Magic Tricks

Today has been utter bullshit for twins Donald and Samuel Wayde. Usually, the two can make a good day out of anything thrown their way…

However, that was not the case this Friday. It all started first thing at four in the morning when their already run-down bathroom flooded when the toilet pipe burst. Cold water soaking from the laminate floors to the maroon shag carpet in the tiny living room and taking more towels than they owned to soak up.

After somewhat handling that mess, the pair barely scrambled fast enough to get to work on time for five thirty at The Peachlight Kitchen. Things appeared to be going fine, up until Sam caused a grease fire by slipping on soapy water left on the floor, nothing alerting the unsuspecting victim of his impending meeting with flames and danger. Only for Donny to return moments later with a mop, bucket and orange pylon bearing the warning ‘wet floor’.

Throughout their remaining shift, more shit seems to stack up continuously, from nicking fingers with knives, to dropping a full tub of dishes and breaking them all. Kitchen work becomes tedious as every little thing suddenly goes wrong for the twins, who either repeatedly caused or ran into odd problems over the five-hours. So once ten thirty rolled around, they finish off their duties and quickly make an escape. Samuel opting to head home to shower before attending his afternoon cooking classes, while Donald ambles to his second job as a professional dog walker. The pair split up on 99th St, bidding each other luck and parting ways, agreeing to reunite at their apartment later in the evening.

Sam Wayde hoped there would be no more mishaps during his stroll home, prior to heading for Cuisine School of the broke, as he calls it. The actual name boring, and he’s never been a fan of that. Besides, it’s costing him a fortune to pay for it, hence the broke part. Still, even if it is expensive, he believes the price of attending a top tier school for cooking is worth it, considering it’s been his dream and goal for fifteen years. Anyway, what hope Samuel built dies as he rounds a corner he’s passed a thousand times. Either his shoe or slacks gets caught on something, the rapid stop of momentum causing him to trip and land directly into a large cake. Such a beautifully decorated dessert smashes to pavement as he flips right over the cart with it. As he lays there getting berated and yelled at by the likely shop owner, he can’t but wonder if Donny is having better luck.

As a matter of fact, Donald was not by any means luckier than his two-minute-younger brother. When he got to his first client of the day, Lucy’s kennel was opened and she tackled him to the floor, proceeding to rip a pillow into shreds before his dark brown eyes. Ten minutes priors, he had run into the large pup’s owner and been informed the puppy was crated, all while being casually tipped a twenty in appreciation. So how did she escape, he wondered, contemplating that very question multiple times upon finding his usual's uncaged and riled up to the point of stressing him out. Dogs have never stressed the animal lover out in the past, but today seemed to be an exception.

Unsurprisingly, things did not improve for either twin as the day went on. By the time they both make it back to the apartment, they’re ready to shut themselves up and spend however long it takes to recover from the last 15 hours of hell. One glance at each other is all it takes for both men to begin ranting about what occurred after separating. When out of breath and swear words, Sam eyes his brother in deliberation. “Don… did you notice anything weird when all this was happening?”

Donny halts in grabbing a beer from the fridge and shifts to face his other half. “Yeah… I swear, every time something transpired, there was quiet laughter. And in my peripherals a-”

“-green light flickered?” The younger sibling hazards a guess.

“Precisely.”

Sammy sighs. “I never got a direct look at it. Whenever I tried, it just- “

“-magically disappeared?” This time the older brother knowing his twins’ next words.

“Yup.”

Donald continues in his previous task of getting a cold drink, then sitting on the old green recliner as he finishes half of it in a few seconds. “Well, we’re either being pranked, or we lost our minds simultaneously.” He throws out, kicking his feet up and laying back.

“Both options sucks.” Sam says.

“No kidding.”

“Do you think…” The amateur cook trails off, suddenly shy. His slightly older brother quickly zeroes in on the insecurity and motions for him to go on. “Okay… what if it really is magic?” Donny snorts mid drink, choking on the dark beer and needing a minute to regain his breath. All while Sammy watches with a dry expression, thinking it’s the least Don deserves for being an ass. “You done.” He asks as his brother clears his chest of laughter and booze.

After another sip, Don smiles apologetically at his better half. “Sorry Sam. Sure, the thought of magic being the reason behind all this is undoubtedly cool… but in almost 25 years of living, I’ve never seen it and neither has most of humanity.”

