Show and Tell

The fifth grade boys and girls were tired of Show and Tell. Ever since Kindergarten they's showed collections of seashells, stamps, rocks, dolls, and baseball cards. They wouldn't feel bad if they never experienced another Show and Tell as long as they lived. But this Friday would be different.

Johnny Carmel told Mrs. Baker that he had something different. "So different," he told her on Thursday, "that no one has ever seen it. Believe me, no one will be bored."

But Thursday night Johnny felt strange about showing his magic at school. As if there was something wrong about showing it. So he had a talk with Crystal Ball.

"Beware," said the deep, quiet voice. "a magician does not show the secret ofhis tricks. And one who has TRUE magicneverreveals it."

"But why?" asked the boy.

"Because most people wouldn't understand. And what they don't understand they often destroy. But that's not the only reason you must be careful."

"What's the other reason?"

"The Rule of Magic states that if you show your power or you misuse it, it will be taken away."

"What do you men, Crystal Ball, misuse it?"

"If you use it to harm good. Evil thihngs you can crunch, but

nver good."

"I'm glad you told me that. But I won't do any harm taking Banjo to school. And I won't get anyone mad enough to want to destroy him. Still," he said cautiously, "I don't know how I can do a magic on a broomstick and not let anyone see it."

"Be creative," is all the ball said.

Johnny had put himself in a tight spot. He'd promised his teacher he would show something new. Johnny tossed half the night thinking how he could take Banjo the magic broom to school.

At six o'clock in the morning Johnny sat up in bed and yelled, "I've got it!" Afraid he'd awakened someone, he threw the blanket over his head. Once he felt safe, he whispered, "Crystal Ball, Crystal Ball, get bigger." Then, equally quiet, "Crystal Ball, Crystal Ball, make Banjo as small as a pencil. So I can put him in my pocket and no one will see him!"

When the pencil-sized broom appeared on the sheet next to him, Johnny asked Crystal Ball, "Will he be able to fly when he's that small?"

Crystal Ball answered, "Try him."

But Mother had heard him. "What's going on up there?" she asked. Johnny knew he couldn't make a test flight, but on his way to school he did.

When the ten year-old was behind the big Assembly Hall he held his pencil-sized broom inside his pocket. He looked around cautiously, then whispered just in case. "Banjo, take me to the other end of the Hall."

Instantly a puff of yellow smoke floated from the top of his

pocket. A small voice squeeked, "Okee dokee." And zoom! Johnny found himself at the other end of the building.

"Wow!" Johnny smiled. He was happy because now he could take Banjo to Show and Tell. "But," he warned his broomstick, "you have to do something about that smoke. It'll show there's real magic."

"Why?" asked Banjo. "It's not giving anything away. If anything, the smoke will add to your act."

Johnny snickered. If any of his friends caught him talking to his pencilora miniture magic broomstick they'd think he was bananas.

When it was Johnny's turn he said, "I got a magic book last weekend. And I've been practicing. "Oh!" moaned his friends. They'd seen many magic tricks during Show and Tell during the years.

"You can moan Oh! now all you want, but you won't after you see it. It's REAL magic!"

Johnny felt a slight nudge in his pocket. Banjo was reminding him not to say too much.

"Okay. Mrs. Baker, can I use the collapsable movie screen and a map holder that stands on the floor?" That caught the interest of the class.Maybe this wouldn't be like all the other simple tricks after all.

The boy had some friends place the screen in the front of the room and the map in the back.

"Now, you have to promise not to peek behind the screen. And one other thing. You absolutely must NEVER open your eyes while I tap Mrs. Baker's map pointer on the floor. That's part of

the magic, okay?"

The children loved it. What's a magic trick without rules to build it up?

Johnny stepped behind the movie screen. "Alright, close your eyes. Then I'll tap three times. That will bring the magic. After the SECOND time I tap you can open your eyes."

"But what's going to happen?" asked Alex, Johnny's best friend. "Every magician tells what he's going to do."

"You'll see," said Johnny. "AND you'll like it."

"That's not fair," argued Alex

"Well, Alex," said Johnny as he raised the stick, "this trick is SO super you won't need to be told what happened. Now, everyone got his eyes closed? Alex, BOTH eyes, please."

Then Johnny did two things at once. He whispered as quietly as possible, "Banjo, take me to the other end of the room," and he tapped the pointer on the floor three times.

Instantly purple smoke puffed out of his pocket and a squeeky voice said, "Okee dokee." AND Johnny found himself behind the map stand in the rear of the room. Quickly he tapped the pointer again.

The children opened their eyes. But still facing forward they couldn't see the cloud of smoke. Nor could they see Johnny.

Those in the front row stepped forward. They looked behind the screen. Then behind and under Mrs. Baker's desk.

"You're looking in the wrong place," said Alex. "He's behind the map -- back here."

The room was silent. No one had heard him go past them. No one felt any breeze. AND there wasn't enough time to get from

the front to the rear between pointer taps. Suddenly the whole class broke into laughter. Even Mrs. Baker clapped.

"You tricked us, Johnny, you really did!"

"Do it again, do it again!"

"Canyou do it again?

"Do youwantto?"

Johnny Carmel smiled. It was the smile we all feel when we've "pulled off a good one." Then the boy pretended to get stern. "I will, but only if everyone follows the rule and PROMISES not to peek."

Naturally everyone agreed. They WANTED to be tricked.

When Johnny said, "alright, close your eyes and keep them closed and saw that each child AND Mrs. Baker had their hands over their eyes, he hid behind the map stand. He touched Banjo, whispered, "Take me to the front of the room," and quickly tapped the map stick.

Poof! "Okee dokee." Zoom.

Three more taps and all eyes opened. Everyone gazed at the map stand. Alex brushed the smoke away and checked behind the stand. Amazed, he shrugged his shoulders. Everyone looked at the front of the room. And there stood Johnny with the biggest smile ever.

The children shouted and clapped. "Do it again!"

"How'd you do that, Johnny Carmel?"

"Johnny, letmesee the maagic book you got the trick from!"

"Mrs. Baker, can Johnny do it at an all-school Assembly? Let

themtry to figure out how he did it!

"Howdidyou do it, Johnny?"

In short, this was the most exciting Show and Tell the children and teacher had seen for years.

"It was neat," said Alex, "but the truth is that you didn'ttellus a thing. In fact, you didn't evenshowus anything. Not until it was all over. So, Johnny Carmel, you pulled a neat trick, but you broke the rules. You didn't show usortell us anything."

Everyone laughed. "Look, Alex," they said, "when youdo something as neat thenyoucan break the rules too!"

Johnny's turn had been completely successful. He lay in bed at night and smiled at Banjo who was now his normal size.

"We really did it, Banjo. I wonder what other tricks we can pull?"

But we all know that to hear another one, this has

TO BE CONTINUED