mixed agic

Every married couple has their little tricks to keep the magic alive…

It’s not my fault,” Eddie said, tugging at his trousers. “They just won’t do up properly. They must have shrunk in the wash. Maybe the temperature was too hot or something.”

“The temperature was no different than usual,” Liz said, shooting him one of her looks. “I’d say it had more to do with good living. We have been eating out quite a bit lately, haven’t we, love?”

“I suppose we have.” He could feel his face heating up. He gave the trousers another ineffectual tug.

“Careful you don’t rip them,” his wife cautioned. “Maybe we should go on a diet.” She smiled sympathetically to soften her words. She knew perfectly well he hated the word diet. They both did. Eddie frowned but in his heart he knew she was right. Whoever heard of a fat magician!

Fortunately his alter ego, Mr Magnifico, didn’t have to go on stage for another fortnight. He had a booking at The Legion – it was for a 60th birthday party. That was mostly the kind of booking they got lately.

The act was way out of date – not many people wanted to see a woman being sawn in half these days. But over the years he’d added bits and pieces and he and his glamorous assistant, Gloria (aka Liz) were actually quite “on trend” at the moment.

“Retro” the last venue had called them. The manager had advised them to cash in on the fashion while they still had the chance.

Eddie had laughed. He and Liz both had day jobs so they didn’t need the money. He was a carpenter and she was a book keeper. Their act was just a bit of fun really, something they could do together as a couple.

But it would be nice to carry on – there was a part of him that loved the showmanship of being up on stage.

So, it looked as though a diet it would have to be.

Unfortunately, this did not go well. Even though Liz said she would do the diet with him to show solidarity.

“I will not be reduced to eating lettuce,” he said. “Can’t we just have a few less chips?”

“We’ll have sweet potato soup,” she announced.

Eddie frowned. How could sweet potatoes be better than normal ones? Everyone knew sugar was fattening.

By the end of the first week Liz had lost a pound and he had stayed exactly the same. Which may have been down to his secret stash of bourbons – in lieu of a nice plate of chips.

“Don’t worry, we still have another week,” she said, patting his shoulder.

“You don’t think I ought to try and source another pair of sequinned trousers then?” Eddie asked her with a frown. “You know how much trouble I had last time I tried to get some.”

“I think it will be all right on the night,” she said. “But stop eating the bourbons.”

How on earth had she found out about that?

The night of the 60th birthday party arrived. Eddie fetched his trousers and slipped them on. To his surprise they fitted perfectly. Maybe Liz had been right about the bourbons. He’d managed to cut them down to just the two this week. He breathed a huge sigh of relief. From the other side of the room Liz smiled a secret smile.

Unbeknown to Eddie she’d stayed up late last night letting out the waist of his trousers. When they’d been made she’d ensured there was plenty of room for adjustment. She’d always been a dab hand with the sewing machine. Not that she hadn’t trusted him to stay away from bourbons. But it didn’t hurt to be on the safe side.

Eddie caught her look and pretended not to notice. After all, she wasn’t the only one who could perform magic tricks round here.

Long ago he’d made a second wooden box – just in case his lovely wife ever found that the fit was getting a bit tight. He simply swapped the boxes if he judged that Liz needed a couple of inches extra space to curl up in. Just to spare her blushes. He wouldn’t have dreamed of telling her.

But then wasn’t that what a long and loving marriage was all about? Performing a touch of magic when the occasion demanded it.