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"Suze…" I put a hand on her arm "Please I think I can amuse a few children for ten minutes"

Oh my God

This is utterexcept the screa each other

"Er… excuse in

The shrieks increase in volu murdered in here, only I can’t see who because it’s all a blur

"Sit down!" I bellow over the noise "Sit down, everyone!"

They’re not even stopping for a beat I climb up onto a chair and put my hands round et a sweetie!"

Abruptly the screa stops and there’s a crash as twenty children buhtly "I’le my head "Everybody say… ‘Hello, Wacky Becky!’ "

There’s silence

"Where’s irl

"Er…"

I scrabble intablets I bought for getting over jet lag Orange flavored

Could I--

No No

"Later!" I say "You have to sit still… and then you get a sweetie"

"This conjurer is rubbish," says a boy in a Ralph Lauren shirt

"I’nantly "Watch! Er…"

I quickly put my hands over my face, then pull them away "Boo!"

"We’re not babies," the boy says scornfully "We want tricks!"

"Why don’t I sing you a nice song," I say in soothing tones "Ro the boat… la la la… the irl

"We want a trick!" yells a boy

"Do-a-trick! Do-a-trick!"

Oh God They’re chanting And the boys are banging the floor with their fists Anyeach other again A trick A trick My mind scurries about frantically Do I know any tricks?