Check out the story version of my latest bedtime story. Listen to the episode to experience yourself as the main charater, or read the story:

https://traffic.megaphone.fm/MP3244169818.mp3?updated=1742865985

If you hadn’t seen it before, the world of Kid Wizard might come as a surprise—a place where consciousness itself shapes reality. A place where thoughts and beliefs don’t just influence what happens… they create magic.

Kid woke up in a little pocket dimension hidden inside this strange world. It was a full-sized room, somehow tucked away inside a normal-sized backpack. As he lifted his head and looked around, he took in the cozy, compact apartment. There was a kitchen, a small living room, a bed—basically everything a person could ever need in one tiny space. Right in the middle of the room stood a ladder that led up and out of the pocket dimension.

After getting ready and grabbing some breakfast, he climbed the ladder again. As he reached the top, the ceiling unzipped itself, revealing the world beyond. Kid crawled all the way up and out of the backpack, then reached down and picked up the bag that had housed his entire room just moments before. With one hand on either side, he gave it a little squeeze. The backpack began to shrink—smaller and smaller—until it became a tiny keychain-sized version, which he tucked easily into his pocket.

He looked around and found himself in one of the familiar training rooms—the one where he usually met with the great and wise wizard, Martin. Sure enough, another backpack suddenly snapped into existence beside him. Its zipper opened, and a man—one who definitely should not have fit inside a backpack—crawled out.

“Good morning. You’re still here?” Martin asked, brushing off his robe.

“Uh, yeah,” Kid replied. “Well… anything else we can learn today?”

“Probably,” Martin said. “But the thing is, I just got an alert. It seems someone has disappeared.”

“What do you mean, disappeared?” Kid asked. “Isn’t that more something for the police to deal with?”

“It would be—if I didn’t suspect magic at play,” Martin explained. “You see, we wizards have a little alert system. It’s how we find new students, like you. The alert went off in the exact place where the kid disappeared. I think we’d better go investigate.”

“We?” Kid asked.

“Yeah. We,” Martin replied, raising an eyebrow. “Did you have something better to do with your time?”

Kid thought for a moment. “Well… not better. Come to think of it, I don’t really have anything to do at all. Let’s go.”

Martin snapped his fingers, and a magic carpet flew out of his backpack, hovering in midair beside him. He climbed on top and began to drift toward the open sky.

“Hey! Wait for me!” Kid called out. He closed his eyes, snapped his fingers, and summoned his own magical flying device: a skateboard. A flying skateboard.

The skateboard, stored in his dimensional backpack (now shrunken down in his pocket), responded to the call. Kid’s pocket burst open as wide as it could, and a full-sized skateboard shot out, hovering in front of him. He stepped onto it, feeling it lock magnetically to his feet. Then, with just a thought, the board launched forward, gliding effortlessly through the air behind Martin.

Together, they flew out of the massive castle and into the wider magical world. Before long, Martin veered toward a towering tree where a glowing portal shimmered. He passed through without hesitation, and Kid followed close behind.

The world shifted. They were suddenly soaring high above a very real forest—back in the ordinary world.

“My reports say the kid disappeared from a school,” Martin said, glancing down. “Which I think is that one right there.”

He pointed toward a brick building nestled among the trees. The two of them descended.

“We should probably land somewhere more secluded,” Martin added. “We’re back in the real world now, and people don’t normally expect flying carpets.”

“Right. Good idea,” Kid agreed.

After scanning the area for any onlookers, they dipped between two large trees beside the school. Kid stepped off his skateboard and pulled the dimensional backpack from his pocket. With a flick of the zipper and a little expansion, the skateboard zipped back inside, vanishing into the tiny bag. Martin did something similar with his carpet.

“All right, Kid,” Martin said. “This way. The school’s closed, so we shouldn’t run into much trouble.”

Martin walked to the main door. With a casual swipe of his hand, it unlocked and swung open.

“Uh… aren’t there usually security or custodians?” Kid asked.

“There might be,” Martin said. “But I find if you walk like you know what you’re doing, no one tends to stop you.”

“Huh,” Kid said, following close behind as Martin strode purposefully through the halls.

They stopped outside a classroom. Martin made another swiping motion, and the door opened.

“I think the kid disappeared in here,” he said.

They stepped inside. It looked like any typical classroom—desks, posters, bookshelves, and scattered supplies. Kid scanned the room.

“I don’t think he’s here,” he said. “What’s the kid’s name?”

“Stafford, I think,” Martin replied. “And don’t be so quick to judge. Just because you can’t see him doesn’t mean he isn’t here.”

