Stinetinglers 3 by R. L. Stine

Author:R. L. Stine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

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Was I nervous before the talent show? Does a duck have lips?

My dad always says that. I don’t really know what it means. But yes, I was more than stressed.

My tricks went very well when I practiced them every day in my room. But would they work onstage in the auditorium in front of the whole school?

I was the third act in the show. I followed Ashley Grover’s accordion solo and a hip-hop dance thing by four eighth-grade girls. Both acts scored huge applause.

And then, I heard our principal, Ms. Ricks, announce my name. “Let’s give it up for Brady the Amazing. He’s going to amaze you with his magic tricks.”

I gripped my top hat in one hand and my magic wand in the other. Then I took a deep breath and walked out onstage on trembly legs.

“Welcome to my world of magic!” I exclaimed. My voice squeaked a little on the word magic. My mouth felt so dry, I couldn’t swallow.

I set my top hat down on the table on the stage. Then I raised the wand.

It’s a trick wand I bought in a magic store. When I press a hidden button on the side, it droops like a wilting flower. It looks totally funny. I wanted to start my act with a laugh.

“Magic wand, obey my commands!” I shouted. I pushed the button.

The wand didn’t droop.

“Obey my commands!” I repeated.

I pushed the button again. No. It didn’t bend. It stayed straight and hard.

The kids watching were silent. All eyes were on the wand.

It had worked perfectly at home. What was wrong with it now?

I twisted it in my hand and tried to push the button again. But my hand had grown cold and sweaty, and the wand slipped out and clattered to the stage floor.

“Magic wand, don’t try to escape!” I shouted. I tried to make it seem a part of the act.

But when I bent down to pick up the wand, I bumped the table with my shoulder. The table fell over and went crashing to the floor. My top hat slid halfway across the stage.

I know the kids in the audience didn’t mean to be cruel. But how could they not laugh their heads off, watching me stumbling and bumbling? Brady the Amazing Klutz!

“Give him a chance!” Ms. Ricks shouted, stepping out from the side of the stage. “Give Brady a chance, everyone!”

My face felt hot. I knew it was bright red. I reached down for the top hat—and accidentally kicked it off the stage.

A low moan escaped my throat.

The laughter rang off the auditorium walls. Kids were shrieking with laughter, slapping their knees.

I wanted to jump off the stage, run up the aisle, run away and never come back. But I had to go on.

A kid handed me my top hat. Ms. Ricks stood the table back up. “Maybe you should try a comedy act,” she whispered.

Cruel.

“For my last trick…” I shouted.

That got more laughter, I guess because I hadn’t done my first trick.

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