Taurus: A Hearse of a Different Color

by Sèphera Girón

  Maggie was with a client in her part of the stall and Dorothy was seated at her table with one of her smaller crystal balls in front of her. The circular table had a colorful designed tablecloth on it with a patch that was a big circle that fit the circumference of the table along with black velvet so as to reflect the images in the crystal ball back onto itself.

  Dorothy was looking into the crystal ball for fun when she felt a shift in the air. She looked up, expecting to see Oscar. However, it was Aloysius from the funeral parlor.

  “Why, hello, charming lady,” Aloysius said. He offered his hand in a greeting as he bowed slightly and nodded his head.

  Dorothy accepted his hand and he quickly brought hers to his mouth. He pressed his lips lightly on it and then winked slyly at her. A rolling wave of energy rolled up her arm. He dropped her hand as if it was on fire and stood at rapt attention.

  “Good afternoon. A glorious afternoon. I was hoping to see you again,” he said.

  “I’m happy to see you again,” Dorothy said, reaching for a crystal to steady the energy that was rolling around inside of her after his touch. She plucked a round obsidian sphere from her table and rolled it between her fingers.

  “Do you have time... ?” he asked.

  “Yes, I certainly do.”

  “Oh, good. I think I’m having an issue... ah, my poor feet,... do you mind if I sit for a minute?”

  Dorothy indicated the chair.

  “Of course. Please sit down.”

  Alloysius sat down across from Dorothy. He pulled out his wallet and peeled off several twenties and slipped them to her.

  “That’s for the chair,” he said, “plus you’re going to give me some advice.”

  Dorothy laughed.

  “That’s what I’m here for,” she said. “Tell me what’s on your mind and I’ll see what the ball has to say.”

  “I don’t know if you can use a ball for this but, well, I just am hoping for some information. I’m new to town and there are still some things I don’t quite understand about this place... if you could help me.”

  “I’ll do my best,” she said.

  From the moment he walked in, she had felt a ripple, a vibration as if a curtain was fluttering towards her the closer he came. Now that he was sitting across from her at the table the fluttering was intense.

  “You’re really nervous,” Dorothy said. “You need to take a deep breath and calm down.”

  Although Aloysius looked anything but nervous, he licked his lips and nodded. He cast his gaze down. His large brown eyes looked across the blackness of the velvet tablecloth and then settled on the crystal ball in front of them.

  “I’ve been an undertaker for most of my life really. I’ve always been around cadavers and such. Even when I worked at the vet’s part time as a kid I was always around dead things, right?”

  “If you say. I’m beginning to see where you’re coming from. So, what’s wrong?”

  “Well... I know about ghosts and how Hermana’s a magic place and so on and so forth. I’ve read some of the history of how this town was founded, on the magic, with the sisters. There are things I’ve seen in this town that I’ve never seen anywhere else. I’ve had some amazing experiences, some very unique and wonderous... and... well, those are not what I want to address at this point. There’s something not quite so pleasant here perhaps. I’m just not sure what I’m dealing with.”

  “Go on,” Dorothy said.

  “I think that sometimes the souls slip out,” he said firmly. His jaw was set, making his face very angular. The shadows cut across his features, accenting them. Dorothy saw him as shards of glass, a stain glass window fastened together with segments of lifetimes lived and lifetimes still to happen. The vision faded and he was flesh and bone once more.

  “What do you mean ‘slip out’?” she asked. She stared at a spot just beyond him, the side of the stall was bare, and a picture unfolded as he spoke.

  “Maybe I should frame it as such,” Aloysius said. “I always thought, such thought formed from reading widely on the subject, that sometimes when a place is haunted, a certain set of events can occur. For instance, there is the idea that whoever or whatever may be being haunted, the ghost goes where they go. Such as someone haunting someone’s Aunt Mary. The ghost is transient with whoever or whatever it clings to, so theoretically, the ghost would follow Aunt Mary until it stops for some reason or until Aunt Mary herself becomes a ghost. However, I surmise that if the ghost is haunting the actual house it can never actually leave the house. If the ghost is haunting, like maybe a locket, bracelet, doll, you get it, then the ghost follows that item. How do they decide what kind of ghosts they’re going to be?”

