Short, Light, Free

Chapter 70: Choice I

Three same-aged children were playing near a construction site.

It was almost evening time and the kids were tired. Just as they were getting ready to go home for dinner, a person slowly descended from the sky.

The person landed before the three of them and introduced himself, “I’m your tooth fairy and I’m omnipotent. I’ve received your prayers and I will ask each of you a question before blessing you with an ability.”

The children exchanged glances before one of them took a step forward. “Are you really the tooth fairy?”

The tooth fairy smiled. With a wave of his hand, the kid in doubt floated into the air.

The fairy gestured with his finger and the child made two turns before landing safely on the ground.

This, however, wasn’t enough to clear the children’s doubts.

The tooth fairy pointed to one of them, asking, “What’s your name?”

“I’m Xiaohong,” he answered with a smile.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” the tooth fairy continued.

“I want to be a magician. I visited a circus last week and the magicians were simply amazing!” he answered as his smile widened.

The tooth fairy laughed and whispered something in his ear before adding, “This is the power I’m blessing you with.”

Xiaohong nodded and walked over to a side.

The fairy then pointed at another child. “And what’s yours?” he asked.

“I’m Xiaohuang,” he answered excitedly.

“And what would you like to be when you grow up?”

“I haven’t thought of that, but I might want to become a scientist or a doctor. How about the president?”

Again, with a smile, the fairy whispered something in his ears. “This is the power I’m blessing you with.”

Xiaohuang smiled and joined Xiaohong at the side.

“And you, lastly, what’s your name?”

“I’m Xiaolan. I want to be a policeman. I want to protect my mommy. Daddy is a cop too and he... tooth fairy, can you bring a person back to life? I want my daddy back...” Xiaolan spoke up, tears welling up in his eyes before generously flowing down.

The tooth fairy whispered in his ears, “Only God can do something like that. I’m going to give you the power to make liquids disappear. Remember not to tell the adults.”

With a wave of the tooth fairy’s hand, Xiaolan’s tears stopped falling.

The fairy stood up. “I’ve given you your powers so the rest is up to you, little ones.”

Before they could react, he rose into the air slowly.

Floating above, he took out a memo and wrote: I don’t want mommy to know about my bed-wetting incident.

Below these words, he added the children’s names.

He then crossed them out with a pen before flipping over to the next page.

On it was the same sentence and a few names. He sighed before disappearing into the air.

...

Looking at the other two children, Xiaohong started, “What powers did he give you two?”

“We’re not supposed to tell,” Xiaohuang replied.

“He only said not to tell the adults,” Xiaolan corrected, scratching his head.

Xiaohong smiled. “I guess it’s okay for us to share. I’m able to make liquids disappear.”

“Aye? I have the same power,” Xiaohuang added.

“He gave us the same power?” Xiaolan asked, baffled.

“But we have different dreams. You want to be a cop and have a bigger wish but why were we given the same ability?” Xiaohong questioned.

“I think we’re going to miss dinner if we continue talking. We might even get a beating. It’s already night time,” Xiaohuang reminded.

The three of them parted.

...

That night, Xiaohong’s house.

“How’s the preparation work coming along, husband? We’re moving tomorrow. The school’s going to close down soon so let’s just transfer him to another school,” Xiaohong’s mother said.

“Aye? Why?” Xiaohong asked in confusion.

“Why are you interrupting, kiddo? Have you calculated how much we can get from this demolition, wife?” Xiaohong’s father responded.

“What about Xiaohuang and Xiaolan? Will I see them again?” Xiaohong chimed in again.

“Everyone’s going to move. Eat your dinner and don’t talk. The compensation is decent since they’re going to be building a large-scale sports stadium. Let’s move further away and get a tutor for her. He’s been playing too much recently and his grades are slipping,” Xiaohong’s mother added.

After dinner, in the loft.

Xiaohong finished up his assignments and looked over at a glass of water on the table. It was half full.

He wondered if he really had the ability to make the water disappear.

He stared at the glass and willed the liquid within to vanish.

Indeed, in the next instant, it disappeared.

He continued staring at the empty glass in disbelief.

...

20 years later, behind the curtains of a big opera house.

A man in a suit said to Xiaohong, “It’s been over a year, my great magician. Don’t you have something new to offer other than the same few tricks?”

“Yes, I’m trying hard to come up with something,” he replied.

“You’ve been saying this for almost half a year now. You know that I’m not the only one rushing you, right? The audiences are sick of your shows. 18-year-old gifted magician, five years of world touring and earth-shaking performances. Why, then, have your performances remain stagnant the moment I signed you on?”

“I will come up with a new program. Today, in fact. It has all been taken care of. Please do not worry,” Xiaohong reassured.

“No, please don’t feel pressured. Your few tricks are really amazing, but sooner or later, people are going to get bored of them. When you first came in, the seats are always fully booked, but what about now? I’m sure you’re aware of the current situation,” the man in suit continued.

“I’ve thought it out. I’ll be performing a sealed room escape. Fill a metal pot with water, dump me inside and...” Xiaohong relayed nervously.

“Water, water, water. Can’t you do something without water? Something more interesting perhaps? Close-up magic, maybe? You’re a world-class magician so you should know these, right?”

“Ye... yes, I do, but can I perform that tomorrow instead? Just... just let me do my thing today and... and I’ll change it up tomorrow...” he stuttered.

The man in the suit walked over to a side, took out a suitcase and tossed it on the floor. “This is what the previous magician left behind after getting fired. See if there’s anything you can make use of. You’re going on stage in half an hour.”

Xiaohong shook his head vigorously. “No, no. Please just let me perform the water trick once more. Last time, I promise. Tomorrow I’ll...”

The man interrupted, “Yes, as for the water bucket, come with me, the few of you. Let’s move it out. Listen up, my great magician. Give us something different today. Protect your reputation.”

...

Xiaohong stared blankly at the man and the three burly fellows moving his water bucket away.

He knelt on the floor and remained silent for a brief moment.

He looked at his watch before opening up the suitcase.

Rummaging through it he spotted a hat, a rod, a colored ribbon, and a red ball.

He also found a water gun and opened it up happily, only to realize that it was empty.

Hhe sprawled across the floor, tears streaming down his cheeks.

It’s over, he thought.

It was something he hadn’t expected at all.

Just then, a bunny girl entered the waiting room. “You have 10 more minutes, Madam. Boss had me come over to check on you. Are you ready?”

Xiaohong raised his head, his tears vanishing instantly.

With a soft, trembling voice, he replied, “Got it. Leave for now.”

The bunny girl nodded before pointing at Xiaohong’s face. “Your makeup is running, Madam.”

Xiaohong waved his hand. “I’ll get it fixed, no worries.”

The bunny left the room and closed the door.

10 minutes later.

The red curtain opened up.

There was nothing on stage except for a suitcase.

All kinds of tools were spread across the floor.

One minute, two minutes.

The audience looked attentively at the stage, anticipating a surprise.

This famous magician was the only one whose tricks haven’t been exposed.

Yet, nothing happened even after a long time of waiting.

Doubtful whispers started off stage and never stopped until the man in the suit ran out with a microphone.

“I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen, the performance is over. Our magician isn’t feeling well today. Please stay tuned for the circus’ performance.”

Silence took over the theatre for a few seconds before bottles and all other kinds of trash were thrown onto the stage.

...

A few kilometers away, as he drove on in his own sports car, Xiaohong mumbled, “How are you guys doing, Xiaohuang and Xiaolan?”

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