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He jerked it down. “You’re really invisible?” His voice rose up so high, only dogs could hear it.<br />
“Really?”<br />
“Good trick, huh?” I said right in his ear.<br />
He jumped and spun away. “What does it feel like? Does it feel weird?”<br />
I didn’t answer him. I crept out of the room and picked up a cardboard carton just outside the<br />
door. I carried it up to the mirror. It looked great. A carton floating all by itself.<br />
“Put it down,” Zack urged. He sounded really scared. “This is really freaking me out, Max. Stop<br />
it, okay? Come back so I can see you.”<br />
I wanted to torture him some more, but I could see he was about to lose it. Besides, I was<br />
starting to feel weird again. Sort of dizzy and lightheaded. And the bright light was hurting my eyes,<br />
starting to blind me.<br />
“Okay, I’m coming back,” I announced. “Watch.”<br />
I leaned against the mirror and reached up for the chain. I suddenly felt very tired, very weak. It<br />
took all my strength to wrap my hand around the chain.<br />
I had the strangest sensation that the mirror was pulling me, tugging me toward it, holding me<br />
down.<br />
With a determined burst of strength, I pulled the chain.<br />
The lamp went out. The room darkened.<br />
“Where are you? I still can’t see you!” Zack cried, his voice revealing panic.<br />
“Just chill,” I told him. “It takes a few seconds. The longer I stay invisible, the longer it takes to<br />
come back.” And then I added, “I think.”<br />
Staring into the blank mirror, waiting for my reflection to return, I suddenly realized that I didn’t<br />
know anything at all about this mirror, about turning invisible. About coming back.<br />
My mind suddenly whirred with all sorts of terrifying questions:<br />
What made me think that reappearing was automatic?<br />
What if you could only come back twice? And after the third time you went invisible, you stayed<br />
invisible?<br />
What if the mirror was broken? What if it was locked away in this hidden room because it didn’t<br />
work properly and it made people stay invisible forever?<br />
What if I never came back?<br />
No, that can’t be, I told myself.<br />
But the seconds were ticking by. And my body was still not visible.<br />
I touched the mirror, rubbing my invisible hand over the smooth, cool glass.<br />
“Max, what’s taking so long?” Zack asked, his voice trembling.<br />
“I don’t know,” I told him, sounding as frightened and upset as he did.<br />
And then suddenly, I was back.<br />
I was staring at my reflection in the mirror, watching intently, gratefully, as a wide smile crossed<br />
my face.<br />
“Ta-daaa!” I sang my triumphant fanfare, turning to my still shaken friend. “Here I am!”<br />
“Wow!” Zack exclaimed, and his mouth remained in a tight O of surprise and wonder. “Wow.”<br />
“I know,” I said, grinning. “Pretty cool, huh?”
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