Page 41 of Alice & Meg: Summer Vacation
I hadn’t expected to spend my afternoon surrounded by families and toddlers, but there we were, parked in rows of velvet seats at the Rick Wilcox magic show in the Falls.
Lo leaned over and murmured, “Definitely aimed at the juice-box crowd,” but he was grinning like a man genuinely enjoying himself.
Part illusionist, part comedian, Rick Wilcox had this polished showmanship that walked the line between Vegas slick and hometown charm.The lights dimmed, the crowd hushed, and the spotlight snapped to center stage.He appeared like he’d stepped out of a magician’s daydream, in a tailcoat, crisp shirt, and a grin full of confidence.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!”he boomed, and the room erupted.
He dove right in.No slow build, just bam, live dove in his hands, then gone in a puff of smoke.The kids around us let out a chorus of gasps.
I gave a nod.Solid opener.
When Wilcox singled Lo out for a levitating hand gag, saying, “Sir, your hand seems to have a mind of its own!”, even Lo’s tough-guy act cracked.His laughter was loud enough to make a nearby dad glance over.
The man knew his audience.There were disappearing scarves, a rope trick that ended mid-air in a perfect knot, and self-deprecating banter that kept the tone light.“Oops!Hope my assistant didn’t tie me up for real,” he joked, and the crowd rolled with it.
But then came the acts I’d low-key been waiting for.
The levitation box.He climbed into a small, shadowy container with bolts locked into place.A beat later, smoke curled out, and he floated out like gravity took a break.Even knowing it was sleight of hand and smoke-and-mirror magic, I still loved it.
The burning scarf.He called a little girl on stage who had on a purple unicorn shirt and was missing a front tooth.He waved a scarf, ignited it in flame, and poof, it reappeared around her shoulders like it had always been there.
Amazing.
The electric chair.Classic bit.He sat in a wooden seat rigged with metal bands, flicked a switch, and jolted up with wild, white Einstein hair.“Always check the voltage,” he deadpanned.Lo snorted loud enough that I had to elbow him.
Then the finale.An assistant vanished behind a black curtain and popped up in the back of the theater five seconds later.No trapdoor in sight, and no delay.Just… gone, then reappeared.The whole room was stunned.Even the adults.
I glanced around at everyone, and I could see it.The excitement and the wonder in their faces.That look of pure awe?It made the show worth it.
Between tricks, Wilcox bantered about the Falls.“You brave the ducks, scream your lungs out on rides, now look at you, ninety minutes of calm.Bet you didn’t expect that.”The moms near us nodded and laughed.
Magic and comedy.That was the real trick.He somehow managed to pull in every age without losing anyone along the way.
The lights rose.Wilcox gave his thanks.The theater emptied with the kind of buzz that followed you out the door.
Outside, the summer air hit like a soft exhale.Lo nudged me with a grin.“Good call on the magic show, babe.”
We drifted down the strip toward the motel.
Alice
Wrecker lounged on the bed, legs crossed, watching me with that calm, confident look he always wore.I was standing in front of the mirror, tugging at the back of my dress.It was a simple dress that managed to hug my curves in the perfect way.I always called it my “not too dressy, but nice enough” dress.
“Another dress?”I heard him drawl lazily from behind me.
“Keep your hands to yourself, mister,” I warned, slipping on diamond earrings.“We’ve got two minutes to meet everyone out front.”
Wrecker grunted, but he stayed planted.I slid into black flats and zipped up my clutch.
“Can you believe our vacation is almost over?”I asked and checked my reflection.
He padded over and shrugged easily.“Every day feels like a vacation, babe, so long as you’re around.”
His words made me smile so hard my cheeks ached.“You’re getting sweeter in your old age.”
He tugged at his beard.“It comes with the territory.”
He grabbed my hand.We left the room, side by side.
