Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Handful of Sand Chapter 1 Page 1

"And now, let us examine your roots..." the wizened old woman said solemnly. She had messy gray hair and was wearing a faded blue robe. "Your parents..."

At the mention of her parents, Sandy lowered her brown eyes sadly to the circular table between them.

On the table, which was covered with a thick cloth of faded purple, was a crystal ball. The old woman was peering into the foggy depths of that crystal ball. Also on the table was a candle that provided light for the interior of the tent they were in.

"I sense that they're not with you anymore..."

Sandy's spirit sank further as she recognized the truth in those words.

"You... knew them... not... You never knew them..."

"Yeah," Sandy admitted, "I never knew my parents."

The teenager had been out to enjoy the very last of her summer holidays on that sunny afternoon. She had gone to that very place, to Anderson Park by the riverbank, next to the bus terminal. There she had found the small brightly colored tent. It was in there that she had met that old woman, a self-proclaimed fortune teller.

So far, Sandy had been told of her past. The old woman had correctly guessed that Sandy had barely managed to pass her middle school finals, something the girl had not wanted to be reminded of. The old woman had also spoke of the stuffed monkey Sandy had years ago, which had one day had disappeared. She had told of Sandy's present small home. And lastly, she had mentioned her parents... especially about their absence.

The fortune teller chanted a little more with her hands hovering around the crystal ball as she looked into it.

"Now let's see what your future holds..."

It was finally getting to the part that Sandy was truly interested in. It had been amazing that the woman could read her past but she had brought up some memories that Sandy would rather not recall. Listening to her past had been painful but what she had really wanted to know was the future and the promises that it held.

Sandy's eyes flicked up expectantly to the older woman.

There was more chanting. Then the old woman looked into Sandy's face and breathed a single word: "Wealth."

Sandy's eyes immediately lit up.

"I sense great wealth for you in the future," the fortune teller told her vaguely, "Go forth, my child, and seek it."

"That's it?" Sandy asked, incredulous. So there was wealth in her future. But a little more information would be nice. Like how much money was involved or how would she receive it.

"Your future is hidden. But it can be uncovered. Perhaps you'll care to purchase one of my fortune cards. I'm sure you'll find the secrets that one can divulge will be fascinating." The woman brought out a small deck of red-backed cards and placed it on the table.

Sandy rubbed her left forefinger with her right thumb twice. She really would like more information about her riches. A small investment would be returned later when she received her wealth. The girl reached into the pocket of her skirt, pulled out her worn-out wallet, took a slip of currency and placed it on the table. "Is this enough?"

"One more will do," the woman gestured with her hand held out.

Sandy searched her wallet but found only a couple of tiny coins. "Sorry, that's all I have."

The old woman watched her. "Do you have anything else to offer?"

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