The Psychic

Date: 11/26/2022

I am in a dreamscape of tall, black townhouses with pointy roofs. It is night and the stars are out. My Dad has rearranged the furniture in the great room. There is no TV, no furniture against the walls. A rectangle in the middle made of a stereo on a table by the grand picture window that looks out to the street, two 20's style, brightly coloured French sofas down each side and colourful arm chairs at the back. He is nervous I won't like it but I DO! A room focused on music! And so much white space! There is an big old cabinet in the dining room with psychic drawers. You open one to learn your future. I am sent by the drawer to see the psychic down the street. She is young, maybe 30, and movie star beautiful in a beige linen pant suit. I ask her for her birthday and she gives me a look. She is on her cell phone. "Are you interested in Astrology or Numerology?" I ask. She is non-commital. I wonder how she can read cards with no basis in stars or numbers. She tells me she was born in early March. I look at my reference sheet and find a fortune for the first 15 days of March. "That is That!" I read. She is still on her phone. She tells her room mate to have me step outside when I'm ready to leave, to pay her. I pack my big, leather doctor's bag with all my stuff and meet her at the picnic table. It is still dark and she is still on her phone. I will give her $100, $50 for the cabinet fortune and $50 for her's. It is a lot more than this is worth but I feel generous. I see her papers and notice it says $100. Well fuck it, no tip! I look through my wallet but I realize I have already broken a $20 and don't have 5 left. This is embarrassing! But then I see one bill is a 50 so all good. Back home, I cannot find my Mom. I leave the dog in the car with the windows down. It is not hot. My co-workers are standing by the steps. I am leaving my job. Chris asks angrily: "Where did Raz come from?" Raz is the new hire. I snap back: "We have more important things to go over!" Payroll, scheduling, stats. So much to pass on. But I realize I am being a little harsh. "Mom says he was her drug dealer back in the day," I explain. But I know my mother never did drugs.