  “Interesting thought. I’ve never really figured out or actually thought about if ghosts decide what kind of ghosts they want to be. You’re right that there are so many different types of hauntings. Who is the ultimate decider?”

  “See? I’ve read and read and I’ve yet to find an answer. I guess because once people die and become ghosts, they don’t think to come back and write a book for us to tell us. Or maybe they have but it’s lost among all the other books of speculation.”

  “My work tends to not revolve so much about ghosts and hauntings though it seems to be a theme this month!” Dorothy said. “Usually I help people with life questions or discuss their spiritual path. Yet, you are yet another person coming to me about ghosts and hauntings.”

  “I’m just curious about if you believe that ghosts can just go and do what they want? Without rules or any logic that us mortals have gleaned?”

  “I’m not sure there are ‘rules’ as you say. I’ve seen a lot of stuff myself in this town of ours. Just when I think I’ve figured out a rule for a ghost, for instance, something happens and I realize that I was wrong. I think that with us, in our generation, with modern life, we get a lot of information from entertainment. Even though we don’t think we’re absorbing that knowledge and we think that we’re reading other ideas about these phenomenon and perhaps formulating educated ideas about them in the dark of night, when we hear or see crazy things, our mind goes to the easiest place. Which is a scary place we learned from movies and books as opposed to the actual science or magic of these experiences.”

  “Is there science and education about a soul that slips from one corpse to another and then floats down the street, perhaps terrorizes people then comes back and does it all again? What’s that?”

  “Hmmm...”

  “Can I stop that? I’m worried about scaring away my customers.”

  “Are you sure that’s what’s happening? I mean it seems it could be really hard to know.”

  “That’s the best way I can think of to describe it. However, if you want to come by sometime, in the very near future, I would greatly appreciate it. You can check it out for yourself or see what you can pick up, or however it is you do what you do, I’ll gladly pay you well for your troubles...” He looked into her eyes. “And maybe dinner sometime?”

  “Yes, I can come by,” Dorothy said. She noticed the crystal ball was swirling with white images, nothing that took any real form. The swirling was like a mini white tornado. She put her hand on the glass. It was cold.

  “What is that?” Aloysius asked, as he looked into the ball. “What is all that swirling around? Is that a message for me?”

  “You can see that?” Dorothy asked. She smiled as he peered closer.

  “Oh, yes. I can see that. It’s beautiful.”

  “Yes, it is. Do you often read crystal balls?” Dorothy asked.

  “I have no idea how to read a crystal ball. I don’t know what that means, I just see a swirling mist.”

  “That’s reading it. Or rather, scrying. Seeing the images is most of the battle. Deciphering them is also part of it. However, much like other forms of divination, it really doesn’t matter what the images mean to me, it’s more important what they mean to you.”

  Aloysius watched the forms swirl for a moment. Dorothy w
atched his face, wondering if she could see beyond the glass façade from earlier. He was cold, reserved, but didn’t seem like an evil man. Her sense of him changed as she watched him. His eyes wide with wonder, his strong jaw clicking as he studied the images.

  “The only thing that comes to me,” he said, “is ghosts swirling. Much like what I was mentioning earlier. Do you think it’s possible a ghost followed me here and jumped into the ball?”

  Dorothy looked from his face to the ball and back again.

  “Nothing is impossible, I like to think. The longer I live, the more weirdness I’ve seen come to pass. However, I don’t feel like that’s a ghost in my ball. That doesn’t mean I’m right... or wrong.”

  With that, Aloysius stood up and offered his hand. Dorothy took it and once again, he pressed it to his lips and nodded.

  “It’s been a pleasure,” he said.

  “Yes, it was very much so,” Dorothy replied.

  “Please, let me know when you want to come by.”