Undeterred, Sam speaks his mind. “That’s the thing about magic though. It’s unpredictable and rare. People have claimed they’ve witnessed or felt it, so why not us?”

“Let’s just say you’re right for the hell of it… you think we seen a magical green light that’s been causing us misfortunes and mischief throughout the day?”

Sam shrugs. “It’s totally some Loki vibe kind of stuff.”

A grimace darkens Donny’s face. Powers like that are dangerous. “Really Sammy-Jammy? You can’t be serious about the magic theory.”

Again, Samuel shrugs, refusing to give up on this crazy premise and standing to his feet in seriousness. “What I’m about to do is going to be utterly ridiculous, but my gut is telling me something is off.” He announces, opening his arms in welcome. “Whatever or whoever you are, show yourself.”

Oh man Sam… “Your exuberant side is showing.”

With a roll of his eyes, Samuel continues, “Ignore him. He’s a non-believer. We’ll forgive and forget the chaos from today if you just come clean right now.” He adds, talking to the room as if another being or animal is hiding somewhere.

“How much weed have you smoked lately?” Donald quipped, finishing of his beer and placing the empty on their scratched-up coffee table.

The remark draws a laugh from a higher pitched voice, almost too low to be heard. Nevertheless, expecting it, Sam internally cheers when his random attempt works. I knew it. “Don’t be shy. You’re obviously doing this to us for a reason, so let’s figure it out together.”

A couple seconds of silence pass dully, until a vibrant sea green light illuminates the tiny living room, blinding and disorientating the young men for a couple of seconds. It swiftly dimmers to a humming glow, giving off warmth and earthy tones, easing all worries weighing on the mid-twenty-year-olds’. “You have surprised me, Sam Wayde.” A hauntingly beautiful voice says, the orb glowing every word it speaks and mesmerizing it’s onlookers. “As have you, Donny Wayde.”

Donald locks eyes with his brother who wears a grin of wonder and curiosity, while he is stunned and near speechless at the current events. The next words leaving his mouth unguarded and straight to the point. “What are you?”

“A guide for the most part. Occasionally, I tend to favors owed, such as this one.” They share freely, drifting across the room and seemingly defying logic.

The dog lover narrows his gaze at the ball of green. “What does that mean? Harassing us all day was a favor for someone?”

“No… but testing you was.”

“Testing us?” Sam tilts his head. “I nearly burned my eyebrows off earlier. Could you imagine that travesty?” he moans, picturing it in his head and touching his well-groomed brows in comfort.

“Playing pranks and setting you up to fail constantly was definitely an unconventional way to examine your characters. Nonetheless, it showed me all I needed to know.” Huh? Both falter in confusion and exchange looks of uncertainty, nervously shifting in their current places. “You two are a good fit.”

Sam tilts his head in question. “Fit?”

The alluring aqua globe floats without boundary, hovering near the chefs left shoulder and chuckling, which rings out smoothly. “There is an adventure in the midst. One of opportunity and change for the better. A chance at equality and fairness to all if the fellowship chosen have good hearts and intentions.”

Donny is in utter disbelief. “You want us to partake in a quest after putting us through the ringer all day?”

“If you think that was hard, maybe I’m wrong about you… I hate being wrong.” It’s blue green light simmers in complaint, reflecting off walls and furniture in waves, the color and motions casting illusions of ocean waters bathing every surface of the small lounge.

The younger Wayde lifts his hand to stop his brother from responding and addresses the odd, green light-form of life. “You think we have the potential to do all of that? People have failed for years to bring equality and revolution. Millions have died and suffered repeatedly by supposed leaders who promised the same thing, and still, no one has ever achieved it.” A sad revelation settling over Sam. “How could we?”

Genuine laughter from the Orb releases glimmering seafoam sparks that flutter and flurry down to the floor. “You’re not to do it alone.” Its enchanting voice persists. “Tell me, why not take a chance at great venture?” The question freezing both men, who flunk at immediately finding any reasons to refuse. “Well then, shall we?” Expanding from its small sphere form into a nearly ten-foot-tall black hole, encased in green aura.

Without needing to say anything, the Twins nod at each other, taking one last look at their dingy apartment and shuffling towards what they believe is a portal. Together, like always, Donald and Sam pass through unknown and mysterious blackness… what greets them on the other side is unlike anything they’ve ever witnessed, though the feeling of wonder and euphoria is quite familiar.

To be continued.