At lunch time, Lisa let Ty and Dustin know that they were scheduled to audition on Thursday at 4:15 PM. "That's good," Ty said, "since we've already planned to rehearse tomorrow night."
"Should we rehearse tonight?" Lisa asked. "We could do it tonight at my house."
Ty said, "I hope your parents won't feel slighted, as I originally wanted to rehearse with them, but I think it's better if they see the act for the first time at the show."
"That's fine," said Lisa. I'm sure they don't mind. You don't think we need more rehearsal time before the audition?"
"No," said Ty. "Since I'm using..." He looked around, to make sure there was no one else in earshot. "... actual magic, there's not really anything to go wrong with the 'tricks', and we've kept it short and simple enough that I'm confident we won't make any major flubs. We do need to rehearse the revised introduction and conclusion section, but I think after two run-throughs, or maybe three at most, we'll have it nailed."
Dustin spoke up, "Also, this is just the audition. It doesn't have to be perfect. It's really just another rehearsal, and if necessary, we can rehearse more in the week between that and the actual show."
"You're right," said Lisa. They finished eating their lunch. Ty and Lisa kissed, and all three went to their next classes.
They rehearsed the next evening before June and Mark, who liked the new intro and conclusion.
On Friday, Dustin, Ty, and their parents went to Lisa's house for dinner, and everyone enjoyed it.
After many days of anticipation, the day of the talent show finally arrived. Ty was waiting backstage, in tails and tophat holding a magician's wand. Lisa and Dustin were nowhere to be seen. Ty had made sure that both Lisa's and his own parents arrived early to get good seats for the show. There were five other acts before his, and he was impatient to get started. Funally he was given the cue.
The emcee told the audience, "And now, fresh from his whirlwind tour of Europe and Asia, please give a warm welcome to Eisenheim the Illusionist!" The audience applauded, the emcee left the stage, and the curtain opened, revealing Ty, who bowed.
Eisenheim looked around the stage, which was completely bare, and acted puzzled. "Where are my magic props?" he asked. He sighed, and waved his wand in an exaggerated gesture. Large puffs of colored smoke appeared in several places on the stage, and cleared to reveal the props. The audience clapped.
Eisenheim said, "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Although tonight you will see various things that appear to be magic, it is important that you bear in mind that these are all actually illusions. At some point in my act, there may be the appearance of physical danger, but I assure you that neither you nor the performers will ever actually be in danger.
"For my first illusion, as required by custom, I will pull a rabbit out of my hat." He doffed his hat, and reached in with one gloved hand, pulling out a white kitten. The audience laughed, and Eisenheim, seemingly unaware of the mistake, looked at the kitten. "Oh, bother," he said, and set the kitten down on the stage. The kitten scampered away a few feet to his left, then sat and started grooming itself.
Eisenheim said, "Sorry, I'll try again." He reached into the hat again, fished around, then withdrew his hand, this time holding a rabbit. The audience applauded. He set the rabbit down, and it hopped a few feet to his right.
"Now, where are my assistants?" Eisenheim asked, looking around the stage. "Oh yes." He waved his wand again, and there were two more big puffs of smoke where the rabbit and kitten had been. When the smoke cleared, the audience saw Lisa standing to Eisenheim's left, in a shiny sequined outfit that really accentuated her figure, and Dustin standing to Eisenheim's right, looking handsome in a tux. Without looking at them, Eisenheim said, "Allow me to present my assistants, the beautiful blonde Lisa..." as he gestured toward her.
Lisa cleared her throat loudly, and Eisenheim turned to her. "Yes?" She pointed to her black hair. He turned back to the audience, said "Oh, right. Sorry," waved his wand, and the audience laughed. She cleared her throat again, and he looked toward her. She was now a redhead. He sighed, turned back to the audience, said "Third time's a charm," and waved his wand again. Her hair turned blonde, and the audience applauded.
He gestured to the other side, and said, "and Dustin." The audience applauded again.
A man in the front row of the audience said to his wife, "It's all smoke and mirrors and trapdoors."
Eisenheim overheard that, and told the audience, "A man in the front row has explained that my illusions are performed with smoke and mirrors and trap doors. How very perceptive!" The audience laughed, and the man's face turned red.
Eisenheim held his arms out toward the audience. "I want you to see that I have nothing up my sleeves," he said, and slowly turned to teh left, then to the right, to let the audience see. When he lowered his arms, a pair of pruning shears fell out of one sleeve, hitting the stage, and a roll of duct tape out of the other. The audience laughed, and Eisenheim's face turned red. "Um... on with the show," he said, as Lisa liked up the shears and duct tape, and set them aside.