Tao's Magic Tricks

By Guy Bullock

Tao is an ordinary twelve-year-old girl, except that strange things can happen when she puts her mind to it. Those who make things difficult always come off second best.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Guy Bullock
• Release date: Nov 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311542045

Guy Bullock

Guy Bullock is a former magazine deputy editor and writer, who has also worked as a newspaper reporter and sub-editor on South African publications..He has published several books for children, illustrated in colour by Tao and Amber Bullock. They are: Amber's Moonlight Adventure (for girls aged five to eight), Tao's Magic Tricks (girls eight to twelve). Tao herself (aged 13)has published (and illustrated) her own book, The Wicked Witch of Dark Castle.Guy has also written a humourous book for all ages, The Crown Crescent Chronicles, about his experiences as a landlord. All the above can be downloaded free from Smashwords, Kobo,Itunes, Nook,Scribd,Bibliotasdtic, Obooko, Goodreads and many other free book sites.

Book preview

Tao’s Magic Tricks

By Guy Bullock © 2014

Drawings by Tao and Amber Bullock

CHAPTER ONE

Tao and the nasty neighbours

THE HOUSE next door to Tao’s had been empty for some time and Tao and her sister Amber would often slip through the fence and climb through a window that hadn’t been closed properly. It was a big house with a huge lounge, dining room, kitchen and even a study downstairs, and bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. The lounge was just right for them to play games like indoor tennis. There was lots of space in the big empty room.

One day they were in the middle of a game, when a car drew up in front of the house, and a thin lady with a sharp nose and black rimmed glasses got out followed by a podgy girl of about eleven. They went up to the front door.

Here Mom, I’ve got the key the estate agent lady gave us, the girl said in a squeaky voice.

Tao and Amber stood still looking at each other in dismay. Quick, let’s hide, whispered Tao, but before they could move the front door opened and the thin lady walked in. Priscilla dear, will you please fetch my notebook. I left it on the front seat, she said; then she saw the two children.

She glared at Tao and shouted. And what do you think you are doing here. This is private property. You have no right to break in where you don’t belong.

Sorry we didn’t know, stammered Tao. We live next door and we were just playing in here.

I don’t care if you live in Timbuktu or on the moon. You should not be here, the lady said. Now get out immediately and never come back.

Tao and Amber stumbled to the door where the podgy girl called Priscilla was standing smirking at them. Get out and don’t come back, the girl repeated. You’ve got a cheek playing in our property.

Sorreeeee! said Tao sarcastically and they scooted through the driveway gate back to their own house.

CHAPTER TWO

Tao gets the blame

Next morning they were wakened early by the sound of a large pantechnicon truck arriving next door. They watched as workmen started moving furniture, stoves, fridges, a huge plasma TV, and all sorts of expensive things, into the house.

Then a big black Mercedes car drew up and the thin lady and her husband, who was dressed in a smart black suit and carrying a brief case, got out, followed by the podgy girl. The girl noticed Tao and Amber watching from the fence, and she pulled a tongue at them and went into the house after her parents. It took nearly an hour to offload, there was so much stuff, and they could hear the sounds of furniture being moved around and at last

Reviews for Tao's Magic Tricks

[antony · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

We liked the butterfly episode (daughter is a collector) --very funny. Drawings very good for a 12-year old. A nice easy fun read.