She Didn't Believe in Magic: A Writing Prompt.

I've decided that once a week I'm going to find a writing prompt online and write a short story based on that prompt. The prompt for this week is "She didn't believe in magic."

          She didn’t believe in magic. So, of course, when he approached her at the bar and asked if she wanted to see a magic trick she was expecting sleight of hand, misdirection, or power of suggestion; some sort of trick. She humored him because at least he’d been more original than most of the guys who approached her.

           

                        “What’s your favorite color?” he asked.

                        “Green,” she replied.

                        “And your favorite flower?”

                        “Azaleas.”

           

He slid an empty glass across the bar, flipped it upside down and placed a table cloth over it. He then tapped his finger on the table cloth three times and removed the cloth to reveal a green azalea now inside the glass.

                       

“That’s,” She paused for a moment, baffled at the flower before her.” That’s actually really impressive,” She said, “I’ve never seen a green azalea before. How did you do that?”

                        “This is the part when I’m supposed to tell you a magician never reveals his secrets,” He said, “But, I’ve always been a bit of a rebel.”

           

He leaned in, with a very serious look on his face, and beckoned her to do the same. She complied.

                       

“I used magic,” He said, a grin now spreading across his face. She laughed and rolled her eyes before replying.

                        “Ok smartass,” She said, “Don’t tell me.”

                        “You don’t believe me?” He asked, still smiling, “Fine, I’ll prove it. Think of something in your head, something small. Don’t tell me what it is, I’ll pull it out of my pocket.”

 

            She gave him a coy smile and decided to humor him once more. She searched her mind for something small and rare. Something he couldn’t possibly have in that trick pocket of his. Her mind settled on a necklace her mother used to wear, it was shaped like a tree and on the trunk of that tree were her parents’ initials GM for Geoffrey Miles, and DD for Dianna Davis. That necklace was buried with her mother and was one of a kind. He couldn’t possibly have it.

 

                        “You’re thinking of it now,” He said, his eyes closed. “I can sense it.” He laughed, gave her a sideways glance before closing his eyes again and saying “A one of a kind item. Trying to throw me off?

 

            Suddenly his eyes opened, he reached into his pocket, grabbed something, and held his closed fist in front of her.

 

                        “I can tell that this means something to you,” He said, “When you’re ready, tell me to open my hand.”

 

            A one of a kind item that means something to me? She thought, He must just be guessing, there’s no way he knows what I was thinking of. There’s no way he pulled out my mother’s necklace.

 

                        “Okay, open your hand,” She said, a lump forming in her throat.

 

            She looked down at his now open hand and was taken aback at what she saw.

           

                        “Okay, no way,” She said, “How did you get my business card?”

 

            It was an old business card of hers. One that she hadn’t even used in about a year. The phone numbers and email address on it were still correct, but her job title had changed since she’d used that card.

                       

                        “I figured you didn’t recognize me,” He said, “I used to make deliveries to your office. I grabbed this card a while ago, but never worked up the courage to call you. My name’s Connor, by the way, in case you forgot.”

 

            He held out his hand as he told her his name.

 

                        “Of course I remember you, Connor,” She lied, “I was just playing along with your ‘Stranger approaches woman at the bar’ skit. It was a cute approach, I’ll give you that.”

 

“I’m surprised you remember me, Liz,” He said, “I have to get going, but can I call you some time?”

 

            She smiled, gave Connor back the card and said, “I’d like that.” And with that Connor waved her goodbye and was gone.

 

            Outside the bar, Connor slid the business card back into his pocket and pulled out the tree necklace with “GM & DD” engraved on it. He smiled, waved his hands and the necklace vanished.

He patted himself on the back for thinking up that business card at the last minute, and for coming up with that fake story about making deliveries to her office. He wanted to impress this girl not scare her away. Pulling out her mother’s one of a kind necklace would have been too much.

She didn’t believe in magic, after all, but he’d slowly help her believe.

Author's Note

Sorry it's so short. I've been out of practice as of late and this is my attempt to dip my toes back in the water, so to speak. Let me know if there's a problem with formatting or grammar those are my weak points.

Reviews

[marilyn 1225]

i really really loved reading this.. will we get to read more? fascinating and kinda offbeat!!

[T.P. Noel]

Thanks, I am considering expanding on this.

[marilyn 1225]

please do i want to know more!!!