Where the Magic Lives

The little boy laid perfectly still. He wanted to get up now, but he was nervous so he decided to use his 'listening ears.' He held his breath and really, really concentrated on listening for any noises that would tell him his mom or dad were still awake. He sure wished his mom and dad could see him - how well he could be still and listen just like they ask him to do a hundred times a day.

He didn't hear any soft footsteps walking by his door, the sound of the shower water running, or whispers of the T.V. He let out his breath and slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few times, giving his eyes a chance to get used to the dim light provided by his rocket-shaped night light. He sat up, pushed the comforter off, and half wiggled, half slid off the bed. He crept to his door and put his ear against it like the spies do in the movies his dad liked to watch. Still all quiet.

He turned the door handle slowly, angling his head around the door as it opened, and peeked out into the hallway. All clear. Opening the door wide enough for him to go through sideways, he began to walk towards the stairs. Once again he wished his parents could see him now - walking quietly and carefully down the staircase instead of running and jumping from the fourth step to the bottom.

It would not be a good time for him to break his leg or an arm, like his parents kept promising was going to happen if he didn't stop doing that.

Tiptoeing, he sneaked down the hallway to his mom's office. He was in luck! The door was open. He hurried over to the shelf that held the purpose of his midnight adventure. Stretching, his fingers found the top of the book and pulled it towards him and off the shelf. He lowered himself down to the floor, sat criss-cross applesauce, and placed the book on his lap.

The book was heavier than he expected.

Maybe that was because magic was heavy.

His mom always told him that stories were magic. Moms only tell the truth.

His heart beat fast as he carefully opened the book.

As the pages of the book unfolded, stars and sailing ships started glowing and floating above the pages. His mouth whispered a surprise O. Mom was right!

The stories were there, waiting to take him to all the unique and exciting places his mom had promised could be found in books.

One star floated higher than the others, hovering near the boy's face. The glowing ship turned slowly towards that star and the boy and began bobbing its way towards them both, sails making tiny flutters. He thought he heard pirates yelling.

The boy leaned closer and the magic began to read to him.

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