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25 After dinner his mom glanced at the clock and said that an old
movie was about to come on. “Looks straight-up silly,” she said,
“but it might be fun. What do you think?”
26 Reuben’s scalp tingled. Just like that, he had his opportunity!

27 “Do you care if I miss the start?” Reuben asked. “I kind of want
to finish a book I’m reading. I only have a few pages left.” It was a
thin excuse but plausible. He usually did have a book going.

28 His mom patted his cheek. “Go read. I’ll fill you in.”
29 Reuben retreated to his room and closed the door. He found a
library book he’d already finished, opened it to the last chapter, and
laid it on his bed. Beyond the door he could hear his mom

switching on the television, then moving about the kitchen,
pouring popcorn kernels into a pot. He knew he should wait until
she went to bed. But it was the last test. He had to know.
30 He got out the watch and key. From the television came the
muffled sounds of movie dialogue; he heard his mom groaning at
some feeble joke. He set the watch to twelve o’ clock. “Midnight,” he
whispered, and felt a shudder run through him. He had a sudden
conviction that he ought to have tried the twelve o’ clock setting
first. Wasn’t midnight always the magical hour?

31 Then he had to laugh at himself. What was he expecting,
anyway? Certainly not magic. It wasn’t as if he believed in fairy

tales. Besides, he was thinking of twelve o’ clock as midnight, but of
course it could also be noon. Nonetheless, it was with a sense of
powerful expectation that Reuben wound the watch.
32 Moment of truth, he thought, easing the key out of its winding
position.
33 And everything went black.
34 Reuben yelped. He thought he might throw up. He closed his
eyes and opened them again and still saw nothing but darkness. He
squeezed them tightly, opened them again. Nothing. His skin
burned with panic.

35 His mom knocked on the door. “Reuben? Are you okay?”

feeble Something that is feeble is weak.
shudder A shudder is a shiver or trembling caused by fear.
conviction A conviction is a strong belief or certainty.

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