Well, all of that hard work I wrote about a couple of weeks ago paid off.

My husband, Mike, performed his annual magic shows at Follansbee Primary School on Thursday, and he was a hit!

Previously in this space, I wrote about his time-consuming preparations for those performances. He worked to identify and perfect several different effects that he knew this audience had never seen before.

From the children who walked away with pieces of candy after serving as volunteers to the ones who shouted out in anticipation of what was going to happen next, I would say a great time was had by all. Even some of the staff members pulled out their phones and started recording, keeping a record of both Mike’s handiwork and of the children’s delight.

In the end, though, it was a girl in the kindergarten class who had the most fantastic reaction to one of the simplest tricks he performed through the day of three back-to-back shows.

Mike called the little girl up to the “stage” and handed her a piece of paper and kept one for himself. He instructed her to do exactly as he did. Together, they showed members of the audience to their left and to their right, down front and all the way in the back that all they had were simple pieces of paper. Then they began to tear them. Once they were left with nothing more than several shreds of tissue, Mike had the child take them in her hand, roll them into a ball and say some magic words.

“Hocus pocus,” she practically whispered.

Then, when she opened her hand, Mike showed her the paper had been restored to a single piece. As they began to unfold it, she produced a dark-colored pointy paper hat, covered in silver moons and stars.

They girl’s jaw dropped, and her eyes flew open wide. She was obviously stunned, and everyone in the audience knew it.

That is what magic is all about.

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Speaking of magical fun with little ones, the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weeksponsored by WVU Medicine end has arrived, and the Tiny Tot Trot, brought to you by WVU Medicine Children’s, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 24, provides the perfect opportunity for families to enjoy a magical experience.

No, Mike won’t be performing for us, but he will be there to help me and the other volunteers create a friendly and inviting atmosphere where they can get their legs moving.

And although we won’t have a magic show, there will be plenty of entertainment. Before and after the actual race, which features two heats with 4- and 5-year-olds running first and children 3 and under running second, we will provide games for the children to play, a face-painting clown and mascot from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Wheeling Nailers and other local teams and businesses.

We will also offer healthy snacks and drinks, courtesy of Sam’s Clubat the Ohio Valley Plaza in St. Clairsville.

Other sponsors include Belmont County Tourism, Chik-fil-A, McDonald’s, Grandpa Joe’s Candy Store and the Pittsburgh Zoo an Aquarium.

Come on out and join us at Heritage Port. You won’t be disappointed.