Nathan Jackson is new to the area. Being only ten years old, he is finding it quiet difficult to adjust. Being an only child he finds it difficult to make friends. However, gradually he begins to come to terms with his parent’s decision to move to Bradford West Yorkshire. Nathan is very small for his age, with fair hair and glasses other kid's always made fun of him. His parents do have concerns about his happiness and they often encourage him to participate more in school events. He has, however, managed to make a new friend, Philip Delaney. Philip is a well made boy being very broad he is able to look after himself very well. He has taken a liking to the new boy Nathan and they have become firm friends. Philip has told Nathan about Mr Choy’s bookshop, situated in the city. He said. "It's magical Nathan, Mr Choy's bookshop seemed to appear over night. He is quite a character he looks really ancient. No one knows just how old he is. He does magical tricks. Everyday after school, lots of us go to listen to his stories from the old tome that is what he calls it anyway. Let us go tonight Nate."
Nathan said. "I phone my mum first to ask her permission." Though he assured him that it would not be a problem. He could not wait.
Finally school was out for the day. The boys caught a bus to the city. They walked along the street until they were standing outside Mr Choy's bookshop. Nathan studied it from outside; it looked ordinary enough he thought, just a painted sign above the window, written in gold with a red back ground. In the window there were books on display, the holy bible and few other factual quiet old looking books. Philip opened the door and went inside, Nathan followed. Once inside, Nathan noticed the shop had a musty smell about it. It looked so old fashioned, there is an old dark wood bookcase full of ancient leather bound books. It wasn't as big as Nathan had imagined it to be. There is a large glass cabinet with just one ancient looking large red leather bound book on display inside. Nathan noticed the cabinet has a lock on it.
Mr Choy suddenly emerged from a room at the back. He was dressed in silk robes that were trailing down to the ground. Purple in colour with gold stars and half moons printed on them. When he turned around, Nathan noticed he had a gold dragon printed on the back of his robe. Philip was right, he thought, this man is very old. His long flowing grey hair and his long grey beard confirmed this.
The children had begun to arrive in droves. He estimated around thirty to forty of them. Their ages ranging from about seven up to fifteen or sixteen. Nathan wondered how they all managed to fit inside this small shop, but they did so with ease. Mr Choy indicated for everyone to sit down. All of the children instantly obeyed by sitting on the floor.
Then Mr Choy began. He produced a coin from behind the ear of the boy sitting nearest to him. Nothing new, Nathan thought, but everyone laughed. Then he conjured up a silk bouquet of flowers from under a small black hat that he had removed from his head. Which he then handed over to a small girl. Everyone applauded. Next he produced a box of chocolates from inside his robe, which he promptly handed around for all to share. Nathan didn't at this stage think that Mr Choy had done anything particularly unusual, until he went over to the large glass case that was situated in the corner of the room, that contained a very large leather bound book. Mr Choy held out his hands palms up, amazingly, he found that the strong padlock opened without him touching it and at the same time the book raised itself and came to rest in his up turned hands. No one reacted except for Nathan who gasped out aloud. Mr Choy looked across at Nathan and winked, saying. "That's magic Nathan." A now stunned Nathan understood why his newfound friend Philip came here. How did Mr Choy know his name? Had Philip told him? He nudged Philip and whispered. "Did you tell him my name?"
"No, honest I didn't." He replied.
By this time Mr Choy was sitting down comfortably, on the end of his nose he had perched a pair of old spectacles. He opened the book, on doing so, the book seemed to produce a white light, that emanated from the book itself glowing right up to the ceiling. Again Nathan gasped again no one over reacted, they all just cheered with delight. Mr Choy smiled he then began to read from the tome.