Carnivals come about just in time to
distract everyone from their bigger concerns. Stepping into the
flashy games and losing yourself in the cigarettes, popcorn, and the
shouts of carnies vying for your money. Tonight was no different for
Clyde.
Clyde was strongly thinking about
putting his money into the fortune teller machine when a young woman
in colorful scarves stepped out of a shadowed corner, “Don't waste
your money on that broken machine. I'll tell your fortune at the same
price.” She looked into Clyde's eyes with a 'come hither' look. She
eased back into the shadows entreating him with a crooked finger.
Inside the small tent was the gypsy
girl, a low table, and an empty pillow for him to sit on. Clyde sat
down, placed his $5.00 bill on the table. “Now what?” He has
never been to a fortune teller before and had no idea what to expect.
She batted her large eyes at him as she
took his money, “Thank you,” she spoke in a heavy Eastern accent,
Russian or something like that thought Clyde. “You must relax and
let Veronica Yefimova look into your future.”As she said her name
she placed one delicate hand against the tauntingly exposed flesh of
her chest.
“Then, I'm in your hands all the
way,” Clyde smiled. Somewhere he was hoping to see more of her body
escape the scarves, but something told him that wasn't likely to
happen. Still, the bright greens and blues of the scarves against her
cool, creamy skin, her lacquered lips, and smoky eyes all kept his
attention completely on Veronica.
The candles lit the small area nicely.
The shadows they threw danced comfortably about. The candles
flickered and the reflections danced in her eyes as Clyde watched
Veronica produce a deck of tarot cards. “The cards will tell us
your future”
She lay down a card with a picture of a
winged blue human with blue skin and antlers. “The Devil,”
Veronica spoke the title in a foreboding way, one that left Clyde
thinking he heard a hiss somewhere. She pouted as she looked sadly
into Clyde's face. “Your love life is not so very good right now,
my dear.” He sighed and nodded slowly. “You must demand less from
people. But mostly your self.”
The next card she put down showed an
old man in a long dark robe. “The Hermit tells us that you will be
solitary, alone for a time.” Her dark eyes saddened as she spoke.
“I do not enjoy to be telling you sad things, but it is what the
cards have to say for you.”
Clyde shrugged, “Well, let's keep
moving. My luck has to change sooner or later, right?” Somehow he
managed a hopeful look that seemed to be reflected in Veronica's
eyes. She smiled broadly then flipped over a third card which she
placed on top of the other two. It was clearly the grim reaper,
death. The meaning of this card was clear to everyone.
Veronica gasped, Clyde suddenly lifted
his head. Their eyes locked. Reflecting the fear he saw on Veronica's
face he stammered, “What … am I … going … to … ?” He was
too afraid to say the word die.Veronica smiled.
The curtain behind him moved silently
as a hatchet flashed and sank deep into the back of Clyde's skull.
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