MAGIC WORDS In the Pokemon card game, the character Abra evolves into Kadabra and finally into Alakazam, who has strong psychic powers. Common Magician's Applications: Vanishing, triggering. For example: "Pick up each glass and say, 'Alakazam, this glass is (Bill's) glass.' If you have a magic wand or want to use a special magic wave, you can then wave over the glass before you put it on the tray."1 8 Variations and Incantations: • Alabama In the Walter Lantz cartoon "100 Pygmies and Andy Panda" (1940), Andy practices magic with a mail-order magician's wand and the special magic word Alakazam. He is challenged by a Pygmy witch doctor who is envious of the wand and who manages to steal it away. But the witch doctor mispronounces the magic word as Alabama and thereby transports his tribe smack into the middle of modern civilization. • A-La-KaZam "'I have another trick. It's the . . . Chinese Mystery. A-La-Ka-Zam,' he murmured, spinning on his heels." -- Glen Gold, Carter Beats the Devil (2002) • Acka shazam -- Justin Martin, 150 Totally Terrific Writing Prompts (1999) • Al-A-Kazzam "He had borrowed the Al-A-Kazzam! Junior Magic Kit from Eugene and taken it home; over one weekend he had mastered every trick." -- Michael Chabon, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2000) • Ala and kazamm -- Steven L. Case, The Book of Uncommon Prayer (2002) • Alacazam "The heavy steel door opened itself with a lethargic electric whir. I mumbled, 'Alacazam.'" -- David Farris, Lie Still (200 ) "I told you, 'Alacazam' was the mystical word / That would bring the magic carpet to life / Or at least it would have had it not been unravelled / To make mitts by some silly old wife" -- Gary Hogg, "The Secret Life of Walter's Mittens" (2002) "[Y]ou count to three, all right? Then say the magic word: Alacazam. Got it? Alacazam. Any time you want me to appear, just say the magic word." -- Robert Grossmith, "Company," Best English Short Stories II (1990) • Alakazaam -- Bruce Olds, Bucking the Tiger (2001) • Ala-ka-ZAM "James opened his hands. 'Ala-ka-ZAM,' he cried. A quarter dropped out of his hand." -- Glen Gold, Carter Beats the Devil (2002) 1 8 Loris Bree, Kids' Magic Secrets (200 )