Friday 6 April 2012

The Fortune Teller



Today's A to Z Blogging Challenge is dedicated to a little piece of Fiction I wrote this morning:






The Fortune Teller

Fiona gazed into the crystal ball, willing it to give her good news. She watched the psychic's hand roam over the globe; the old lady had a feather tattoo on her middle finger, which waved and fluttered with every movement.
“You're a pretty lady,” the psychic observed, “I sense heartache.”
“Yes.” Fiona whispered, her heart racing. She'd just broken up with Frank Fitzgerald that day, after he'd taken that job at McDonald's. She'd been mortified when she heard. I can't go out with someone who works there!
“You will meet someone, very soon. His name starts with J,” she glared at Fiona, cautious, “you may not have chemistry straight away, but persevere. This man will make all your dreams come true.”
“My God, is he rich?” she squeaked, all thoughts of Frank vanished.
The psychic smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes. “Persevere.”
Fiona thanked the woman and left, her heart bursting with optimism. As she approached her beat-up, old car, she began rummaging through her bag for the keys.
“Excuse me, do you have change for the parking meter please?” A tall, gangly man stood in front of her, waving a £5 note. He stank of B.O and his face was scarred with acne.
Repulsed, she replied, “I don't, sorry.”
“Thanks anyway.” he said, folding the note back into his wallet. His drivers licence poked out from one of the slots, and Fiona's eyes clamped on it in shock.
“Your name is... James?”
“Yes. Do we know each other?” His glassy blue eyes slithered over her face, looking for recognition. Her flesh crawled.
Persevere.
“Let me check my car, I may have change in there,” she retrieved coins from her glove compartment, “here,” she giggled, letting her hand linger in his.
“Thanks!” Blushing, he smiled, flashing his decayed, rotten teeth at her.
As he turned to leave, she yelped, “Wait! So... what brings you to the Psychic Centre anyway, are you having a reading?”
“Oh no,” he laughed, “my Aunt is in there. I said I'd pick her up, but I'm an hour early!”
“Perfect,” she gasped. This is fate, “would you like to go for a coffee?”
And so it began. Coffee turned into a whirlwind romance, and they were married within three months. They lived in his mother's converted loft, and he continued to repulse her daily, but she just kept telling herself: Bide your time. It will pay off in the end.
She continued this mantra for the next ten years, distracting herself with visions of a fancy house, a fleet of sports cars and all the jewellery she could ever want.
Three kids and five stone later, she'd resigned herself to the fact the psychic was wrong. Her husband still only worked part-time at the local pharmacy, and she still had the same beat-up old car from when they met.
One day, James burst into the house, in tears, “My poor Auntie Florence has died!”
Fiona feigned sympathy, but she had a good feeling about this. Maybe she was wealthy. “Florence? I don't recognise that name. Have I met this aunt?”
“She's the reason we met,” he sniffed, “she was the Aunt I picked up at the Psychic Centre. She couldn't make the wedding though, she was in Monaco at the time.”
Fiona's heart raced. It was destiny.
It was the first open-casket funeral she'd been too. Aunt Florence was decked out in jewels that sparkled from the entrance to the parlour. As she got closer, Fiona's excitement diminished. The jewellery was fake. It was all plastic, costume jewellery.
Then she noticed the feather.
It lay still now; etched onto the cold, dead finger of the woman who promised her a life of riches, ten years previously.
Back at home, Fiona was half-way through her daily bottle of vodka, when James came off the phone with an announcement to make.
“I've been offered the assistant team manager's job at McDonald's. Apparently the last guy won the lottery yesterday. £83 million he won, the lucky sod! He came from your old area, do you know him? Frank Fitzgerald?”

The End.

I hope you enjoyed that! :)

Today's F music video is dedicated to Fats Domino. I think this is what Frank would sing to Fiona, don't you?











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25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Brilliant!! I love this story.
I've always wanted to go to a fortune teller, I don't think I'd take it as seriously as this lady though!

Anonymous said...

Great fiction Catherine.

Sorry you're struggling to comment on mine. I'm sure we'll work it out soon.
Lynne
@lynneinPborough

Catherine Noble said...

