No Future

It was an absolutely beautiful and warm late spring day. A Saturday afternoon in 1946 when a group of young women went strolling about town in search of adventure.

They were friends and classmates enjoying a weekend escape from their parents and the responsibilities of high school. Chestnut Street was bustling with the familiar sounds of the city.

One of the girls saw a sign hanging in front of a doorway that said: palms read and fortunes told – one dollar. Her name was Annette and she was quite insistent that they go inside and see what the future holds in store.

Annette was clearly the leader of the group, never afraid to voice her opinion. If there was trouble to be found, she knew exactly where to look.

Linda was a skeptic and didn’t believe in that sort of stuff. “Hocus Pocus”, she exclaimed. Linda was the voice of reason no one really listened to.

Trudy was excited. Most everything excited Trudy cause her home life was quite dull. She was the scared little wallflower, yearning for the prospect of another adventure in the safe company of friends.

Marion, the frugal sort.. watching every penny as usual. “One dollar?! You must think we’re made of money.”

After a minute or two of convincing argument, Annette finally got her way and everyone in the group agreed to check it out. “Come now, what’s the worst that could happen, we may become famous or find out who we’ll fall madly in love with!” That got a rise out of them.

Giggling nervously, they walked through the doorway, the one that would change their lives forever.

Standing in the front room, the girls looked around. It was adorned with velvet curtains and old ornate, wooden furniture. A silver candelabra and a crystal ball, sat regally on a small round table above a richly colored Persian rug in the center of the room.

“I’ll be with all of you in just a moment”, spoke a beautiful voice from another room.

When the Gypsy woman appeared before them, they were rendered speechless by her presence. “What can I do for you ladies today?”

Of course Annette tried to take control of the situation. “We are here to have our fortunes told and we would like…”

“To sit down no? You will need to relax, so sit down and make yourselves comfortable.”

As they took her advice and sat down, a strange feeling overcame them and they all looked at each other momentarily, realizing that they all shared the same feeling. A distinctly hollow feeling of helplessness, but that realization didn’t come till a bit later.

The Gypsy woman took her time with each of them, Annette first. Meticulously consulting all of the mystic oracles in her psychic toolbox. Annette was tickled by what had been revealed.

Linda was dumbfounded. How could this woman know these things? I don’t confide them in anyone. The future looked rather rosy and agreeable as well.

Marion found important pieces of herself she had left behind for the wrong reasons. Extremely thankful, she thought that it was the most well spent dollar she’s ever had.

It was Trudy’s turn and the Gypsy woman took her hands gently and turned them up to view her palms.

The look of calm assuredness gave way to genuine concern and an almost alarmed posture, as the gypsy looked closer at Trudy’s palms.

“What’s wrong?” asked the girls frantically.

The Gypsy remained silent as she threw down card after tarot card, reshuffled them and did it again, twice. Then, she took hold of Trudy’s hands and pulled her closer, looking deeply into her eyes and then peering momentarily at the crystal ball. The Gypsy looked at Trudy once again and a tear welled up in her left eye.

She looked down at the table and put one hand on the side of her head.

“You”, she addressed Trudy. “I cannot take your money, all of you must leave now… we are through.” But why, asked Trudy. The Gypsy woman paused for a moment and replied softly and painfully,

“My dear, I am afraid you have… no future.”

Annette jumped to her feet. “What nonsense, how dare you!

Come girls, pay no attention to her, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” Annette pulled them out of the room and back through that doorway, onto the sidewalk. They walked slowly down the block, recounting what had just taken place.

All of them but Trudy. She walked ahead of them in a silent trance, body trembling, eyes wide open and glazed over.

The girls weren’t paying attention as Trudy stepped off the curb and met her untimely fate.

Stuck down by the Route 23 trolley.