Divination

4 Contee

    I look up from the broken side walk to look at the vintage two-story home with a perfectly manicured lawn and beautiful pillars at the top of concrete stairs. I slowly approach the stairs leading to the front door of this marvelous home, wondering if I should be here. Is it really a good idea to be seeing a psychic? I don't even believe in their powers. What if she wants to talk to spirits? What if an evil spirit attaches itself to me? I quickly start having feelings of regret for thinking this was the answer to my problems. This is what happens when you try to take the easy way out in life instead of figuring it out as you go, I think kicking myself for being so gullible. I knew better than this.

     I just about turn around to leave when a tall man opens the front door as if on cue to my internal debate. He looks right at me as he smiles and politely says, " Good morning, are you here for an appointment with Mrs. Contee?"

     " I am, good morning to you too." Contee? How interesting. Well there was no hiding now, I might as well do what I came here for. However naive it is.

     " If you will just follow me I will show you to the misses work space and she will be with you shortly." He spoke in a courteous professional tone. He must be her employee I realized. I wonder if she also has cleaners that do her house work for her. That would be nice.

     Instead of walking up to the front door of the house as I expected, the gentleman led me to a simple white door surrounded by the concrete foundation of the house. The door led to a room underneath the house that looked like your typical sitting room. The walls painted a soft yellow, gave the room an illusion of brightness despite being partially underground. I suspect without the bright color and the florescent lighting the room would be extremely dark as a result of the lack of windows to let in any natural light. There was also a small tea table with four wooden chairs surrounding it and a vintage blue love seat.

      " Please have a seat wherever you would feel most comfortable." I took a seat on the stiff blue love seat and tried not to feel too anxious. The atmosphere is welcoming enough so I shouldn't feel so weird about this, but something is putting me off about this place. It's most likely just because there is something that puts me off about the whole magic thing.

      I didn't have to entertain myself for very long. It only took only a few moments for the door to reopen and for a tall black woman to emerge. Her long, toned, cappuccino legs were exposed underneath a fit n' flare dress that accentuated her thin waist and defined arms. She wore half of her natural hair pined back out of her face and the rest of the ringlets were free to fall down her neck and the tops of her shoulders. The v shape of the dress's bust put a spotlight on her necklace that resembled a snake carved out of some sort of black stone. Honestly, she is so beautiful and not at all what I was expecting.

      When I hear of a fortune teller I think of an eccentric person dressed like a stereotypical gypsy. Which is very wrong of me. I know I shouldn't assume anything of a person. Especially something about a whole group of people. I reprimand myself and make it a mental note to stop doing this.

     "Hello you must be Miss Asilin. "You came here today to learn of your future? You may call me Caroline. Mrs. Contee's voice was soft and soothing with it's slight southern accent.

     "Yes, I'm Asilin. You're not going to commune with the dead are you?" I ask her with a little unease. I feel a little awkward and look away. I notice a picture of the Virgin Mary framed on the bright, sunny wall. Virgin Mary? Would the sister approve of this? I'm not so sure. It's strange she would have that picture up at all.

       She smiled and gave a small lilting laugh that made her seem to be somewhat pleasant and said, " no, I think today you just want a more simple reading. Am I correct?" Her normalcy made some of the unease fade.