Futures..

fiction

As they waited they read all of the signs and disclaimers. Fortunes are for entertainment purposes only. Not to be used for investment advice.

"Do you think people actually try to get investment tips from her? Like, they think she can actually tell them what stocks to buy?"

"I wouldn't put the signs up if they didn't."

Both girls jumped. "We didn't hear you come in."

"Because I was already here. You are the ones who came in to my shop."

"I mean, we didn't hear you come into this room. We were waiting for you."

"But not very observantly."

Emily looked at Olivia, "Should we go? I mean, I didn't come here to be insulted, did you?"

"Oh stop. It's all just part of the vibe. Mysterious comings and goings and all that."

"Ugh. Fine. We would like to have our fortunes told."

"And how would you like to do that?"

"I don't KNOW, you're the one who tells them."

She smiled, "I'm asking how you want them told. Palm reading, crystal ball, Tarot cards?"

"Oh. Sorry. Umm..." Emily looked at the price list on the wall. "How about two palm readings?"

"Okay. Do you have any allergies to sage or aloe vera?"

"Ummm no?"

"Okay, please wash your hands at the sink and use the soap provided. Then the lotion."

"You think we are dirty?"

"I think that the sage will cleanse anything you might have come in contact with so I can get a clean reading and that the aloe vera lotion will be soothing since the sage soap can be a little drying."

"Oh."

"I am not sure you are really open to this experience?"

"I am. I am. I just...we just got off on the wrong foot."

"Emily is a skeptic. And she doesn't like to be told what to do."

"You don't have to be psychic to know that, honey."

Olivia smiled, "Do you want me to go first, Em?"

"No. I'll do it."

Emily washed her hands and came back to the table.

"Did you have a question in mind or do you just want me to tell you what I see?"

Emily blushed, "I was wondering if my current boyfriend is who I am going to marry. And when."

"Okay. Let's get a look at you."

She took Emily's hands into hers and traced her life and love lines. Showing how they branched and what those things mean. Then she placed Emily's right hand between her hands and closed her eyes. Emily could feel warmth spreading from her palm up her arm and toward her heart. She almost yanked her hand back but decided it was just a psychosomatic reaction.

"This one is not the one. But you already know the one you will marry. And you will marry sooner than planned."

"Sooner than planned? I mean, I haven't planned anything yet, and if Kyle isn't the one then it will be later than I was thinking. I mean... who is it?"

"I don't know. I just know you already know them and the wedding will be sooner than you thought." She pointed to the wall. Fortunes are not rules, they are guidelines.

"Hmm...okay, fine. Your turn, Liv."

As Olivia was washing her hands Emily's phone buzzed. "It's Kyle. He wants me to call him?"

"Go ahead. It must be important if he wants you to call instead of just texting you, right?"

"Okay, I'll be right back."

Emily stepped outside to make her call while Olivia sat down at the table and held out her hands.

"Any specific question? Are you also waiting to get married?"

Olivia smiled and shook her head, "No, I don't really have any questions. Just tell me whatever you want."

The fortune teller reached out to trace Olivia's life and heart lines as she had with Emily but when she touched Olivia's hands she clamped down on them while her head snapped back and her eyes rolled to where only whites were visible. It only lasted a moment, then she abruptly let go and dropped Olivia's hands.

"We're done. I won't charge you for the session but you have to go."

"Wait, what? Just tell me what happened."

She pointed a shaky finger at one of her signs. Some fortunes are best left untold and some futures are not ours to see.

"Go."

"Whatever. I mean if this is a way to somehow convince me to come back later with more money it's not going to work. You could have just made up anything, you didn't have to be all dramatic."

"Go. Please."

Just then Emily came back into the shop. She was crying, "He's breaking up with me. He broke up with me OVER THE PHONE. Did you know he was going to do that? You could have warned me."

"Go. Now."

Olivia hustled Emily out of the shop. "Wait, what was your fortune? What did she tell you was going to happen? I mean, clearly she's the real deal."

Olivia turned to look back at the shop only to see the fortune teller already holding a bundle of burning sage. "She said I'd pass my physics exam with flying colors."

"Seriously? You asked her something I could have told you?"

"Well I could have told you that you weren't going to marry Kyle but you never asked."

"What? How did you know that?"

"He has never been good enough for you. That's how. Now come on, let's go find a Hurricane with your name on it to celebrate the path clearing for you future husband!"

As they walked away Olivia rubbed her hands together. She could feel cold spots where the fortune tellers fingers had gripped her while she was in her trance. Seeing a future that shouldn't be seen.

Well, that was fine. Life was more exciting that way, right?

Right?