Cover art by Erin Halfelven
©2026, SammyC

“I’m going back to school in September. Sorry, but Las Vegas is a no go for me.”

Big Sal gave me an incredulous look, took a cigar out of the breast pocket of his suit jacket, tore off the band, placed it between his lips, and leaned to his right as a henchman flicked a lighter at the tip. He took a puff, exhaled, and addressed my decision.

“Honey, sweetheart. I’m gonna make you a big star. Would you rather be sitting in some boring schoolroom—”

“She’s attending Yeshiva,” Elena interjected.

“Whatever. Huh? Yeshiva? Well, like I said. You’re gonna be on Johnny Carson before the year is out. I guarantee it.”

“I want to be with my Dad while he’s recovering,” I said emphatically.

“It’s what a good daughter would do,” Elena declared.

“Bring your Dad with you. We can set you up in a suite at the hotel. They have great doctors in Vegas. I donated a small fortune to the local University hospital last year. My father-in-law has a weak heart, you know.”

“You can’t get away with this, Sal. My father says you’re a fugitive from justice. As much as it pained him to say it. Now he’ll have to pay more to buy the other resorts in the Catskills. Cash isn’t very liquid in a recession—”

Sal interrupted Amanda and pointed a finger at her.

“Tell your dad not to worry. Our deal is still on. Those are state charges and I’ve got some inside juice at the Nevada AG’s office. If you know what I mean. Listen, people, this is all mute—”

“Moot. You mean moot,” Jeremy corrected.

“Whatever. You get my meaning, kid. The charges will be dropped shortly. Meanwhile, I’m going to be on the Amalfi Coast with my wife and family for the rest of the summer. In September, I’ll be back to bulldoze the place. Don’t try to do anything tricky while I’m gone. My lieutenants will be keeping watch on you. I expect you, Felder, to give them the best suite in the place.”

“When are you leaving?” Jeremy asked.

“My wife and kids are already there. Just between us, I’m not looking forward to spending three weeks trapped in a villa with my family. No disrespect but…it kind of puts a crimp in my style if you know what I mean. So, I’m going to decompress for a few days before flying out. You’ll have the honor of my presence until Friday. I might even catch your act a couple of times, little lady.”

At breakfast the next morning, I played with my half a grapefruit, stabbing it aimlessly with a spoon, staring into the distance. Usually, we (Elena, Jeremy, and I) chatted like carefree children while basking in the sunlit summer mornings of The Catskills region. After Sal Maranzano’s disastrous appearance the night before, we were all lost in our own thoughts. Finally, Jeremy pierced the silence in a burst of hopeful exuberance.

“I think we’re about to witness a deus ex machina to extricate us from this situation.” He smiled, almost giggled.

“Talk English, Jeremy. What are you going on about?” I asked with a violent thrust of my spoon into the grapefruit. It reacted with a splatter of juice that almost hit me in the eye.

“You remember I told you about my older cousin Michael, who works in the Southern District Attorney’s Office in New York?”

I nodded as I blotted my face with my napkin, making sure not to smear my eyeliner.

“He called me late last night and told me there’s a grand jury in Clark County, Nevada that’s about to indict Maranzano and his casino partners with Federal crimes. It might come in today!”

“They can do that?” Elena and I asked simultaneously.

“It’s called a dual prosecution. Happens a lot when the crime or its perpetrators involve interstate activities. If he’s indicted, Federal agents can arrest him…wherever he is. Like here in Upstate New York.”

“Don’t get me worked up for something that might not happen, Jeremy.”

“It’ll happen but it’s got to be before he leaves on Friday,” Jeremy clarified.

“Well, it’ll solve our problem anyway. He runs off to Italy and leaves The Lodge in Aaron’s hands.” I crossed my arms, a smile of satisfaction creasing my face.

“Not if Aaron’s already transferred title to The Lodge to the partnership Sal’s formed with Amanda’s father. Even if they extradite Maranzano from Italy, The Lodge will be owned by David Kellerman by default.”

“Don’t all the parties have to sign? When is that happening?” Elena asked.

“Amanda told me that the real reason that Sal’s here until Friday is that his lawyers are bringing the papers on that day. Kellerman’s signing too, of course. He’ll be up Friday morning.”

“You promised me that you had good news! Now you’ve dashed my hopes in less than five minutes,” I scolded Jeremy.

“We have until Friday, Lindsey. Michael says the indictment could be issued today or tomorrow. The FBI is ready to roll immediately when that happens. Michael says he might even be in on the collar.”

“Don’t let it affect your performance, Lindsey. Sweep all the bad thoughts out of your mind. Elena will figure something out,” Elena squeezed my hand across the table.

“My grandmother is a real miracle worker, Lindsey. Trust me. I know,” Jeremy assured me, his eyes sparkling.

