A short story …

for Friday Fictioneers.

 

nnnnnnnnnnnn

 

The market was busy with stalls selling hats, fruit, antiques and more. 

I passed a little tent.

‘Enter’ bellowed a voice.  I entered. 

It was pitch dark.  A candle flickered into life. 

‘Sit’ snapped a wizened old lady.  I sat. 

She held out her palm.  Mesmerised, I handed her a fiver.  She stuffed it down her dress.

She produced a tarot card. 

‘Eight of Swords.  Your vision’s blocked, unable to fulfil your wishes’

What nonsense.  I considered demanding a refund but remembering where my money went I changed my mind!

The candle blew out.  I couldn’t see.  I wanted to leave.  I tripped….ouch!

 

hatsThanks to Rochelle for hosting and to  Jan Wayne Fields for the photo.

Click on Froggie to read what others have come up with!

oo

 

76 thoughts on “A short story …

  1. Christine Goodnough's avatar Christine Goodnough May 13, 2020 / 14:37

    Carny tricks. All part of the “disappearing wallet” act. 😉

  2. rochellewisoff's avatar rochellewisoff May 13, 2020 / 15:39

    Dear Keith,

    That fortune teller certainly saw him coming and I don’t think it was the result of the tarot card. Good one. Love the frog.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings May 13, 2020 / 17:44

      She’s to be avoided that’s for sure! Thanks Rochelle.

  3. neilmacdon's avatar neilmacdon May 13, 2020 / 15:41

    Well that’s one way to make sure your predictions come true

  4. Sadje's avatar Sadje May 13, 2020 / 16:51

    Poor guy! Fell a victim to the con.

      • Sadje's avatar Sadje May 13, 2020 / 19:27

        You’re welcome Keith.

  5. Iain Kelly's avatar Iain Kelly May 13, 2020 / 17:23

    And that’s the last he saw of her!

  6. Doug Jacquier's avatar Doug Jacquier May 13, 2020 / 17:44

    You’re lucky you weren’t tarrotted. 😉

  7. Dale's avatar Dale May 13, 2020 / 18:51

    There’s a sucker born every day!

      • Dale's avatar Dale May 14, 2020 / 13:33

        😉

  8. msjadeli's avatar msjadeli May 13, 2020 / 20:39

    LOL, I’ll have to remember that one the next time I read someone’s fortune.

  9. Anthony North's avatar Anthony North May 13, 2020 / 21:12

    Definitely a genuine one – con artist that is. Nice one.

  10. granonine's avatar granonine May 13, 2020 / 21:19

    Don’t mess around with a fortune teller! Fun read, Keith 🙂

  11. larry trasciatti's avatar larry trasciatti May 13, 2020 / 23:09

    Nice humor. Was she Mme. Ruth with the gold capped tooth.? Did she have any Love Potion Number Nine?

  12. justjoyfulness's avatar justjoyfulness May 14, 2020 / 01:50

    Nicely set up. I hope he didn’t get robbed further.

  13. plaridel's avatar plaridel May 14, 2020 / 04:03

    if anything, he can charge to experience. 🙂

  14. michaelwynnauthor's avatar michaelwynnauthor May 14, 2020 / 12:18

    Yes, some of these people sure can be intimidating. Hope he didn’t hurt himself too much on the way out but the pain should help to reemind him to be more careful in future

  15. Balaka's avatar Balaka May 14, 2020 / 14:24

    True story: One of my friends is a tarot card reader. This year January she read a card for me and said that I would be traveling to no less than 3 continents in the first few months of this year.
    I am sure by now you know how right she was!!!

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings May 14, 2020 / 14:26

      I’m very impressed – both with the prediction and your travels!

  16. Balaka's avatar Balaka May 14, 2020 / 14:25

    I loved the bit where he thinks before asking for a refund. Great story Keith. You are always a pleasure to read.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings May 14, 2020 / 14:28

      I think he was worried she’d ask him to help himself! That’s so kind of you Balaka, thank you so much.

      • Balaka's avatar Balaka May 14, 2020 / 14:29

        Ha ha ha

  17. draliman's avatar draliman May 14, 2020 / 15:03

    Ha, sounds like a fairly typical experience! A clever fortune that says nothing at all 🙂

  18. Tannille's avatar Tannille May 15, 2020 / 05:51

    Haha don’t mess with da tarot. I respect the cards but this fortune teller seems like a hack. Fun story!
    Must admit tarot is a great writing tool and readings can be amusing.

  19. Natasha's avatar Natasha May 15, 2020 / 08:28

    This made me laugh out loud. You are always way too good at these, Keith.

  20. James McEwan's avatar James McEwan May 15, 2020 / 12:01

    He, who lives in darkness will never find the light. a good little story that should become ” Carry on Fortunes”, film.

  21. Russell's avatar Russell May 15, 2020 / 17:43

    Well, he can’t say he wasn’t warned. She told him that his vision was blocked before blowing out the candle!

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings May 18, 2020 / 11:55

      I agree, though I’m not sure he does! Thanks Russell.

  22. Na'ama Yehuda's avatar Na'ama Yehuda May 15, 2020 / 19:44

    LOL! Well, don’t mess with lil’ old ladies in dark tents, is all I can tell ya … 😉

  23. Varad's avatar Varad May 15, 2020 / 20:14

    Can I say ‘it was on the cards?’

    I’ll let myself out, thank you very much.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings May 18, 2020 / 11:51

      You can but I’d rather you didn’t! Cheers Varad.

  24. Alicia Jamtaas's avatar Alicia Jamtaas May 15, 2020 / 21:50

    This story made me smile and cringe at the same time.

  25. pennygadd51's avatar pennygadd51 May 15, 2020 / 22:13

    You made me laugh out loud with this week’s story, Keith! Eight of Swords – your vision’s blocked sounds exactly like the Tarot version of “Error code 401 Page not found” on a computer.

  26. Inside the Mind of Isadora's avatar Inside the Mind of Isadora May 15, 2020 / 23:30

    I’m always fascinated with the people who believe in such things.
    I hope he steers clear of those places in the future.
    Have a wonderful weekend, Keith.
    BE SAFE … !!!
    Isadora 😎

  27. wmqcolby's avatar wmqcolby May 16, 2020 / 02:34

    Hahaha! Yup, I’d say she was accurate. Good story. Five out of five crystal balls.

  28. Pradeep's avatar Pradeep May 16, 2020 / 07:27

    I am always wary of fortune-tellers.

  29. Michael's avatar Michael May 16, 2020 / 12:07

    I guess that his wallet followed the fiver. Ouch

  30. Nobbinmaug's avatar Nobbinmaug May 17, 2020 / 01:58

    It’s all smoke and mirrors and blown out candles. Well played with the froggy picture, too.

  31. Lynn Love's avatar Lynn Love May 17, 2020 / 14:05

    Ha! Now that made me smile. Particularly liked his reticence about the refund!

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