from the arrows of disappointment. You need magic more than anything.” Todd looked down at the pile of scarves. “Also could you pick that up for me, at my age, my bones creak worse than the wood in this building.”

Todd nodded and scooped up the fabric, and placed it on the counter. Despite himself, and his misgivings about the nature of magic tricks, Todd did have to admit there was something fun about seeing Frissini perform. More than fun, the vintage nature of the building and its owner, the confidence which Frissini displayed from the moment he arrived outside, the gravitas with which he spoke; the whole package was awe inspiring in its way. That was something Todd hadn’t felt in years. He looked at the deck of cards. The box had symbols on it that Todd didn’t recognize and it looked smaller than any other pack of playing cards he’d seen before. Looking at them instantly transported his mind to an era he never existed in, but longed to see once more.

“What would learning magic even entail?” Todd asked. Frissini smiled.

“A lifetime of learning and a sense of adventure.” Frissini said. Todd noticed a slight twinkle in his eye as he spoke. “But mostly a good kit. I sell several, may interest you in the deluxe package?”

“Seriously?”

“It is a place of business.” Frissini said with a shrug. “But the most important parts are free. Starting with the three rules which underpin everything.” Frissini held up one finger. “Always have a good story.”

“Not ‘never reveal your secret’?” Todd asked.

“That’s two. But no one cares about your secret if you have a crappy story.”

“Makes sense I suppose. So what’s three?”

“Do not, under any circumstances, for any reason whatsoever, trust, work with, or otherwise hang around sorcerers.”

“I did not expect that being number three.” Todd said.

“I promise you, it will save your life more than any trick in the book. Speaking of...” Frissini turned around and pulled a book from a shelf on the wall. A shelf which Todd could have sworn was empty when they first walked over to the phone. “This is The Book.” He turned it around so Todd could see the contents. It was weighty, hardcover book with fraying binding and yellowing pages, with a cover that displayed a couple of symbols which matched the card box and others Todd didn’t recognize. There were four ovals with pictures in them that were raised upon on the cover, and sure enough, in old looking script was the words ‘The Book’.

Todd flipped it open to a random page but it was blank. He let the pages fall one by one and each page was empty. “Is this a note book?”

“Notebook. Textbook. But for you it’s empty because you haven’t mastered. Master a trick, and more opens up. The more you learn, the more can you learn.” Frissini said. The bells rung as the door opened and Todd’s heart dropped. Just that quickly, he forgot all about everything that brought him to the shop in the first place. He turned around to see his father walk towards them with a look of exasperation on his face.

“Todd. I’m so glad you’re safe.” He hugged his son then stepped back. “And you are in a world of trouble mister. Running away from home? All the way to the hobby district? What’s gotten into you?” Todd looked at the ground.

“Sorry.”

“Apology accepted but this is not acceptable behavior. When we get home, we’re going to call your mom and have a serious discussion. And I’m afraid we’re back to in home tutoring.”

“Forgive me.” Frissini said. “I do not mean to interject where not appropriate. But your boy here was quite gallant today. In the face of less than welcoming audience, his presence spurred me to put on quite a show.” Mr. Stewart looked at Todd.

“Well that’s wonderful.” he said. Frissini took placed three small green cups upside down on the counter. He pulled small gem from his pocket and put on underneath.

“Yes, but don’t misunderstand the kudos. I am thankful and see a lot of potential in the wayward young man.” Frissini slowly slid the cups around. “What time is it?” he asked. Mr. Stewart looked at his watch.

“About 3:30.” he said.

“Thank you.” Frissini nodded and patted Mr. Stewart on the forearm. Todd tilted his head back slightly at the action. He also noticed for the first time his eyes never seemed to fully open, they were always just about halfway open. “When I was a young boy, before my family moved to the United States, there was a bit of a famine in my village. One day I grew jealous of my neighbor’s fancy potato, the only potato to survive the famine for miles around. So, I stole it and ate it. It was delicious.” Mr. Stewart counted on his fingers.

“I’m sorry. Potato famine? Of the 1800s?”

“My father was very cross with me, and rightfully so, but rather than simple punishment I was required to till the land with my neighbor until the next harvest. And you know what? I was all the better for it. I never stole a potato again. Radishes are another story, but I can’t help it.”

“That’s wonderful but I’m not sure I follow.”

“What a young boy needs is discipline and purpose. There’s no greater teacher of both than hard work.” Frissini stopped moving the cups. “Allow young Todd to assist me here after school. It would be a good way to let him grow, and put all the Viltburg behind him. And the schools give extra credits for community service. You will see. He will become the young man that will make you proud...in no time.” Frissini lifted the center cup and underneath was Mr. Stewart’s watch.

“Bravo.” Mr. Stewart said and clapped after he checked his now bare wrist. Todd meanwhile studied Frissini. He had not once mentioned Viltburg during their conversation. “Still, Todd is a bit young for an after school job.”

“Oh he will most certainly not be paid.” Frissini said. “But I think the boy could use some activity to refocus and calm his mind. He’s sharp young man, just in need of a new perspective.” Mr. Stewart turned and looked at Todd. He furrowed his brow, then looked around the shop.

“You know, you might be right. You’re still in trouble Todd, but I think this could be good for you. Let’s get you home, talk with your mother, but I like it. And it’s not that out of the way from your school so it’s an easy walk.”

“My school? You mean Fillmore?” Todd asked, his face lit up. Mr. Stewart held up his hand.

“We’ll go over the arrangement at home.” Todd threw his arms around his father and hugged him. “And thank you....” Mr. Stewart turned back to the counter but nobody was there. He and Todd looked at each other.

“The exit is here.” Frissini said shuffling to the door. “At 4:30 the tourists show up. I do run a business after all.”