MAGIC BY THE BOX

MAGIC BY THE BOX

Criticize me all you want, I know you will mock me, when you get here, Paul.  I don’t care if you don’t believe in magic. What’s the harm?  But I’m not even in a hurry.  Look, I haven’t even opened the box, have I? I haven’t even untied the string. Or touched the tape!

It is still sitting here on the kitchen table with the twine, the tape and the postage stamps intact.  There must be something special inside if they used tape and doubled up on the twine, don’t you think? And how long has it been sitting there? Three days, Paul. Three days!  Because magic doesn’t rot or defrost or lose its power sitting in a box.  I am patient which means I have chosen  to eat my breakfast in the other room because I want to make clear, I have not opened it yet ---- or even moved it --since the day it arrived and I put it here, right where my breakfast bowl would be if I were eating breakfast here, but I am not, because well, this magic box is here instead. You can laugh all you want but this is my magic box, my box of magic.

What’s inside could change my life. I want my life changed. I need my life to change but I need help. I need magic.

I know what you are thinking-- Maybe I opened it and wrapped it up again to make believe I hadn't opened it and looked inside. Is that what you are thinking?  I can see that disbelieving look on your face. Maybe you are thinking that because that’s what you would have done. Is that it?

But no, I haven’t and no maybe I won’t. Ever. How is that for not so foolish or weak?  I know that’s what you are thinking of me. That I am foolish and weak.  Or why would I have ordered this thing in the first place. I can read that smirk on your face even though you say you are just coming by to see how I am doing. You could have just picked up the phone if you wanted to check on me. It isn’t every week that a guy loses his partner and his dog (ok, her dog).  But is that why you are really coming by?

 Come to think of it, when have you ever taken the time in the middle of the week to check on my well-being? When have you, Paul, ever gotten into your car and driven the ten blocks just to see how I was doing? Maybe  never? Except for that time I fell down on the icy steps outside the skating rink and broke my leg. And you brought me home. But you thought it was pretty funny that I fell down on the ice outside the skating rink not inside. I remember you laughed first and then everybody else laughed at this unlucky fool.  Perfect strangers. They only laughed at me because you started it.

I came home and sat at the breakfast table and almost cried.  But I didn’t have this package on my table then. So everything will be different now.

But no, I know you are coming over because you want to see the package for yourself and have a good laugh. You want to see if I opened it. I bet you are thinking you would find me sitting on the floor tearing the package apart   like some kind of wild animal. You think you will find me with torn paper and twine and tape at my ankles on the floor. Then you can laugh at crazy sad Avril.  Sad superstitious Avril who believes in magic that comes in a box!

Be yourself, goes the saying. After all, goes the saying, everyone else is taken. Very witty.

Sure, but I don’t like myself and nobody else does either.

I have always wanted to be someone or something that I am not. Of course I don’t believe in magic. But is there such a thing? How do we know that there is not?

There’s the door. Maybe the postman has a second box for me.  The universe knows I deserve more, something better. Maybe it is sending me a second box with something even more magic in it that will make my life special.

Yes?

“Hello, my name is August, Sorry to bother you. I am your neighbor from down the street.  I apologize that we have not met before but as you can see, it is difficult to get around with one leg and this silly midget arm I was born with.  But I am only partially blind so that’s no excuse is it?”

Oh, sure, August. Don’t bother with those steps. Let me take that package you’re holding.

Well, yes, thank you, Mr. Connors, but I also need to take back the box you have. Did you notice it was addressed to me? I hope you haven’t opened it because it was meant for me. I hope you didn’t notice the return address, you will think me a silly crippled fool.”

Oh no, I mean, no I didn’t open it. And now I see it is from the same place as my package. That is not silly at all, why do you say so?

“I just meant some people think it is foolish to wish for things you aren’t or don’t have. They say that is believing in magic  is nonsense. “

Do they? Look, this package for me is smaller than yours. And it is lighter. Are you sure this is mine?

“Oh yes, and it made me smile to deliver a package of any size to a man lke yourself who must want to for nothing. Look at this house and your garden. And what lovely children you have. It’s Avril, isn’t it?  And they have their own dog to play with and loving parents. What could you possibly have any interest in magic? Perhaps it is a joke.  Good bye then. No, no need to help me. I am slow but I am motivated today to get home and open my box, the right box.  I hope you are happy with your box. And here comes your friend. You can open the box together.”

“Well, I made it, Avril. I wouldn’t miss this for anything. Well, aren’t you going to open it?   What’s inside?  You’ve taken off the twine and tape. Look inside. You have been waiting so long for this moment.  They say if your heart is open the box will supply whatever is missing in your life.”

It’s ……..it’s empty. There’s nothing in here!

“Well, read the card.”

It says …….

YOU ARE GETTING JUST WHAT YOU NEED, WHAT IS MISSING IN YOUR LIFE.  NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS.  HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!

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