“Look at the time,” Danny says. “I guess you two have kept me so busy…”
It never ceases to amaze me how easily she can rationalize just popping into some future moment.
“You have plenty of time,” my father assures her. “Why don’t you join us for a moment in Tyler’s office?” He indicates the floor.
“I suppose I have a few minutes.” Danny looks at the twins, furrowing her brow. “Why is your hair all bound up like that?” She helps them unpin it. “Sillies.”
We take our seats on the sun-warmed carpet as Danny, realizing she’s wearing a business skirt, reconsiders how she’s going to sit. We give her a moment.
“We’re going to miss you,” my father says.
“I’m going to miss all of you, too. But it’s only for a few days.”
“I’m sure for Tyler it’ll seem like a lifetime.” My father gives me a look.
“I told him he could come.” She turns toward me. “Why don’t you?”
“I have to help with the equipment. There’s still a lot of packing to do.”
“Maybe I should just tell David that I need to stay and help.” She takes my hand and we interlock our fingers. “What’s the matter?” she asks. “You know I won’t go if you don’t want me to.”
“I know.”
“You’re really going to miss me, aren’t you?” She looks deep into my eyes, and her smile makes me smile.
“You know,” I glance at my father. “I think I will take David up on that offer after all.”
“As if you ever had a choice.” My father chuckles.
“What offer?” Danny asks.
“Nothing,” I tell her. “It’s nothing.”
She looks at me and my father suspiciously.
“Can we see some magic now?” Tara asks.
“I don’t have anything here to do magic with,” Danny says.
“I do.” Jasmine hands her two red dice. “They’re magical.”
“Are they?” Danny examines them. “I believe they are. Let’s see what they can do.” She rolls them into the sunlight: a two and a two.
“Doubles,” the girls say excitedly.
“The thing is, with magic, you never know what’s going to happen next.” Danny smiles at me and my heart aches. “So watch this next part very carefully.”
Danny waves her hand over the dice and they become fours. She waves her hand over them again and they become sixes.
“Cool,” the girls say.
She waves her hand again…
And they’re gone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John McWilliams is an entrepreneur who has established business ventures working in the fields of microelectronics, software design, and high-energy physics. Mr. McWilliams lives in Orlando, Florida with his two sons. He can be contacted at [email protected].
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Magic, Machines and the Awakening of Danny Searle Page 23