Mary Alice could never never turn down a dare, and that's how she ended up in the fortune teller's tent.
Mary Alice and her boyfriend, Del, had begun the evening shooting metal ducks and throwing baseballs into cans at the Mystery-Mysterioso's Traveling Carnival on a warm July evening. The competition was fierce between the two, and Mary Alice's skill at the game started an argument.
"You always have to be better than me at everything," Del groused at Mary Alice as the attendant at the Dart Game handed her a large stuffed monkey.
"You just have to know the tricks of the game," Mary Alice said patiently as she spontaneously gave the monkey to a child who was waiting in line behind them. The child gasped excitedly and ran off to show her friends. "I can show you --"
"I don't want you to show me how to do it!" Del interrupted testily. "It's just frustrating how you always seem to be better than me at everything."
"I'm not better --"
"Yes, you are. You win every game we play together!"
"Del," Mary Alice began softly. "I didn't know you felt this way. Let's get some corn dogs and talk about it."
"I don't want a corn dog, Mary Alice! You know what? I can't do this any more," Del shouted throwing his hands up in the air.
"What does that mean, Del?" Mary Alice asked quietly.
"I don't know Mary Alice!" Del looked around with exasperation. "Why don't you ask the fortune teller over there? Maybe she can tell you."
"Why don't you just say it, Del? Are you breaking up with me over some kids carnival games?" Mary Alice felt strangely detached. She wasn't really upset, and she thought that was probably because she had never really loved Del. He's been fun to go out with, but the relationship had never gotten much more serious than that, for her anyway.
"You know what, Mary Alice? I dare you to go have your fortune told. She'll probably tell you the truth! You are unemotional, competitive woman who will never find true love! I'm out of here," Del turned on his heel and left Mary Alice walking toward the carnival's exit without once looking back.
Mary Alice looked around and noticed a lot of people had been watching her exchange with Del. They looked away and went back to their games and fun. Embarrassed, and a little hurt by the angry words Del had thrown in her face, Mary Alice turned away and went to the nearest food truck and bought a corn dog and a soda.
"Nothing like carnival food to soothe the soul," she thought as she sat down at one of the picnic tables set up near the trucks.
While she sat at the table, her gaze continuously strayed to the fortune teller's tent. It was black and white with tarot cards, palm reading diagrams, and crystal balls painted on it. Flags and scarves decorated the outside bearing symbols Mary Alice had never seen before. A wide white flag declaring Madame Siohban was available for psychic readings flew above the tent's door.
At that moment a small dark haired woman appeared in the opening of the tent. She was dressed in a colorful and flowing dress which looked to be made of different colored scarves layered one on top of another. The scarves shifted and flowed like water as the woman moved.
Mary Alice didn't realize she was staring until the woman met her eyes. She held Mary Alice's gaze for several long seconds and then gestured for her to come to her. The woman disappeared into the tent, leaving it up to Mary Alice to come see her or not.
Sitting at the picnic table, Mary Alice debated fiercely with herself. Fortune tellers were just con artists; they provided false hope and told you only what you wanted to here, so it was a colossal waste of time and money. However, she had mysteriously singled her out, and she felt like her bruised ego could use some hope even if it was false. Besides, Del had dared her to go.
Mind made up, Mary Alice stood up and casually walked over to Madame Siohban's tent where she paused, gathering her courage.
"Come in, my darlink," a heavily accented voice called to her from inside. "Mary Alice come in."
My jaw dropped open. How did she know my name? Mary Alice walked into the tent.
It was dark inside, and strange smell of incense hung in the air. The woman sat at a small table at the back of the tent. There was a crystal ball and a stack of tarot cards on the table along with a small black bag decorated the table. Thick pillar candles lit the tent and created flickering shadows on the walls.
"Sit, darlink, sit," Madame Siohban gestured to a low couch near the table, and as I sat, she moved to sit closer to me, her dress making her look like she was floating. "I'm so happy you came to see me, darlink. That boy you came with was such a -- how do you say? Loser?"
She smiled at Mary Alice and continued, "You, darlink, you deserve so much better. You will take this, and you will find your way," she took Mary Alice's hand in her own and placed a folded piece of paper into her palm Then Madame Siohban wrapped Mary Alice's fingers around the paper.
"This is what you need, darlink Go now, and find your way," She pushed Mary Alice's hand away and stood up to return behind her table.
Mary Alice stared at the woman for a moment.
"No charge!" Madame Siohban shouted in a voice not to be reckoned with. "GO!"
Stumbling out of the tent, Mary Alice ran right into a man who had been walking past the tent. She crashed into him face first, bouncing off his chest, and would have fallen if he hadn't had the reflexes to reach out and catch her.
"Hey, are you all right," the man said in a deep voice. "I'm sorry I bumped into you."
"Oh, I think it was my fault," Mary Alice said. She looked up at the man who was tall with dark hair and brown eyes and thought he was quite attractive.
The man was looking at Mary Alice with the same type of scrutiny, "You wouldn't want to, um, go on the Ferris wheel with me? I know we just met. I'm Ryan, by the way." He reached out to shake my hand, and Mary Alice realized she was still holding the paper Madame Siohban had given her.
She opened my hand and found a folded five dollar bill. Ryan looked at Mary Alice questioningly as she slowly unfolded the bill until it lay face up in her hand. Looking down at Abraham Lincoln's face, Mary Alice thought she saw him wink his eye at her.
She looked up quickly to see if Ryan had seen the same thing she had, but he was looking at her with a sparkle in his eyes. He took Mary Alice's hand, and they wandered off toward the Ferris wheel.
Mary Alice thought she heard Madame Siohban's laughing voice coming from the tent behind them, "Have fun, darlink!"
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