Page 41 - WTP Vol.X #8

cha-ching, clinking like slot machine cherries, got another whiff of his aftershave, and had an urge to slap him followed by an immediate longing to be touched so powerful that she almost leaned sideways to rest her cheek in his palm. Disoriented and lightheaded, she watched his hands fill up with silver dollars, saw them disappear, then double in number. This time, her restraint unchecked, she laughed out loud. “That will buy you five minutes,” she said, “if I give you a discount.” He joined her laughter.
Suddenly something inside Nini melted. Her shoulders relaxed, her jaw unclenched, and her bones felt like water. Not only had she abandoned her patient, she’d been manipulated by a con artist into losing control of her session. Aroused by him, too. She knew she should be ashamed, and would be in the morning, but not
yet. Once the coins had started to clink, she had either given up or given in. She wasn’t sure which, and she didn’t care. She hadn’t felt this free in years and she was enjoying the ride.
“A meager offering for all I owe you for helping my favorite child,” Mr. Weinberg said. He whipped a white handkerchief out of his sleeve, spread it on Nini’s slacks and poured the silver dollars into it. “Please accept these with my gratitude.”
He had performed to keep Livy from talking, Nini knew. He had taken great pleasure in outwitting
his daughter’s therapist. She wondered if she had participated in some sort of repetition compulsion she didn’t understand. Livy had a huge smile on
her face. Had she and her father planned this little magic show from the beginning? Only one thing was certain: Nini would never tell anyone about it.
“Don’t be alarmed, Doctor,” Livy’s father said, his voice serious. “Perhaps I’ve made you uncomfort- able, or more likely irritated, but there’s nothing to worry about. You wanted to turn my world upside down, but instead I’ve turned yours topsy-turvy. Who’s to say your version of reality is any more real than mine? You have your truth, I have mine. Truth is fluid, our comprehension of reality as elusive as ever. In terms of understanding human consciousness, we’re still on the bottom rung of the ladder, don’t you agree? Your theories aren’t anymore reliable than my magic.” He turned to Livy. “Your Dr. Perlo is convinced that I’m wasting our time or trying to distract her so we can’t talk about you and me. But don’t worry, Doctor,” he said facing Nini. “When we have dinner tonight at The Four Seasons, Livy can ask me all the questions
she wants. I’ll answer them honestly, one by one. Just the two of us.” He pulled down his jacket cuff. “Perhaps
whatever we say wasn’t meant for your ears.”
“I’ll ask him about everything. I promise,” Livy said.
“Is there anything you’d like to say now, before we end?” Nini asked her.
“I’m glad you two met. And Daddy’s right, we’ll talk tonight.”
She looked at her father and Nini saw a silent communication pass between them. “You were terrific, Dr. P.,” Livy said. “The ideal audience. Magicians never know who’s going to be watching
us, the people who spend all their time trying to figure out the trick or the ones who heckle the magician because they can’t stand being duped. Or the people who love magic and the feeling of being lifted out of their everyday worries for a moment of astonishment before life kicks back in. These are the ones we perform for.” She grinned. “We couldn’t have asked for more, could we, Daddy?” She glanced at her watch. “It’s time to go.” Although there were three minutes left, no one argued.
“Don’t let your father’s trip be in vain,” Nini said, wrapping the coins in the handkerchief and trying to hand them to Mr. Weinberg.
“Keep them,” he said. A small token of our meeting. I, at least, have learned a lot. Now I know why my daughter likes and trusts you.”
As he reached out to shake Nini’s hand, a small yellow ball flashed in his palm and vanished. For the second time, he winked. “Don’t be afraid, Doctor. Live in wonder.
Wadsworth is a psychologist and writer who lives in Newton, MA. She has previously been published in The Woven Tale Press and is currently working on a collection of short stories.
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