“What do you mean?” Kid asked, a nervous edge in his voice. “Like he’s a ghost?”

“A ghost? No, of course not,” Martin said. “I mean… probably not. Anyway, some wizards have been known to disappear.”

At that moment, something fell from a bookshelf behind them. Both Kid and Martin turned.

Nothing there.

“There you are,” Martin said under his breath.

“What? What do you mean, ‘there he is’?” Kid asked.

Martin reached into his pocket and pulled out a full-sized wooden staff, far too long for any ordinary pocket—but not for a dimensional one.

“All right, Kid,” he said. “Stay right there.”

Martin raised the staff and began to focus. A swirl of glowing green energy appeared in the air, twisting into a vortex. He moved the energy gently toward the spot where the object had fallen.

The swirling light condensed, pulsing softly. Then Martin began guiding it toward a specific point in the room.

“Oh, I can see you now,” he said. “Looks like you need a little help… re-solidifying.”

He closed his eyes, concentrating.

Slowly, something began to materialize. The outline of a boy—around Kid’s age—flickered into view. The green glow faded, and the boy blinked, confused.

“What? You… you can see me?” he asked.

“Of course,” Martin said. “You’re visible again.”

“I am?”
“Yes. And you might be a wizard,” Martin added.

“A wizard? Really?”

“Well, how else do you think you disappeared? It wasn’t an accident. It was your mind doing something most people can’t imagine. Something only wizards can do.”

The boy’s eyes widened. “Oh my goodness… that actually explains a lot.”

Martin smiled. “Well then. I have an offer for you. Kid and I come from a school for people like you. A school where you can learn to control your powers—and maybe even discover new ones. All you have to do is accept.”

The boy didn’t hesitate. “Of course I accept! My name’s Stafford. Who are you two?”

Kid stepped forward and shook his hand. “I’m Kid.”

“And I am Martin,” said the older wizard with a dramatic flourish. “One of the greatest wizards to have ever lived… or at least, that’s what I like to think.”

He grinned.

“If you’re ready, follow us.”

Stafford didn’t hesitate. He followed Kid and Martin through the halls of the school, out the main doors, and into the secluded grove where they had landed earlier. The leaves rustled softly overhead as Martin glanced up at the sky.

“Well then,” the wizard said, rubbing his hands together. “I guess it’s time to get the kid a ride, hmm?”

He reached deep into one of his seemingly bottomless pockets and rummaged around.

“Let’s see… ah, here it is.”

Martin pulled out a full-sized magic carpet and gave it a casual toss. It unfolded mid-air and floated gracefully in front of Stafford.

“Climb on, kid,” he said, already pulling out his own carpet again.

Kid summoned his flying skateboard once more. The board launched itself out of his pocket-sized backpack and hovered obediently at his side. All three of them lifted off into the air and began flying toward the towering tree with the swirling portal in its trunk.

“Well, Stafford,” Martin called back, “it’s best to take a deep breath before you go through a portal like this. But you know—don’t overthink it.”

Without further warning, Martin zipped through the glowing portal and vanished from sight.

Stafford turned toward Kid, unsure.

Kid just gave him a casual nod and a small gesture, as if to say, after you.

Stafford took a deep breath, nodded, and flew through the portal.

Kid followed behind him, the colorful swirl of the tunnel spinning around them like a kaleidoscope. Then, in an instant, they were on the other side—back in the magical realm of the Academy.

The three of them flew through the skies toward the sprawling castle, gliding over the towers and through the gates before returning to their familiar training area.

Martin turned his flying carpet to face Stafford. “Welcome to the Magic Academy,” he said grandly. “Now, I’m going to let Kid show you around this time. But first—there are a few things you’ll need.”

He reached into his pocket again and pulled out a backpack identical to Kid’s.

“This is a dimensional backpack. You can take it anywhere. Inside, you’ll find a fully equipped and well-stocked apartment. Should be everything you need.”

Stafford accepted the backpack, still looking overwhelmed.

Martin saw the confusion on his face and smiled. “Don’t worry. Kid will show you how it works.”

He turned to Kid. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got another project in the works. Show Stafford around. Maybe teach him a little magic.”

With a casual flick of his staff, Martin summoned a portal, stepped through it, and vanished.

Stafford turned to Kid, blinking. “So… he just leaves?”

“Yup,” Kid said, scratching the back of his head. “That’s kind of his thing.”

He looked down at the backpack in Stafford’s hands.

“Well, I guess we should start with that. Go ahead—put it on the ground and unzip it.”

Stafford obeyed, placing the backpack on the floor and slowly unzipping it. He leaned over and looked inside—then jerked back in disbelief.

