by Simon Rose
JULIA’S MIND WAS racing so she merely made general conversation with her mother in the car, during what was a mercifully short journey to school. On the way, she received a couple of text messages on her phone, one from someone called Miranda and the other one from Chelsey, who once again Julia instantly seemed to know. A quick check of the names in the phone’s address book confirmed that she knew these two people, along with lots of other girls and boys whose names she didn’t recognize. Suddenly, Julia snapped back to reality. To her dismay, she was beginning to forget who she really was. She quickly checked the rest of the contacts in the phone but there was no sign of Max, and she was even struggling to recall his face. Was he even alive in this reality?
Julia was startled when her mother stopped the car at the side of the road.
“Okay,” said her mother. “Here you are. See you at the usual time this afternoon?”
“What?” Julia replied. “Oh, yeah, okay.”
Julia was relieved to see that they’d arrived at the school she knew from what she considered to be her real life. She said a quick goodbye to her mother as she exited the car and then hurried up the steps that led inside the building. Contrary to what she’d told her mother, Julia didn’t head for the cafeteria but instead went to sit alone in the common area opposite the entrance to the school’s main office, where she examined her phone in more detail.
None of the music stored in the phone matched her tastes, or at least what she remembered about that. The phone also contained hundreds of pictures, and it appeared that she was one of the most popular girls in school, a considerable difference to her real life where she was a complete loner. As she scrolled through the images, vivid recollections of the occasions where the pictures had been taken, as well as the people featured in them, flooded into her mind. She’d apparently known some of the girls since she was very young so there were lots of memories. Julia also found herself recalling her parents, her presumed stepfather having being part of her life for as long as this different version of her could remember. She smiled at these memories. Then she shook her head. She had to focus on Max and desperately think of a way that she could get back to him, wherever he was.
More students had filtered into the main entrance while she’d been sitting at the table in the common area, and she quickly checked the time. It was already 8.45 and she knew that she’d have to be heading to her first class soon.
“Julia!”
She turned to see Miranda and Chelsey walking toward her.
“Were you here early?” asked Miranda.
“Yeah, why weren’t you on the bus today?” Chelsey added.
“Oh yeah,” Julia replied. “My mom dropped me off this morning. She had an appointment near here.”
“Come on,” said Miranda. “We’re going to be late.”
As Julia stood up and began walking along the hallway with her friends, she forgot all about Max.
Chapter Seventeen
In the Cards
ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, Julia accompanied Miranda and Chelsey to the Fall Fair that was taking place at the waterfront shopping area. It was the first year that the event had been held, and a wide variety of stalls and tents offering something for just about everyone had been set up within the main shopping area and elsewhere along the waterfront. They’d been wandering around the event for a couple of hours when Miranda spotted a small inconspicuous tent tucked away from the others. The small sign displayed outside the entrance flap read Tarot Readings by Deanna.
“Hey, we should go in there,” said Miranda.
“Tarot readings?” Julia asked, rolling her eyes.
“Like a fortune teller?” added Chelsey.
“Yeah, we can learn all about the future,” said Miranda, grinning. “Come on, it’ll be fun. What’s the matter, are you both scared?”
“No, not all,” said Chelsey. “It’s not real, anyway.”
“Julia?” Miranda asked.
“Sure,” replied Julia, with a shrug. “Why not?”
Miranda opened the flap at the tent’s entrance and the others followed her inside. The interior was illuminated by a number of antique brass lamps suspended on hooks from the support poles of the tent. In the centre was a table covered with a navy-blue cloth decorated with small golden stars. Four chairs faced the table and there was a single chair on the opposite side. On one edge of the table sat a small brown wooden box, the lid of which was decorated with a colourful mandala, along with a glass jar containing a collection of coins and dollar bills. There was also a small wicker basket that held some business cards that read Deanna Hastings, Psychic Medium and an email address. The tent appeared to be empty but then they heard a voice from behind a black curtain that hung across the width of the tent at the far end.
“I’ll be right there.”
A woman then stepped out holding a cup and saucer made from fine china.
“Hello,” she said. “I was just making some tea. What can I do for you ladies?”
The woman was around forty years old, with brown shoulder-length hair and deep brown eyes. Julia felt slightly uncomfortable as Deanna regarded her very curiously with an intense gaze.
“We saw the sign,” said Miranda. “We’d like a reading, please.”
“And you don’t mind all being together when we do the readings?” Deanna asked.
“No, we’re fine, thank you,” Chelsey replied.
“Yeah,” Julia added. “It’s fine.”
“Okay then,” said Deanna. “Please take a seat. That’ll be ten dollars each, in the jar, please.”
The girls placed their money into the glass jar and sat down at the table. Deanna smiled before sitting down opposite them, placing her cup and saucer on the table beside the wooden box. Julia picked up one of the business cards from the wicker basket. Deanna’s name seemed familiar, but Julia wasn’t sure why.
“So, you’re a psychic?” she asked. “Does that mean you talk to ghosts?”
