Page 33 of Our Own Light

“Daddy, can you take me to the circus someday?” she asked, excitement radiating off her as she wiggled around in her chair.

Floyd’s smile faltered. “Uh . . .”

Josephine’s eyes widened. “When, when, when?!”

Shame pricked at Floyd’s insides. He wasn’t too sure how much the circus was, but it probably wasn’t cheap. It wasn’t something you could keep neither, like a toy or a piece of clothing. It might not be the best use of the savings they had. Not unless Floyd could try to make a little more money to offset it somehow.

Effie answered for him. “We can’t afford that right now, baby. Probably not for a while.”

Josephine’s shoulders slumped forward again, the excitement and happiness rushing out of her in an instant, leaving her looking like a limp balloon.

“I’m sorry, Jo,” Floyd said.

“It’s fine,” she said, even though it was painfully obvious that it was very much not fine. “It sounded magical, is all.”

“I know.”

Everyone was quiet for a few ticks of the clock. Suddenly, Ollie snapped his fingers.

“Josephine,” Ollie began, “you can see magic right here in Rock Creek. There’s no need to catch a train to Charleston.”

Josephine looked skeptical. “What do you mean?”

Ollie fished around in his pocket and pulled out a quarter, which he then held up for Josephine to see.

“I have magical powers,” he said. “Do you believe me?”

Josephine was clearly fighting a smile now. “No.”

“I’ll prove it to you,” Ollie said. “I can make this coin disappear.”

“No, you can’t!” Josephine protested, her voice playful and happy once again.

“Let’s see your magic, Oliver,” Effie said. “I believe in you.”

“Ah, what a supportive family,” Ollie said, looking over at Effie in an affectionate sort of way before shooting a look of mock disapproval over at Josephine. “Most of you, anyway.”

Which made Josephine giggle.

Ollie proceeded to balance the coin on the top of one of his index fingers. Next, he closed his free hand over both, squeezing tight. When he uncurled his fingers, it seemed like the coin had vanished.

“Oh, my word!” Effie shouted, sounding immensely pleased.

Josephine’s mouth had simply fallen open.

Ollie repeated the motion, but this time, when he uncurled his fingers, the coin had magically reappeared.

“Wow!” Josephine exclaimed.

“See, there’s plenty of magic here already,” Ollie said, handing Josephine the quarter. “You can have this for your circus fund, though. I’m sure you’ll make it to one someday.”

Without even taking the time to thank Ollie, Josephine leapt out of her chair.

“I need to put it somewhere safe!”

Floyd called after her. “What do you say to Mister Oliver?”

“Thank you!” she called from the back room.