Do you Believe?

It begins

I didn't believe in magic for the longest time, even when I had watched tricks performed first hand I convinced myself that the reason the illusion could be performed was because of plants in the audience. I stayed this delusional until I became part of the all to real act of one Anthony Gibbons, the illusive magician. I was 19 when he came rolling into town as part of the old fashioned traveling circus the lions mane, most people, myself included bought tickets to opening night. The circus featured attractions such as the three headed snake and bearded lady, that is probably why all the tents were torn and or filthy, the sun washed signs all had peeling paint, and the animals looked as though they had been through the ring of fire one too many times.

My three closest friends/ roommates and I sat readily in the back of a worn tent awaiting the magic show to begin. My blues eyes matched the aqua t-shirt and denim skinny jeans I wore and shown with excitement as the lights began to dim.The curtain rose steadily as a hush fell across the anxious crowd and a man walked onstage. He as I later came to know him as was Anthony Gibbons, dressed in what looked like an antique ring leaders costume he bowed which much gusto along with a fair amount of hand twirling. He started off the show with a few complex tricks mesmerizing the spectators bellow and than asked for a willing volunteer from the awed mass of people to help him with the famed levitation trick. I remember my friends Alexis, Katie, and Natalie shoving my arm skyward, I chose not to resist knowing very well that he was going to pick a rehearsed plant from the audience and that most certainly was not me. The look on my face when he did choose me was probably priceless.

Making my way up the aisle littered with popcorn and empty candy bar rappers I felt the stares of every living thing in that room burn on my back as I stared at the black converses I wore. Very much aware of the eyes following my every move I cautiously climbed the uneven stairs to be greeted by Anthony, he flashed me a winning smile and leaned in close to my face. I expected him to whisper to me that there was an invisible harness or something but instead he only uttered three words.....

Don't be scared.

He flashed me another of his smiles than clamped his hand on my shoulder and directed me to center stage. As soon as I reached the area designated for his levitation victims a large light clicked on momentarily blinding me, when I regained my vision I was able to see my friends knodding eagerly from the far end of the room and a whole bunch of random strangers staring at me as though waiting for a seech. Anthony stepped in front of me and started a long introduction that gave me time time to let my mind wander on the possibilities about what was about to happen. He, now finished with his rather lengthily and winded speech turned to me cupped my hand in his own and dragged me further into the spotlight.

"What might your name be young lady?" Anthony questioned

I found it funny that he would call me a young lady when he was obviously only a few years older but still I answer him," Claire Thompson,"I replied with a slight quiver in my voice.

"Well Claire," Anthony exclaimed," I need you to remain calm, no matter what do not yell out or panic."

Without waiting for me to reply he turned to face me and started to push slightly on my shoulder. To my surprise my feet started to rise and my head went back so very soon I lay Horizontally in mid air with no strings attached. I could feel my long brown hair slip off my shoulders and hang under me but I wasn't able to move, I was rendered completely immobile as though in a full body restraint, I couldn't even turn my head to see what Anthony was doing, I could only hear him. He stood behind me, he began uttering odd words at a rapid pace, if i had not been paying such close attention to these words I might have noticed that my entire body was gracefully floating upward. Never had I experience such a marvel, no wind, no ropes, no anything. I was just getting used to the abnormal sensation when all of a sudden my body started decreasing from my position 10 feet in the air until I had both feet firmly on the hard ground.

I Know it needs a lot of work but it is a start, so don't criticize me just yet. Thanks for reading!