The Magician

Milo the magician had been amazing audiences for nearly half a century. People loved his shows — the bright lights, the loud music, and, of course, his wonderful magic tricks. He could pull a rabbit from an empty hat, make coins disappear, and even float in the air. Every night, people clapped and cheered, shouting his name: “Milo! Milo! Milo!”

But one evening, something strange happened. Milo stood on the bright stage, ready to do his famous card trick. He said the magic words — “Abracadabra!” — and waved his hand. Nothing happened. The card stayed in his fingers. There was no magic or surprise.

The audience waited. Someone coughed. Milo smiled nervously and tried again. Still nothing. He moved on to his next trick, reaching into his tall black hat. Usually, a white rabbit would appear. But this time — nothing. The hat was empty.

Milo’s heart started to beat quickly. He could hear people whispering in the crowd. He tried another trick, and another — but every single one failed. When the show ended, no one clapped. The lights dimmed, and Milo stood alone on the stage, feeling cold and confused.

The next morning, Milo hurried to his workshop. It was full of magic things — old cards, shiny boxes, coloured scarves, and clever mirrors. He checked everything carefully. Nothing was broken. “Why isn’t it working?” he whispered. “Where has my magic gone?”

For days, he practised from morning until night, but his tricks refused to work. His hands shook, his eyes were tired, and his heart was heavy. Maybe his time was over. Maybe the world didn’t believe in magic any more.

One grey afternoon, Milo went for a walk in the park. He sat on a bench, thinking about his old shows. Then he noticed a little boy crying nearby.

“Why are you sad?” Milo asked gently.

“My balloon flew away,” the boy said. “It’s gone forever.”

Milo smiled softly. “Maybe not,” he said. He reached into his pocket, took out a small coin, and made it disappear. Then, with a wink, he pulled it from behind the boy’s ear. The boy gasped, then laughed with delight.

“Wow! How did you do that?”

Milo laughed too — a real, happy laugh. For the first time in weeks, he felt warm inside. “It’s a little magic,” he said.

In that moment, Milo understood. His tricks had stopped working because he had forgotten what real magic was. It wasn’t about secret tools or clever moves. Magic was about joy — the joy he gave to others and the joy he felt in return.

That evening, Milo returned to the theatre. The audience waited, curious. He didn’t use his old tricks this time. He told stories, made people laugh, and did simple magic with his hands — and his heart.

When the show ended, the crowd stood up and clapped loudly. Milo bowed deeply, smiling. The real magic, he knew now, had never left him.

It had been inside him all along.

📒 Key vocabulary

• audience – the people watching or listening to a show
• trick – a skillful act, an illusion, performed to entertain
• float (float, floated, floated) – to stay or move gently on top of a liquid or in the air
• stage – the raised area in a theatre where actors perform
• dim (dim, dimmed, dimmed) – make less bright or less clear
• shiny – reflecting light
• bench – a smooth seat that reflects light and looks bright or polished
• gasp (gasp, gasped, gasped) – suddenly breathe in deeply, often from surprise or shock
• crowd – a large group of people gathered together in one place
• bow (bow, bowed, bowed) – bend the body forward as a sign of respect or thanks

🤔 Comprehension quiz

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