Page 4

HOME --- DIRECTORY --- PREVIOUS PAGE --- NEXT PAGE

Early April ----- The Magician

I was using the computer this afternoon, when I noticed that my collection of pencils seems to have diminished somewhat. I referred back to some of pre-cropped pictures of Alphonse on the internet, and found what I believe to be the normal number of pencils in the pencil holder. As seen in the accompanying photo.

A week later, it is obvious that there are fewer pencils than in the photo above. Since these days, I seem to get blamed for many things I didn't do, I have learned to keep my camera handy and I took a photo of the pencil holder - for evidence of course. There is a green nosed critter residing in the house that gets into just about everything.

A few days later I noticed another reduction in the quantity of pencils and got another picture. I don't know what is going on, but I think I better find out. That means chatting with you-know-who! I am reasonably sure he will know something about this newest problem.

IT'S CONFERENCE TIME IN THE COMPUTER ROOM

So, Al, we seem to have a problem. "what problem?" Well, my pencils seem to be disappearing. "why?" I don't know. "Why?" Why what? "Why don't you know why they are disappearing?" If I knew, I wouldn't be discussing this with you. "Why are you talking to me about this?" Because I think you know something about it. "I get blamed for everything."

Well, Al, did you have anything to do with my pencils? "yes". Ok, what did you do with the pencils? "I disappeared them?" What does that mean? "I made them disappear." Ok, why? "I needed the practice." For what? "I am learning to be a Magician!" Who is teaching you? "Dr. Alleygo." Where did you meet him? "On the Internet, and the lessons are free." Ok, where are my pencils? "I don't know." Magicians make things disappear by slight-of-hand - they just move them to some other place, but you can get them back. "That is not real magic." I don't understand. "In real magic things really disappear." Does this mean my pencils are gone for good. "I think so." Ok, from now on, don't disappear anything else until you learn how to get it back. Also, only use things from the waste basket, just incase you can't get them back.

On thinking about this for a bit, I decided maybe we should have a demonstration. I could let him use my buckeye, and he could show me how it was done. I expected a magic wand and a cape. However, there was none of that. All he did was concentrate on the buckeye for about 30 seconds and then -

POOF - The buckeye disappeared. WOW! I've never seen anything like that before. If there were any magic words they weren't said out loud. He just stared at it and it went away. OK, can we get it back? "I don't know how yet - maybe later we can get it back." At least I know he wasn't joking. Another thing, if he starts staring at me I'm going to duck!

(I don't know where I went wrong - I thought stuffed animals just laid on the couch and looked dumb.)

To Be Continued

Email APHONSE