The Vanishing Girl

My dad’s a magician. But so am I.

It was a Friday night, and I was decked out in polka dots, stripes, and a neon green top hat. Just ten minutes until Dad’s show was supposed to start.

“You ready, Val?” Dad straightened his bowtie.

I’m his assistant. Every Friday, it’s the same. Time passed. . . .

“We’re ready for you,” a man said.

The drum roll started.

“Presenting the Fantastic Jeffrey Madini!” Applause. “And his assistant, Valeria Madini!”

I waved at the crowd. Dad did some pretty average “magic.” He pulled a rabbit out of a hat. He made flowers appear. Everyone was amazed by the whole straightjacket getup, but I wasn’t. He sliced me into three pieces, but I knew it was fake.

My favorite part is always the finale. My trick. Dad keeps how I do the trick a secret from everyone. He won’t even let me say that it’s my trick. I call it the Escape Box.

“Now I will make my daughter and assistant, Valeria, disappear!”

I rolled my eyes. Just like usual, I stepped into the big red box and waited for Dad to say the words.

“Abracadabra, Alakazam!” I closed my eyes. “Make this girl, um . . . disappear!”

I snickered at Dad’s mistake. Focus, Val, I thought. I blinked, then concentrated. The darkness inside the box became lighter. I jumped up. The world was now in shades of blue and muffled.

Sitting on top of the box, I watched as Dad pulled aside the box’s curtains. Everyone had a look of amazement on their faces. Dad bowed while people chanted his name.

I was angry. Dad bowed without even making me “reappear”! The audience should’ve been chanting Valeria Madini! I sat on a high up stage light. I was sick of not being credited.

This’ll teach them a lesson. I flickered the lights.

Everyone looked at each other. Dad seemed mad. Uh-oh. I was in trouble. I floated down and reappeared in the box.

People clapped as I stepped out. I took my bow and then smiled. Now we’re even.