I followed Elena’s advice and freed my mind of any disruptive thoughts when I took the stage every night that week. Two shows on Tuesday night, two shows on Wednesday night. My act was so well-received, the critic from The New York Times told Aaron she was planning to see the show on Friday night. That was the one bit of uplifting news I delivered to Dad and Grandma during my daily phone call before the first show every evening. Dad would emphasize that, regardless of whatever happened, he would beg, borrow, and even steal to pay my tuition for the upcoming school year at Yeshiva. After the call ended, I would seriously consider taking up Big Sal’s offer to perform in Vegas at his casino. I just didn’t think they could actually ever apprehend Maranzano either on state or Federal charges. After all, they’d never pinched him in twenty years in organized crime. They’re not likely to get him this time.

During the days, however, I was nervous and distracted. I would only crack a smile when the audience would applaud me at the end of my act. Often, the ovation was overwhelming. There was an undeniable thrill in performing before an appreciative crowd. It could be addictive. It was for my father.

On Thursday morning, Jeremy persuaded me to go riding with him. It was a pleasantly cool summer morning, a respite from the heatwave we’d been having. I was atop my trusty old gelding. Jeremy rode a frisky colt that strained at its reins, making me laugh at his attempts to keep the horse navigating the center of the trail.

“You’re laughing,” Jeremy noted. “Even if it’s at my expense, it’s good to see you in a good mood. Why so glum all the time?”

“Why? Are you kidding? We’re hoping for a miracle and you’re asking me why I’m glum? Not only is my father unable to work for probably months, with no income, I’m not going to be able to pay for school, not to mention the mortgage on our house, food, clothing, medical bills, etc., etc.”

“You don’t believe in miracles? My grandmother specializes in miracles,” Jeremy stated.

“You really believe Elena can perform miracles?”

“You’re a perfect example of it.”

“What? The visual illusions in my act? It’s a form of hypnotic suggestion. It’s all about incantation. The frequencies in your voice that trigger a hypnotic state in the subject. There’s scientific scholarship on it. I could cite some studies in the literature—”

“No. You know what I mean.”

“No, mister, I don’t. What are you on about?”

“I know you didn’t arrive at The Lodge as a girl. You were a boy before Elena started performing miracles on you.”

“You knew? All this time? I…I can’t…” I loosened the reins on my steed, gently squeezing with my legs, nudged with my heels, and yelled “Giddy up!” The horse galloped away in which direction I didn’t care.

It took two or three minutes before Jeremy caught up with me. He reached over and gently pulled on the reins to stop my horse. After a few yards, we were at a standstill, facing each other atop our saddles.

“I didn’t mean it as an insult or anything, Lindsey. I think you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met—”

“Elena swore she wouldn’t tell you! How could she? I’m humiliated.”

“I’ve known Elena my whole life. There are no secrets between us.”

“Was it because you could tell, even without Elena telling you? Was I so obviously a boy in girls’ clothing?”

“No. Of course not. Everyone is totally convinced you’re a girl. Including me.”

Jeremy dismounted and extended his hand to me. “Take my hand.” I let him help me off my horse and looked at him questioningly.

“There’s a brook over there. Walk with me. I want to show you something.”

We arrived at a freshwater brook a short distance away from the trail, leading our horses along with us. As the horses stepped into the stream and lowered their heads to drink the cool, clear water, Jeremy led me to the edge of the brook.

“What do you see, Lindsey?”

I peered into the calm stream which acted as a mirror and gazed at my reflection. Jeremy was smiling behind me, hovering over my shoulder.

“Us. I see us.”

“I see a boy and a girl. Me and a beautiful girl. As real a girl as there is in the world.”

I turned back to stand up and face Jeremy. “But I’m not a real girl. I’m sort of a chimera. Part girl, part boy. I can’t pretend I’m a real girl when I go back to Yeshiva…if I go back.”

Jeremy took my shoulders in his hands and kissed me forcefully on the lips.

“I love you Lindsey. I really do.”

“I’m not a girl.”

“Not yet. My grandmother is a miracle worker. Remember?”

Sitting in my dressing room between shows on Thursday night, I refreshed my makeup at the vanity, resigned to the fact that the next day, Friday, would effectively end my summer adventure as a girl magician. No, not only as a magician but as a girl. I’d probably have to attend a public high school back home as a boy. At least I had these wonderful memories to hold onto as I grew into an adult man. If I ever ran into Jeremy again in 5 years, 10 years, or 20 years’ time, would he recognize the woman inside the man? Or would he walk right by me, unseeing and unaware, consumed by the concerns of his everyday life?

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Jeremy and Elena rushed into the room, breathlessly excited. Jeremy took hold of my shoulders. I thought he was going to kiss me again.

“The indictment came through, Lindsey! The FBI is arriving tomorrow morning to arrest Maranzano!”

“When? What time?”

“Michael told me it could be a little before 11AM. They’re driving up from the city.”

“Isn’t that when they’re planning to sign over The Lodge to Sal and Kellerman? 11AM they’re supposed to meet in Aaron’s office,” Elena pointed out.

“We have to make sure that meeting doesn’t take place before the FBI gets here!” Jeremy exclaimed.

“I can think of a way we can arrange that,” Elena offered. “Are you with me?”

“All the way!” Jeremy and I shouted, holding hands.