Almost 48 hours before making my Grand Prize Performance, Jako had seen me perform in a public Theatre. Virtually every child in the town of Kuressare had heard about the Magic Man from NYC who was telporting into Estonia to perform for a lucky boy. For months the newspapers had reported details about me, Jako, when the show might be, and where it would take place.

Since my arrival, I had done about 7 interveiws for the media and the suspense was mounting. Whispers in schools and on playgrounds all over Kureessare had taken over like a wild baltic fire.

“He’s here! He’s here!”

“You mean he actually came.”

“I bet it’s just an illusion.”

“No he’s actually here. I saw him on ETV last night. He cut himself in half and then put himself back together again. It’s was very funny.”

“I never doubted him for a second. I knew Marco was coming all along. I’ve got tickets to prove it. He’s performing at the Kuresaarre Cultural Center on Friday. They’re shutting down school for an hour so our whole class can go.”

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For me, this is what was most magical about the contest. None of the children ever knew exactly if my claim on YouTube was real or fake. Would a “Magician” from the USA really travel to ANY 3 cities in the World to perform for 3 lucky children who won his Magic Contest?

The internet littered with enough phony prize claims these days. You check your email and it says ”Congratulations a long lost family member who has been living in a remote area of Africa for the last 99 years has just died and has left you a million pounds! Just email us your Personal ID #, banking routing/account numbers, a scanned photo of your fingerprints, and a current photo and we’ll send you your loot in 5 to 7 business days!”

But that didn’t stop children like Jako, Sania, and the Hart brothers from taking a magical leap of faith.

Deep down they believed in magic…

…my magic.

Thank you for believing in me.

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NEXT WEDNESDAY?

The show I carefully designed especially for Jako was done to compliment a book of secrets that I would impart to him after the show. The book included a range of mysteries in all branches of Magic. It is a “Classic”. I wanted my show to inspire him throughout so that later he would devour all sections of the book with a ravenous apetite for the “Art of Secrecy”.

The mood of my performance was a bit slower paced and calm compared to my other shows in Estonia.I began by demonstrating ”Magic” with Estonian Money, followed by fire, Cards (of course), borrowed jewelry, rope, Hypnosis, a Mental Television transmission (To some guests this was the most fascinating moment they experienced)… in the end I closed with the teleportation of a borrowed object.

After the show Jako and his Mother presented me with a wonderful gift. I was deeply touched. In turn I produced the Magical Book of Secrets to further Jako’s study in the dying Art of Magic.Next followed a few photo and video ops with the Estonian TV and Print Media. I demonstarted a couple more intimate encore mysteries for Jako, his friends and family while completely surrounded.

Next I took Jako aside and taught him an ancient illusion that might just be one of the top 3 close-up mysteries in all of Magic.

And then it was time to go. I finished packing my bags, said a few final goodbyes and was escorted out of the restaurant by Jako, his Mother and Uncle. The 4 of us awkwardly walked through the cobblestoned streets of Kurressare abit. Making small talk throughout we came to the crossroads in front of the Christmas Tree in the townsquare. We exchanged final thank you’s.

I said goodbye to the boy who had won it all.

Suddenly, his mother presented me with one final gift, Estonian chocolates.

And then…

…the three of them disappeared into the Saaremaan night.

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NEXT WEDNESDAY: THE MOST MAGICAL PART OF IT ALL!