Deanna smiled.
“I’m a medium, if that’s what you mean, but I don’t do that kind of work here, only at home. You’d need to make an appointment. I’m only doing readings with tarot cards at this event.”
She again looked at Julia very curiously, before lifting the box’s lid and taking out a rectangular object that was wrapped in a dark red cloth.
“Have any of you done this before?” Deanna asked.
The girls all shook their heads, as Deanna unwrapped the cloth to reveal her pack of cards. The blue and green pattern on the back of the cards resembled the mandala design on the lid of the wooden box.
“Okay, well, I’ll just explain it very briefly,” Deanna began. “Tarot cards are used to interpret people’s lives, including the future, but that’s not all that the cards are used for. They can assess someone’s personal life, career, relationships, help with making important decisions, or provide people with comfort during stressful periods in their life. The cards that show up each time during readings will all have different meanings, depending on the person for whom the reading is being done.”
Deanna took a sip from her tea.
“So, who’d like to be first?” she asked.
“I don’t mind,” said Chelsey.
“Do you have any specific questions that you’d like answered?” asked Deanna.
Chelsey shook her head.
“I don’t think so. Just a little about the future, I guess.”
“Okay,” said Deanna, before turning to Julia and Miranda. “I must ask you to remain quiet while I do the reading for your friend.”
Julia and Miranda both nodded. Deanna then handed the cards to Chelsey.
“Please shuffle the cards. Then cut them into three separate piles, put them back in the pack, and then shuffle them again,” said Deanna.
Chelsey did as she was requested and handed the cards back to Deanna. She closed her eyes as she held the cards tightly in her hands. Then she opened her eyes and began to lay the cards out on the table.
/> “There are a number of spreads that I can do,” said Deanna, “but the ten-card spread is a relatively simple one that’s good for a general reading.”
She turned over the cards in sequence and arranged them in a pattern, explaining to Chelsey what each position in the layout meant, such as her present situation, factors that were influencing her, and likely outcomes in the future. Deanna also talked about what each card symbolized and what it meant in relation to its location in the spread.
“Now this one is the Wheel of Fortune,” she said. “In this position, it indicates progress in whatever it is you’re going to be doing in the near future. And the Ace of Cups here represents your inner emotions. This card signifies that you’re generally happy with your life.”
Chelsey sometimes asked questions during the reading as Julia and Miranda listened intently to what Deanna was saying.
“Does any of this mean anything to you?” asked Deanna, as she finished the reading.
“Nothing specific,” Chelsey replied. “I just wondered about school and stuff like that, really.”
Deanna smiled.
“Well, it looks as if it will all be okay, as long as you work hard. I see nothing here to be concerned about. So, who wants to go next?”
“Me please,” Miranda replied.
“Okay,” said Deanna, as she slipped Chelsey’s cards back into the pack. “Is there anything in particular that you’d like to know about?”
“Not really,” Miranda replied. “Just a general reading like Chelsey’s, please.”
Deanna repeated the procedure, handing the pack of cards to Miranda and asking her to shuffle and cut them. Deanna then completed the same style of spread, which this time featured entirely different cards. She once again outlined what the various positions in the spread indicated and how each card could be interpreted, as the three girls listened.
“The Sun card placed here is linked to the recent past and signifies success and accomplishments, as well as happy relationships. The Six of Pentacles relates to financial matters but in this position, it also implies kindness, generosity, and helping others.”
Miranda had a few more questions than Chelsey about how the spread related to her personal situation, but the cards were again mostly favourable.
“So, it looks like all will be well with you too,” said Deanna, as Miranda’s reading came to a close.
Deanna cleared away the cards and returned them to the pack. She then frowned slightly as she glanced over at Julia.
“You seem very familiar,” she said. “Have we met before?”
“No,” Julia replied. “I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure?” Deanna pressed her. “Have you been to my home, perhaps with one of your parents or someone else when you were younger?”
“No,” said Julia, a little perplexed.
Deanna handed the pack of cards to Julia.
“Shuffle and cut them please, like your friends did,” she instructed.
Julia shuffled the cards, separated them into three piles, replaced the pack, and shuffled the cards again. Deanna then picked up the pack, held it tightly, and closed her eyes liked she’d done before. Yet this this time she abruptly opened her eyes and stared at Julia in alarm.
“What,” she gasped. “What is this?”
“Are you okay?” said Julia.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” Deanna replied, shaking her head. “In fact, you’re not supposed to be anywhere at all.”
“Excuse me?” said Miranda.
“What are you talking about?” Julia asked.
“I’m sorry, I can’t do this,” said Deanna, pushing her chair away from the table and standing up. “You need to leave, all of you.”
“Hey,” said Chelsea. “We paid for this.”
“You need to leave, all of you,” Deanna repeated. “Right now. I’m sorry.”
“Okay, okay,” said Julia. “We’re leaving.”
