Abracadabra! Magic with Mouse and Mole (2 page)

BAM!
The door was kicked open once more.
Out came the rabbit, dragging a table.

Snap, snap, snap, snap
went the legs.
Back inside went the rabbit.
He returned moments later
with a tablecloth.
FWOOMPH!
The white rabbit flipped
the cloth high in the air.
It floated gently down,
covering the table.

"Ladies and gentlemen!"
announced the rabbit.
He waved a paw at the camper.
"Introducing—MINKUS ...
the Magnificent!"

POOF!
A cloud of smoke filled the air.
"Eek!" squeaked Mouse.
PLOP!
Mole toppled right
off the log!

The white rabbit had vanished.
In his place stood the magician.
"Bravo!" shouted Mouse.
"Bravo!" yelled Mole.
Everyone began to clap and cheer.
Minkus the Magnificent swept
off his top hat.
"Welcome, magic lovers!" he crowed.

The magician wore a ruffled shirt.
A long black cape hung on his back.
Minkus the Magnificent lifted his arms.
Mouse giggled. "He looks like a giant bat."
"Shush," Mole scolded.

"As you can see," said the magician,
"there is nothing in my right paw
or
my left."

Minkus made a fist and tapped it with
his magic wand.
"
Abracadabra!
" he cried.
Something green poked out of his fist.
Mouse nudged Mole.
"What is
'abracadabra'
?"
"Do not be silly," whispered Mole.
"That is just more
show biz
talk."

"A volunteer?" asked the magician.
"
Moons and Stars!
" he said, pointing
to Mouse. Minkus held his fist out.
"
Pull!
" said the magician.

Mouse gave the cloth a tiny tug.
"Eek!" she squeaked. The green
cloth was attached to a blue one.
"
Again!
" ordered Minkus.

Mouse yanked on the blue cloth.
A red one came next.
Mouse pulled and tugged,
and pulled some more.
Before long, she was
knee-deep in fabric.
Minkus untied the last cloth. It was orange.
"For you,
Moons and Stars!
"
"Bravo, Mouse!" yelled Mole.
Everyone began to clap and cheer.

Next, Minkus took out a deck of cards.
He fanned them across the table.
"A volunteer?"
asked the magician.
Mole eagerly
stepped forward.

"Pick a card," said Minkus, "ANY card!"
Mole paced back and forth.
Mole tapped his foot.
Mole rubbed his snout.
He circled the table three times.

Finally, Mole selected a card.
He held it so everyone but
the magician could see,
then hid the ace
underneath the others.
Minkus shuffled the cards.
He invited Mole to cut the deck.

The magician tapped the deck with his wand.
"
Presto, CHANGE-O!
" he cried.

Mole stole a peek at the card on top.
"How did you do that?" he gasped.
Minkus winked. "A magician never tells!"
He signed the ace of clubs for Mole.

"Bravo, Mole!" shouted Mouse.
Everyone began to clap and cheer.
"And now..." barked the magician,
"the GRAND FINALE!"

Minkus took his hat off.
He set it upside down
on the table.
Next, the magician untied his cape.
He swirled it over his head and
covered the top hat with it.