I LIFTED IT OUT, and my hands trembled a little when I set it down on my bed and opened the lid. I carefully un-wrapped the tissue paper to reveal the black velvet cover. I slipped it out of box and set it down on my nightstand. My heart hammered as I slid the velvet cover off it, and my breath caught in my throat when I looked at the crystal ball again after all those years.
I draped my hands around it and thrilled at the pulsing vibration, almost as if it was alive. The past few days I had been experiencing a sort of dread, and I had an overwhelming feeling that something bad was going to happen. Puri said the crystal ball wasn't for me. If only I could understand what she meant. Why did she give it to me if that was the case?
I dug in the box for the Tarot pack.
I waited until late that night when Mom and Bryony were asleep. I locked my bedroom door and set out thirteen candles in a circle on the floor. Would I see something in the depths of the crystal ball? Did I dare read the Tarots and find out what was in store for us? Would I be able to bear the answer? My whole body was shaking by that time, and I almost dropped the pack. I tried to breathe slower and calm myself.
I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard the knock.
"Mommy, I wet the bed," Bryony cried.
WHEN I GOT home from work the next day, I saw that the UPS driver had left a package just inside the gate, as she often did. I carried it under my arm and set it down on the kitchen counter, and forgot about it while I greeted Bryony and Mom, and enjoyed a cup of tea with them and listened to Bryony's excited chatter.
Mom turned her attention to making dinner, and I bathed Bryony and we ate. I read a bedside story to Bryony and put her to bed.
I remembered the package.
Mom was still cleaning up in the kitchen when I sliced open the tape and lifted the lid.
"Oh God, No!" I screamed and screamed and collapsed onto the floor, and then I threw up and heaved and heaved until I thought I was going to die, and I wished I could.
Mom dropped everything and peered into the box, let out a yelp and ran for the bathroom.