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(Page 2 of 2) Superior Technology by Dan Bieger
 (3 ratings)
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In the center of the room was card table with four folding chairs set around it.
On top of one bookshelf sat three bowls, inspection of which showed apples in one, grapes in the second, and potatoes in the third.
"Okay," Dolly began, "you guys just sit there at the table while I get the magical devices I'm going to need. In the meantime, you guys decide what you want me to use, say one of the items in those three bowls."
While Dolly searched her stores, opening and closing the small drawers in the storage cabinets, removing some bluish-white metal strips from one, some copper-colored strips from a second, a handful of paperclips from another, some wire from a third. Then, she produced a small lamp complete with bulb but no lamp shade. The wiring to the base of the lamp's socket lay exposed.
Argument among the boys produced the decision to use the potatoes. The apples and grapes could be enjoyed while watching Dolly do her magic.
Dolly arranged a dozen potatoes in a semi-circle with the lamp completing the circle. She inserted one bluish-white metal strip into the left end of each potato and then repeated the exercise placing the copper-colored strips into the right ends. With the metal in place, Dolly painstakingly affixed the wire to each strip, winding the wire twice around each. When finished she had two ends of the wire held in her hand.
"You ready, boys? I'm about to make ‘lectricity, enough to light that lamp."
"No way," Tommy said.
"Way, dude," Dolly smiled. Chanting "Mo Reese" over and over she affixed one end of her wire to one strand of the lamps wire. Switching to a new chant: "Ben Ziger" she affixed the other end of her wire to the second strand from the lamp.
"Lo," Dolly entoned, "and behold!"
The lamp grew from a flickering dimness to a steady glow.
"'lectricity," Dolly announced.'
Looking at Tommy with surprise and confusion, Conner said: "That's a fact, Tommy. That's ‘lectricity."
"Yes, it is," Tommy agreed.
The trio enjoyed another apple together staring at the steady glow from the light bulb.
"How'd you do that?" Tommy finally asked.
"I studied the magic in Maurice Benziger's little book; that's all. Nothing to it. You could do it if you just bothered to study magic like I do."
When Dolly rose to secure another apple, Tommy gave Conner a meaningful glance, the look carrying a self-affirming righteousness, saying under his breath: "I tol' you she's a witch, din't I?"
With her back to the boys, Dolly allowed herself a superior smile.
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