@dirtylittlewhispers.com: Thank you, I'm so glad! :) I've been to a "psychic night" once, and was pretty appalled, to be honest! They were just making everyone cry over their lost loved ones!

@Lynnelives: Thank you :) I know, I wish I knew how to fix the technical issue, as I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts (and suggest everyone reading this hops on to your page right now!) :)

Clare said...

Haha! Great twist at the end. Good flash fiction, thanks for sharing. :)

Anne Mackle said...

I laughed out loud reading this especially,"He continued to repulse her" but she got what she deserved. Funny I have an old post on my blog called Fotune Tellers Never Lie but it's a true story about how I met my husband.

Catherine Noble said...

@Clare: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it :D

@Cassam: I'm glad it gave you a chuckle :) Oooh that sounds like an intriguing story, I must check it out!

Sally said...

I enjoyed that and it brought a smile to my face especially as I've recently finished a project about McDonalds.

http://sallys-scribbles.blogspot.co.uk

jabblog said...

She got all she deserved, the hussy! 'Three kids and five stone later' made me smile. Oh dear, never believe the fortune teller . . .

(Visiting from A-Z blogging challenge)

Kyra Lennon said...

That was awesome! What a cool twist at the end!

Catherine Noble said...

@Sally: Thank you! I worked in McDonalds once: it was dire, but not the worst job I've had by far! I shall peruse your project :)

@jabblog: Haha I'm glad you said that: that's the emotion I was going for! "Take that, you scoundrel!" Good luck with the rest of the A-Z blogging challenge! :)

Catherine Noble said...

@Kyra Lennon: Thanks! I'm so chuffed you liked it!

mooderino said...

Great story, very clever.

cheers,
mood
Moody Writing
@mooderino
The Funnily Enough

Maria said...

I think that is what is called getting your just reward! Thank you, enjoyed reading over a brew of tea.

Anonymous said...

Fats Domino had a lot of good songs. Cheap Trick did a remake. Great tune!

Unknown said...

Great post. I loved the story. Great ending. You just shot that out this morning? That's great!

Michelle :)
www.michelle-pickett.com/blog

Glynis Peters said...

Loved the story! What a twist to the end. Great read, thanks.

Catherine Noble said...

@Mooderino: Thanks!

@Maria: I'm glad to have entertained you on your tea break :D

@Stephen Tremp: I love Fats Domino :)

@Michelle Pickett: Thank you! I did indeed shoot this out this morning; I wish every day was so constructive! :)

@Glynis: Thank you, Glynis, I appreciate your lovely comment :)

sulekkha said...

Catherine, your story is amazing. Loved the ending :)

http://sulekharawat.com/2012/04/06/eccentric/

Donna K. Weaver said...

Serves here right! It think this is a case of poetic justice. Poor James.

Catherine Noble said...

@Sulekkha: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! I loved your post on Eccentricity!

@Donna K. Weaver: Haha it really is! I'm sure there's a lesson in the story somewhere :) I know, James is a wee soul, isn't he?

MOV said...

Hello Catherine,

Great post, I think I just found my new favorite blog. Love the way you write! What a creative and original story. :)

I discovered your site through the A to Z Challenge and am now a follower, but not in a stalker-ish way with binoculars and night vision goggles or anything like that ….

Feel free to take a peek at my blog too if you have time. I write humor, and people tell me I’m funny (maybe it’s just the voices in my head, that’s what the doctor told me this last time when he upped my meds again).

http://mothersofbrothersblog.blogspot.com

best,
MOV

Susan Oloier said...

Great details, Catherine. I love the twist at the end.

michelle said...

A well crafted piece... loved it!
What on earth was Fiona thinking? She only has herself to blame...

Jessica L. Celaya said...

I loved the twist at the end. Excellent. Thanks for posting. It made me smile.

Catherine Noble said...

@MOV: Thank you so much! What a lovely thing to say :) I shall check out your A-Z challenge the noo...

@Susan Oloier: Thank you :) I do appreciate a good twist!

@Michelle: I'm glad you think so :D Indeed, this is what happens to people who only think of themselves!

@Jessica L. Foster: To have made you smile makes ME smile :D

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