  “I will,” Dorothy said as she watched him walk away through the crowded market.

  Maggie came out from behind her side of the screen.

  “Who was that? Tall, dark and creepy?”

  “Oh, you’ve not met him yet?” Dorothy asked. “That’s the new undertaker, Aloysius. He bought A Hearse of a Different Color a couple of months ago.

  “What did he want? Love life? He’s kind of creepy looking. I don’t know if anyone would want to go out with him.”

  “Oh, I know he looks like Lurch but he’s actually kind of sweet. I think it’s kind of cool that he came to the market. He’s one of those types, kind of switchable, you know. I guess it’s part of being a salesman for corpses. It’s a difficult place to be. No matter what you look like people are going to talk.”

  “You have that right. What did he want then if you don’t mind spilling the beans?”

  “I think he wants an exorcism.”

  “What?”

  “Well, he didn’t quite say it like that but that’s kind of what I was sensing from him. In looking at the crystal ball it seems other spirits are getting a bit out of control. He was very composed and quiet about it all but the turmoil is certainly there. He does have problems on his hands.”

  “Oh look who’s coming this way!” Maggie pointed. Dorothy followed her finger and sure enough, Oscar Dominion and a couple of his cast mates were making their way through the market, stopping at tables and examining the wares. Dorothy recognized Marla Brown, Candace Walker and Tommy Lockheart. On either side of the actors, there were a couple of very tall gentleman dressed in darker colors. Dorothy turned to look at Maggie.

  “Body guards!”

  Maggie nodded. “Of course. We have some real Hollywood people here now. Of course, he needs bodyguards in the witches market.”

  The two witches cackled as they watched the ensemble work their way towards them.

  “Maybe I should go hide in the back,” Dorothy said.

  “Why? I thought the whole point of us casting a spell for him to come here today was so that you could talk to him.”

  “Yes. I do want to him, however, I scare him so I’m worried that if he sees me here he’ll just keep on walking by. Perhaps if I go hide in the back by your stall then maybe he’ll stop and get a reading from you. I can come out afterwards when you have reassured him that everything is fine.”

  “Ah... I get it.”

  Dorothy went behind the screen and Maggie went and sat by the crystal ball where Dorothy did her readings.

  Soon enough, Oscar and his friends walked by the booth and stopped. Oscar recognized Maggie immediately and took her hand.

  “It’s nice to see you again. I’ve been really enjoying the market.”

  “A pleasure to see you too, Mr. Dominion.”

  “Oh, please don’t call me Mr. Dominion. My goodness gracious that sounds terrible. Call me Oscar.”

  “Alright, Oscar. What can I do for you? Would you like me to give you reading?”

  “I guess I should try it though the idea of it does make me nervous. Let’s see what you have to say.”

  “Oh, my goodness. Here you were laughing at me when I got my cards read back there,” Marla said.

  “We don’t know what these people can see in our lives and maybe there’s some things that are best left unsaid or unknown,” Candace said.

  “Should we leave while you get a reading?” Marla asked.

  “Well, maybe I could use some privacy. I’ll tell you all about it though,” Oscar said.

  “All right. We’ll meet you over down the hall a ways. How long will it take?”

  “It’ll be fast, maybe 10 minutes?” Maggie said.

  Oscar sat down across from Maggie while the rest of his entourage continued on poking around the market and window shopping. Dorothy strained to see Oscar and Maggie through slats in the divider.

  Maggie pulled out her tarot cards and began to shuffle.

  “What do you want to ask the cards?” Maggie asked as Oscar watched her hands.

  “I’ve talked to the cards before,” he admitted. “I’m never sure if I should take them seriously.”

  “The cards always have messages whether you are serious or not,” Maggie said.

  Oscar sighed, still staring at the cards.

  “I guess I’ll ask the obvious question that everyone asks. Will I ever find love?” Oscar said.

  Maggie laughed. “I think you’ve found love. I think you found love all along. Sometimes it lasts, sometimes not. Perhaps you want to ask if you’ll ever have a romantic partner again?”

