A local girl had quite the bedtime scare Tuesday evening. Seven-year-old Eloise Winters refused to go to sleep after claiming she saw “the blue mage under the bed holding up two untapped Islands and smiling without blinking.”
“Sweetie, we’ve talked about this,” said her mother, gently smoothing the comforter with the cautious optimism of someone who married a control player. “There are no counters under the bed. And even if there were, you’re not the threat here, babygirl. You’re safe. Don’t worry.”
According to sources close to the situation, Eloise had been increasingly anxious after watching her older brother resolve a Rhystic Study while keeping two islands up, then whispered, “Hold on, let me think” after every spell for the rest of the game.
“I know he’s real,” Eloise sobbed, clutching plushie Garruk. “He waits until I’m about to board wipe and then he leans forward and says, ‘Are you sure?’ I don’t even know what that means but it makes me scared. I know you say I’m fine, but I’m not. He doesn’t care what the spell is. It’s just like his relationships, Mom. If he can’t control it, he’d rather it never happen!”
Local judge and uncle David Winters tried to reassure her that nothing bad would happen and she had nothing to worry about. The situation was not improved when Uncle David pulled Eloise aside later that day and said “Remember what I said earlier? It’s … well, probably wise to play around it.”
At press time, Eloise was ready for sleep, a Veil of Summer tucked under her pillow, while her mother was rechecking the closet to show her there was no Snapcaster Mage inside.