Gemotions

"This has got to be a prank," Mr. Petrov muttered to himself, staring at the bright red clown nose taped to his classroom door. He ripped it off, and threw open the door.

Inside, sitting on his desk, was a small, neatly wrapped present. He picked it up. It was surprisingly light. He unwrapped it to find a collection of assorted, brightly colored magic tricks: a disappearing coin, a deck of marked cards, a seemingly self-tying shoelace.

He couldn't help it. He was pulled in immediately. He spent the next hour practicing the tricks. The laughter felt good. He felt like a young boy again, completely unburdened by the worries of the world.