Jim’s Magic String Trick

In 1968, I lived in Newark, NJ. When I was 12 years old, I played hooky for the very first time one beautiful spring day. My cousin Edward, who was 13, and friend Anthony also skipped school. We took the bus from the Ironbound section of Newark up to Broad and Market streets. Downtown. We started our day at Kresge’s Department Store, spending an hour or so in their toy and sports departments. Next we were off the Newark Museum, where we spent most of the day. After seeing everything there was to see, the only thing left was the “1784 Old Stone School House“, which was outside in the Museum Garden. It had been disassembled from another Newark location and then painstakingly reassembled in the garden. Problem was, you were not allowed out there without an adult. There was a security guard, an older black gentleman, who sat at the door, also observing what was going on in the museum. We told him we just wanted to take a look, but he said rules were rules. If an adult came by and wanted to see the School House, he would let the three of us go out there with them. We waited there about 15 minutes, hoping someone would have interest in going out the School House. While waiting , the security guard took a short string out of his pocket and asked me to hold up my finger. He showed me the trick in the video. Did a really good job with the whole setup. Took about two minutes. We were all amazed. He did it for all of us. I told him I wanted to learn how to do it, and he spent a few minutes walking me through the simple steps. Then he gave me his string and told me to keep it. He had more at home. At that point we had given up on seeing the School House that day, but this fine man decided to take us out there himself. I think it was his break. We spent about 15 minutes out there looking at everything. What being in school was like in the 16th century. I could have stayed there all day. When we got back inside, we thanked him for taking us out to see the School House. I especially thanked him for teaching me the magic trick, and for his string. I don’t have his string anymore. But I have carried a string in my bag or pocket for nearly 50 years. I also carry an elastic band, and while waiting in a line somewhere, I will take it out and practice the trick hundreds of times, the band stretched between my thumb and index finger on my left hand. As a youth hockey volunteer in the 70s and 80s, I showed the string trick to dozens of boys, along with other children at family gatherings, wherever. Even a few strangers, as I was that day to the kind security guard. I have never forgotten that day, and the kindness he showed to the three of us. He didn’t have to do that. He chose to. Been trying to pay it forward ever since. Watch the video and learn the trick. It may look like it’s going through our fingers in the video, but it’s not. It’s real magic. I have probably done it a million times in nearly 50 years. It is sure to earn you some smiles.