“There’s… a full-sized room in there?”

“Pretty much,” Kid nodded. “Everything you need. And once you go inside, the backpack sort of vanishes from reality. Nobody can bother you until you come back out.”

“Wow… that’s so cool,” Stafford said. “What else is there to see?”

Kid grinned. “Well, I can show you around the Academy.”

And so he did. The two of them spent time walking through the vast halls of the Magic Academy. Kid pointed out the training grounds, the classrooms, the floating staircases, and finally the massive cafeteria.

The cafeteria was one of the busiest places in the castle. Wizards gathered there to eat, trade magical tips, and sometimes even duel. But it was also the place Kid tried to avoid whenever possible—because it was the favorite haunt of Tyrannus Rexington.

And sure enough, there he was.

Tyrannus stood near one of the long wooden tables, surrounded by his usual group of followers. As soon as he spotted Kid and Stafford, he elbowed the kid next to him and pointed.

“Well, look who it is!” he shouted. “Kid brought home a new friend!”

He walked toward them, flanked by his cronies. “What’s the matter? Couldn’t find someone with actual powers to hang out with?”

Kid rolled his eyes. “Just ignore them,” he muttered to Stafford, turning to walk away.

But before they could make it out of the room, something caught Kid’s foot. He and Stafford tumbled to the floor with a loud thud.

The cafeteria erupted in laughter.

“Oops! Watch your step!” Tyrannus sneered.

A hot, pulsing wave of anger surged through Kid’s body. His skin tingled. His fists clenched. But instead of reacting, he took a slow, deep breath. He stood up calmly, helped Stafford to his feet, and turned to face Tyrannus.

“Well, Tyrannus,” he said smoothly, “if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were asking me for a duel.”

Tyrannus narrowed his eyes.

“Do you remember what happened last time?” Kid continued.

The memory was vivid. Tyrannus had been turned into a living statue—right there in the middle of the cafeteria—and remained frozen for hours.

Tyrannus turned away with a scowl. “We don’t have time for this,” he snapped at his crew, then stomped off.

“Don’t worry about him,” Kid said, brushing himself off. “There’s someone like that at every school.”

He looked over at Stafford. “Let’s head back to the training room. Maybe you can show me how your power works.”

Stafford hesitated. “The thing is… I don’t really know how it works. Exactly.”

“That’s okay,” Kid said. “Why don’t you tell me how it happened?”

They made their way back to the training area and sat on a pair of chairs beside Stafford’s new backpack, which still lay open on the floor.

Kid looked at him patiently. “So? How’d it all start?”

Stafford leaned back and took a deep breath.

“Well… the teacher was teaching a lesson and asked a question I definitely knew the answer to. I put up my hand, but… she just looked right past me. Like I wasn’t even there.”

He looked down at his shoes.

“It wasn’t just that. It brought up all these other times. Times people ignored me. Forgot I was there. Honestly, I’ve gotten used to it. I like doing my own thing. But sometimes… it really does feel like I’m invisible.”

He rubbed his hands together nervously.

“And in that moment, all those memories came rushing back. All those feelings. And then… I started disappearing. My hands, my feet… until all I was, was just floating consciousness. It was weird. I could think about a place, and suddenly I was there. But no matter where I went, no one could see me. Until eventually, I felt a pull—back to the classroom. And then… Martin brought me back.”

Kid nodded slowly.

“That’s incredible,” he said. “And I think the key to doing it again is recreating those same feelings. I get why you wouldn’t want to, but… that feeling of not existing? That might be the key.”

He leaned forward.

“Want to try it? I’ll do it with you.”

Stafford nodded.

The two of them closed their eyes and breathed deeply. With each breath, their muscles relaxed. Kid spoke gently.

“Go back to that moment. The one where you felt like you weren’t there. Like you didn’t exist at all.”

As Kid focused, he imagined what Stafford must’ve felt. He pictured what it would be like to vanish—to become unseen, unheld, unnoticed.

Then he felt it: a strange tingling, like static, washing over his body.

He opened his eyes.

His hands and feet were gone.

He was floating.

He looked to the side and saw a glowing orb of energy.

“Stafford? Is that you?”

“Yeah… I think I did it. I think I’m invisible again.”

Kid grinned. “This is way more than invisibility. You said you could travel, right?”

“Yeah. Just think of a place, and you’re there.”

Kid tilted his head. “Where should we go?”

Stafford thought for a moment. “I don’t know… Egypt?”

Kid focused.

“All right. Great Pyramids it is.”

