His face turned red and he wouldn’t look at me.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I just never expected it. How do you know what to write anyway? Do you like study the stars or something?”
“My grandmother was seer,” he said, “and a palmist too, and her predictions were always right.”
“But how do you know what to write, predict?”
“Well, I sort of copy other horoscopes from around the same time. You know, so they’ll sound the same.”
“Do you do that for all twelve signs?” I said, trying not to smile.
“I kind of mix them up. I put them on index cards and turn them face down. Then I move them around, pick one and that’s the current month.”
“Parker, that’s not ethical, and it can’t predict anything, right?”
“I guess not, but no one ever complains.” He looked at me and suppressed a smile. Then he became serious again. “I’m afraid there’s something else.”
“You might as well tell me.”
“I’m really sorry,” he said. “I know you spent money on them, the Ghost Hunter binoculars you gave me.”
“Good thing you mentioned it. I wanted to—”
“They’re gone. I lost them.” He grasped for the right words. “No, not lost. I never lose anything. I know I put them in a safe place, but they—disappeared.” He shrugged and smiled at me. “I’ll keep looking. They might come in handy sometime. I know they’re somewhere.”
“That’s all right,” I said. “They’ll turn up eventually, I’m sure of it.”
“You’re right,” he said, cheerily. “I feel better now. You know how it is, things sort of happen when you’re around.”
I gulped, then I looked back at him and we started laughing.
My laughter was for a different reason, and with a lot of stress behind it, but it had been a long time since I really laughed. I had almost forgotten what it was like to be normal.
“How about coffee sometime?” I suggested. “We could go for a walk on The Strand.”
“That would be great!” Parker’s face lit up. “Maybe yoga too.”
“Yoga? No, I don’t think so,” I said. “How about karate? I’ve been thinking I should sign up. Hattori-san says it’s a good idea. I know how . . . effective it can be.”
We agreed to do all three, starting with a walk and coffee.
No way was I going back to yoga until they changed instructors. But karate was a different matter. Since Parker was already a student it would be fun watching him, either before or after my beginning class.
I did not take his horoscope dabbling too seriously, but who could say? Maybe he had the ability to—No. I’d rather he did not have any ability to foresee the future. Not now. Not ever.
About the Author
M. L. Roberts is the author of The Wind From The Wall fantasy series and numerous short stories. She lives in Southern California where she enjoys outdoor activities, sunny weather, and a good cup of fresh coffee.
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