They stood up from their seats and hurried outside. Over her shoulder, Julia saw Deanna reach out and remove her sign from where it was hanging on the outside of the tent beside the door flap.
“WHAT THE HECK was that all about?” said Chelsey, once they’d reached the main shopping area and were well away from the tent.
“Yeah,” Miranda added. “What was her problem?”
A multitude of random images suddenly flashed across Julia’s mind, most of which she didn’t recognize. She was disoriented for a second and almost fell, steadying herself on the door handle of a nearby shop.
“Julia?” said Miranda.
“You okay?” Chelsey asked.
“What?” said Julia. “Yes, sorry, still thinking about that woman.”
“Come on,” Miranda added. “Let’s get a coffee or something, maybe at that place by the entrance.”
Julia’s mind was racing. Why had she experienced all those disconnected images? Was it something to do with what the tarot card reader had said in her outburst? Julia still felt unsteady on her feet and tried to conceal her trembling hands from her friends.
“You two go ahead,” she said, recovering her composure a little. “I need to go back and talk to her.”
“What for?” said Chelsea.
“Yeah,” Miranda added. “She was pretty rude.”
“I’ll tell her that, believe me,” said Julia. “And I want my money back.”
Miranda shrugged.
“Okay, if you really want to.”
“See you over there,” said Chelsey.
AFTER HER FRIENDS had left, Julia took a deep breath, turned, and headed back to the tent. As she entered, Deanna was seated at the table with her head in her hands.
“I’m sorry, I’m closed,” she said and then looked up. “You again.”
“What did you mean, I’m not supposed to be here,” said Julia. “What were you talking about?”
“I told you and your friends to leave,” Deanna replied, firmly.
“But I need to know,” Julia insisted. “What did you see?”
As their eyes met, Deanna looked alarmed again.
“It’s insane,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re not supposed to be here. You’re not even real.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re different people, inside your head. I can’t explain it. And who is Max? Do you know someone called Max?”
“No,” Julia replied, in confusion. “I don’t know anyone with that name.”
“It’s in your mind, very powerful, very insistent, and there’s so much more too. I’m sorry, you have to go.”
“But . . .”
“Go!” Deanna snapped, standing up from her chair and pointing toward the exit. “Get out, before I call security.”
ONCE SHE WAS back outside, Julia ran and caught up with Miranda and Chelsey.
“Everything okay?” Miranda asked.
“Yes,” replied Julia, although she’d been very disturbed by what Deanna had said to her. “Yes, it’s fine.”
“Did you get your money back?” Chelsea asked.
“What?” said Julia.
She’d forgotten all about the fee that she’d paid to Deanna but didn’t want her friends to know that.
“Oh, yeah, I did,” she said. “Come on, I’ll get the drinks.”
Chapter Eighteen
Seeds of Doubt
IT WAS JUST after five o’clock when Julia stepped off the bus at the stop after saying goodbye to Miranda and Chelsey. She was still very unnerved by what had happened at the waterfront and still had no idea why the perplexing images had invaded her thoughts without warning. She reached into her pocket and pulled out Deanna’s business card. There was only an email address and Julia wasn’t even sure if she’d be able to connect with Deanna. She’d been very upset during their brief exchange in the tent and at times had even appeared to be frightened of Julia. There was no guarantee that Deanna would ever consent to meet and explain her statement that Julia wasn’t supposed to be ther
e and wasn’t even real, as bizarre as that sounded
Julia tried to put the incident out of her mind as she hurried along the familiar street lined with modern homes and perfectly manicured lawns. Her family had been in this neighbourhood since she was very small, and she couldn’t remember living anywhere else. As she approached the house, her dad’s car was missing since he was still away on his business trip but her mother’s vehicle was parked on the driveway. Julia walked up the path to the front door and was startled when the neighbour’s black cat emerged from the shrubs under the mailbox before darting across the front lawn.
When she stepped inside, Julia saw her mother sitting on the couch drinking a cup of coffee.
“Hi, Julia,” she said, placing the cup on a coaster on the table. “I wasn’t sure what time you’d be home. Come and sit down. I’d like to talk to you.”
“What is it?” said Julia as she joined her mother on the couch. “Is something wrong?”
“No,” her mother replied, smiling. “I just thought this might be a good time to chat about your real father, that is if you’re okay with that? I know it was a bit of a surprise to say the least when I told you last weekend. I don’t know why but I was thinking about him, the first time in years.”
Julia nodded.
“I’m fine with it, Mom, honestly. My dad’s been around for as long as I can remember and this doesn’t change anything. I’d like to know more, if you’d like to tell me. Like I said, it doesn’t change anything.”
Her mother smiled.
“I thought it was time to tell you more about him,” her mother began. “We weren’t together long and he died before you were born.”
“What was his name?” Julia asked. “You didn’t tell me that last time.”
“Andreas,” her mother replied. “Andreas Kane.”
Julia shivered. How did she know that name? It sounded so familiar.
“What was he like?” she asked, although for some strange reason she felt as if she already knew the answer.