The moment Kid pictured the Great Pyramids in his mind, everything shifted. A flash of thought, a flicker of intention—and suddenly, he was there.

He floated high above a vast desert, the golden sand stretching endlessly in all directions. Beneath him stood the massive stone pyramids of Giza, their weathered surfaces glowing in the hot sunlight. The ancient structures towered over the land like sleeping giants.

“Whoa,” he murmured.

“They’re even bigger than I imagined,” said Stafford, drifting into view beside him, still a glowing orb of energy.

“This is wild,” Kid said. “Where to next?”

“Hmm… how about Paris?”

“The Eiffel Tower? Sure. Meet you there.”

And with a single thought, Kid shifted again.

Now he floated above the sparkling city of Paris. The Eiffel Tower loomed beneath him, tall and elegant, glinting in the afternoon light. He could hear faint sounds from the city below—the hum of traffic, the murmur of tourists, the distant bark of a dog.

Stafford appeared beside him. “Wow.”

“Yeah,” Kid said. “This is so cool. The first time this happened to you, you said you were scared, right?”

“Yeah,” Stafford replied. “It was overwhelming. I didn’t understand it. But now? Having someone else here with me? It makes everything better.”

They continued drifting from place to place, popping across the world like two invisible stars skipping across a map. They visited mountaintops and coral reefs, ancient temples and futuristic cities. It felt like anything was possible.

Eventually, Kid yawned.

“Okay,” he said, rubbing what would have been his eyes if he had a face. “I think it might be time to head back. I’m feeling kind of sleepy.”

“Yeah, me too,” Stafford said.

They both focused on the training room, each calling to mind the space they had left behind. With a ripple of thought, the world shifted again.

They returned.

The training room came back into view—but something was different.

They were still invisible, still floating, but now they saw movement. Three familiar figures had crept into the room.

Tyrannus Rexington and his cronies.

They were sneaking toward Stafford’s new backpack, clearly up to something. One of them was already reaching out to unzip it.

Kid hovered in place and whispered, “Stafford… what do you say we teach these guys a little lesson?”

“I’m in,” Stafford replied. “What are you thinking?”

“Oh, just a little haunting.”

Kid floated toward a nearby chair, focused just enough to partially reappear, and gave the chair a small push. It toppled over with a loud crack.

Tyrannus spun around. “What was that?”

No one answered.

He turned back to the backpack.

This time, Kid floated silently behind him and focused just enough to make his hands real. He reached down and carefully tied Tyrannus’s shoelaces together—then darted away.

Around the room, books began to shift and fall. Furniture creaked. The air grew colder.

“What is going on?” Tyrannus barked.

Kid grinned and began to make strange, low moaning sounds.

“Oooooooo… I am the Spirit of the Academy… I am watching you…”

Tyrannus looked around, eyes wide.

“Who said that?!”

Stafford joined in, swirling around them, whispering nonsense and knocking things over. A pile of scrolls tumbled to the floor.

“This place is haunted!” one of Tyrannus’s friends cried.

“RUN!” another shouted.

They all bolted for the door—except Tyrannus, who didn’t get far. His feet tangled, and he toppled forward, landing flat on his face.

He didn’t bother untying his shoes. He just scrambled forward on his hands and knees, yelping, until he disappeared through the doorway.

Kid and Stafford hovered in silence for a beat—then burst into laughter.

“That… that was amazing,” Stafford said, still giggling.

“Totally worth it,” Kid agreed.

As their laughter faded, they began to focus—bringing themselves back into full visibility. Bit by bit, they reassembled. Hands, feet, legs, arms, torsos, faces. Their bodies shimmered into place until they were fully present again.

“Well,” Kid said, stretching his arms, “we should probably get to bed.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the tiny, keychain-sized backpack. Holding it in both hands, he spread his fingers apart like zooming in on a touchscreen. The backpack grew—larger and larger—until it was full-sized again.

He placed it on the floor beside Stafford’s, unzipped it, and looked down into the warm glow of his little apartment.

“Good night, Stafford,” he said, waving as he stepped onto the ladder.

“Good night,” Stafford replied from the top of his own ladder, waving back before starting his descent.

As Kid climbed down into his room, the zipper above sealed itself shut, and the backpack likely vanished from view.

Inside, Kid walked over to his bed, pulled back the covers, and crawled in. The mattress was incredibly soft—like it had been enchanted just for him. The moment his head hit the pillow, his body relaxed.

Each breath melted his muscles deeper into the bed. His eyelids drooped, heavy with sleep. His thoughts began to drift—toward dreams, toward floating, toward adventures still to come.