I knew I should have known better. But I was
determined to get my money’s worth. “Well, I have
only the fifty for the reading. What about my career?
I’m an artist. Is my boyfriend going to help me with
my career? He has a lot of connections.”
She gave me an annoyed look. “Just keep painting, or
whatever it is you do.”
Abruptly, she got up and went to the cardboard box.
She took the lid off, reached in and pulled out a small
blue velvet pouch. “I’m going to give you something
to help you. It’s something I wouldn’t give to just
anyone. It will bring you good luck. It is a medallion
to wear around your neck.”
She took a necklace out of the box and held it up so I
could see it. The medallion was large and irregular in
shape. It looked cheap. Fake gold, most likely, and
not worth more than a few dollars. The inscription on
it was in some ancient language, probably Arabic. The
chain, made of the same cheap gold, was much too
long for it. It would probably hang down below my
waist.
“Here, take it. Put it on.” She dangled it before me.
Then she looked away as if she hated to part with it.
“Oh, I couldn’t take this,” I said. “It looks too
expensive. I can’t afford to buy it from you either.”
“Please. I want you to have it. For your safety. There
is a terrible plot against you." She held the medallion
close to my face. "But if you wear it,” she continued,
“you will have nothing but good luck from now on.”
She pressed the medallion into my hand. “Tomorrow
night is the blue moon. If you put this on now, your
good luck will begin with the blue moon. Take it. It’s
your only chance. Since you don’t have the money for
me to pray to the church in the mountains, take it.
For free. I am only trying to help you.”
She was just trying to get me to pay her more money
for the reading. She didn’t believe in this medallion
anymore than I did. She was a fake, even if she did
seem to pick up on Marty and on my father. But what
the hell? It was part of the deal and she was so
insistent. I put on the necklace. Then I paid her the
fifty bucks and got out of there. She wasn’t going to
get any more out of me, if I could help it.
A Blue Moon, is available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
Vanessa A. Ryan is a writer and actor in Southern California
Follow Vanessa A. Ryan at:
https://twitter.com/vryan333
http://vanessaryanwriter.blogspot.com
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http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2543030/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
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