Pret on The Strand, Saturday 3rd Feb

The boy entertains himself beyond the fringes of his parents attention. 

As their conversation rolls on, the daredevil teeters on a ledge five inches above the deathly floor. 

The scientist firmly squeezes his empty popcorn bag and lets his spring back to life with a flourish. 

The magician puts a tissue to his mouth and blows. It dances a moment and flutters to the floor. Onto something, he repeats and the tissue really catches a gust, sending it to the feet of gently smiling strangers. 

Too much fun for one brother to have, his near identical demands a go. The smaller boy puts the tissue to his face and releases. It drops to his feet. The smaller stares down at the tissue, and then at his brother, betrayed. The older must have used up the magic.