  “It’s all in the phrasing, is it?”

  “A lot of the time, yes, it is.”

  Maggie shuffled the cards and as she was laying them out, she spoke.

  “I don’t know much about you but I do know you’re in that show that I do actually watch. I love it, by the way,” Maggie said.

  “Thanks.” Oscar said.

  “However, beyond that, I don’t know a lot about your personal life.”

  The cards were all laid out. She looked them over, tapping one or two of them with her fingers. Oscar stared at the cards.

  “Here in the cards, I can see that you are divorced and that wasn’t your first divorce, am I correct?” Maggie asked.

  Dorothy pressed her ear against the partition as she listened for Oscar’s answer.

  I don’t recall that being his second marriage. Interesting.

  “Well... Very long time ago and not much to talk about,” Oscar said.

  Maggie raised her eyebrows.

  “You’re not that old for it to be so long ago but anyways it’s none of my business and let’s continue on.”

  She tapped the cards thoughtfully, scanning the cards again. Dorothy tried to see what the cards were but it was impossible.

  “Well, let’s take this card for example,” Maggie said, turning one of the cards towards Oscar.

  “Oh... the words call it the Tower. And it looks like it’s exploding. That’s probably not too good. As you said...”

  “It’s all in how you look at things. However, it looks like there is some kind of shake up happening around you. Usually it’s reflecting that you’re in the middle of something. By any chance is there something going on in your life beyond filming this show and not being home, with home indicated as where you normally live?

  “There’s something really bothering you. There’s also several people, I think it’s people targeted... I hear things... nagging but beyond nagging... forceful. They’re kind of pressing themselves on you... urgency there’s urgency and fearfulness. However... you shouldn’t be afraid because you’re the leader,” Maggie said.

  “I’m the leader?”

  Oscar sat back in the chair, thinking for a few minutes. After a few moments he spoke.

  “Well, I’m the oldest child in my family. And I’ve kind of made it my mantra to go for leading roles. I’m a forceful personality since I’m a Scorpio. People tend to t
hink we’re mysterious and secretive. But in fact, if people would just listen, they would know everything they need to know and more. You just have to listen between the words. Hear it.”

  Maggie grinned.

  “Oh, you could be a fortune teller as well. What you’ve described is the secret of everything.”

  “Is it? Then what about the cards?”

  “The cards are tools to be sure, the cards can reveal our secret sides. We need to inspect each fold and crevice, each stroke of the brush, each glimmer of color. Intent is importantly, pay attention to the shadows. But, of course, Scorpios know all about the shadow side,” Maggie stared intently at him.

  “I’m not coming here, to Hermana, to find anything. I’m just here to do my job. I can’t help it if trouble follows me wherever I go,” Oscar said.

  Maggie shuffled and flipped more cards.

  “Trouble follows you. Has it always been that way?”

  Oscar tightened his lips.

  “I’m scared,” he said and he stared at Maggie.

  Maggie could see exactly what Dorothy found so desirable about him and his gaze. Maggie wanted to leap across the table at him and scoop him up in her arms. She wanted to roll around in bed with him, feeling their naked flesh sliding against each other. She wanted to kiss his thick beautiful lips and touch his tongue with her own. But instead, she looked away from his gaze as she felt as though she could look into those deep pools forever.

  “Well... There was a time...” She started to say. She noticed the crystal ball was swirling with black shadows.

  Just then several knickknacks, crystals and vases flew off the wall and crashed onto the floor. Both Maggie and Oscar jumped up as they dodged another vase flying right at them. They ducked as it smashed against the blind where Dorothy hid.

  “Oh... no... I gotta go,” Oscar said. “I’m so sorry... here.”

  He pressed a few bills into Maggie’s hand and gathered up his coat and bags. The men in suits who had been standing guard just outside the booth followed him as they hurried through the crowd.

  Maggie stared down at the smashed items. What a shame to lose a fun little statue of witches in traditional Halloween gear.

  Dorothy came out from behind the blind.