Free Abby Carnelia's One and Only Magical Power by David Pogue Page B

magicians. I’ve watched hundreds more. I spend my time monitoring the magic chat rooms on the Internet. And I’ve heard about . . . certain . . .
special
kids.”
    Abby felt a chill go down her spine.
    â€œNow, maybe you have a method and you’re just not telling me. But maybe, just maybe, you’re something special. Maybe you have more than a trick here.” He paused, watching her. “And the fact that you have completely stopped breathing tells me that I’m right.”
    Abby smiled nervously and, flustered, shook her head as though to break a spell. This was why she was here, wasn’t it? To find someone who knew something about her power? Then why did she feel so threatened?
    â€œOkay, you’re right,” she said. “I just found out about it a couple of months ago. I was peeling some hard-boiled eggs. I’m actually here because the ad said I’d learn about paranormal abilities.”
    She looked up at him, as though to say,
and now it’s your move.
    Ferd smiled, closing his eyes briefly.
    â€œThis is beautiful, Abby,” he said with satisfaction. “It’s always an honor to meet someone with your abilities. I want you to know that I’ll keep our relationship in complete confidence; the other kids don’t need to know that I’m working with you.”
    It occurred to Abby that Ferd’s manner was slowly changing. He was calling her “Abby” now, instead of “Miss Carnelia.” And he wasn’t talking so weirdly anymore.
He’s probably forgetting to do that,
she thought.
    â€œAnd so if you’re willing,” Ferd concluded, “I’d love for you to consider me your sounding board, your great listener, your friend. I want you to tell me everything you know about your gift.” He picked up his clipboard and held it tightly, pen poised over the paper.
    So Abby Carnelia took a deep breath and told her story, in more detail than she’d ever told it to anyone. Ferd took a lot of notes, raised his eyebrows a few times, said a lot of “Hmmmmm!”s. He, at least, was loving every minute of it.
    When she’d finished, Ferd sat there for a moment, studying his notes. “Abby, Abby, Abby,” was all he said.
    â€œWhat?” she asked. She was feeling a little frustrated that she was the one doing all the talking.
He
was supposed to be the expert.
    â€œDo you know what I have?” she asked him, as though he were a doctor. “I mean, why I have it? Do you know where it came from? Does anyone else have it?”
    Ferd stared at her for an uncomfortable amount of time before he finally spoke.
    â€œWe don’t know why you have it, Abby,” he said finally. “We don’t know how you do it, or where you got it, or when you got it—or even when you won’t have it anymore.”
    Abby blinked. That was something that had never occurred to her before.
    â€œBut I can definitely answer your last question. Does anybody else have a power like yours? The answer is yes, Abby. There are others.”
    Abby’s eyes went wide.
    Ferd laid his clipboard on the table and clasped his hands.
    â€œAnd I’d like for you to meet them.”

    â€œIt was you, Ben. You did it!”
    Abby ran up to her bewildered friend and pounded his shoulder happily with both fists. Illusion Building was just ending, and Abby knew she’d find him there. It was a clear, cool day, and Abby felt as high as the puffy white clouds.
    â€œIt wasn’t me, I swear!” he said, grinning and tossing the bangs out of his eyes. “Whatever went wrong, I wasn’t there.”
    Abby pushed him backward so that he plopped down onto a not-yet-painted illusion cabinet that lay on its side in the sawdust.
    â€œNo, you
did.
You helped me find what I came here for,” she beamed, panting.
    â€œWhoa there, bronco. Maybe you should slow down and tell me what the heck