The travel agent 1/21

“Hey Dad, I’ve just learned this smashing new card trick. Can you stop working for a minute so that I can show you?”

Dave Bell looked up from his drawing board, sat back in his chair and smiled at his daughter. “Isn’t it lucky for you that I sometimes work from home these days! Go on then amaze me!”

“Take a card, memorise it and then put it back on top of the pack.”

Dave did as he was asked with a grin and then watched closely as Jennifer Jane cut the pack, riffled the two halves back together, then finished with a normal overhand shuffle.

“What was the name of your card?”

“Eight of clubs”

“Would you prefer me to spell it out or find it by number?”

“Spelling the number would be quicker,” he said with an even bigger smile on his face. He’d just recognised the method she was using as one of the card tricks from a book he’d used as a boy.

Jennifer Jane dealt the cards one at a time from the bottom of the pack, spelling out the number as she did so, “E.i.g.h.t.”

On the final “t” she turned over the card in her hand and showed it to her dad. “That’s the card you chose,” she said triumphantly.

“Well done! You really should show that to your friends. I know how it’s done, but I couldn’t see you manipulating the cards at all and believe me I was watching you pretty closely.”

“I’ve already shown it to my class at school, but I think it might be an idea to try it out in the George and Dragons at Lurbridge next time I’m over there. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any one there doing card tricks.”