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Member-only story
Poetry and Illustration
Magician
A flim-flam that took a turn for the verse
Vanishing
While trying to reappear
I pull a rabbit out of my hat
Flowers from my sleeve
Milk from a rolled up newspaper
My doves come and go
From empty pockets and flash
I saw myself in two
Dying for the applause
Trapped in a cabinet of mysteries
The swords are real
The mirrors are done with mirrors
Catch a bullet with a card
Any card
Not that ace
Nor this queen
The audience grows restless
Angry
Booing and leaving
Little do they know
It was the two of clubs
___
By Doodleslice 2024–09–12
Do you have a deck of cards in your junk drawer? I’m sorry was that too personal? Well I have one or two in mine — I can’t vouch for whether they are full decks or not, but that’s not important right now. In fact, I’ll confess, I sacrificed a handful of cards for various art projects, but I couldn’t bring myself to toss the remainder — after all, supplies are supplies.
The last time I actual played with playing cards, in the intended way, was a few years back when my nephews taught me how to play Euchre. Apparently they played it all the time in their college days in Ohio, which caught my attention because my old college roomie, who was from Ohio, was always looking to scare up a game of Euchre, but could never find anyone else who knew how to play. Don’t feel bad for him though, he managed to console himself with poker, and by neatly fleecing all of us big city rubes.
Of course, all of this is misdirection.
While you weren’t looking I palmed a quarter and hid it behind your ear. No, don’t bother looking for it now, it’s too neatly tucked away. But when you find it under your sofa cushion later, you’ll know who to thank.
You see, when you’re as clumsy as I am, and I am, and when I was nine, so much more so, but your parents gave you a junior magic kit anyway… you fumble and practice and practice and fumble and eventually realize that you’re not going to fool anyone with your sleight of hand, but occasionally, when you put in the work, and a little forethought, and carefully stack a deck just so, and just as smoothly, deliver the deal with just the right patter, then the volunteers will all be holding full houses as you triumphantly turn over your cards: Ace of Hearts… King of Hearts… Queen of Hearts… Jack of Hearts… Two of Clubs.
