The Fate Weaver – Step Inside, Dear. Yes, I’ll tell you everything, just give me your hand. Granny Mary won’t deceive you, she’ll speak the truth. What’s your name? Tatiana? Tanya, is it? Lovely! Such a small, childlike palm, so soft… The lines are like a storybook. If you have questions, don’t be shy, ask away, or Granny Mary will start reading your palm and you might hear things you weren’t expecting. Want me to tell you everything? Alright! Your love is pure and bright. You’ll marry a good, serious man who’ll treat you kindly. See this line? That’s love… You’ll have a wonderful son who’ll excel in school and university, maybe work in a ministry or abroad, earning well and helping you and your husband. You’ll also have a sweet daughter with an easy life, a family, and grandchildren for you. The children will be just fine… As for work, I see advancement for you, even if you think there’s nowhere to go. You’ll remember Granny Mary and light a candle for her in church… You’ll have plenty of money, see? Don’t understand? There’s nothing to understand… Your health isn’t perfect, but whose is? You’ll meet a doctor soon, not for illness, just in pleasant company, and he’ll advise you well. You’ll live long, longer than me, and I’ve seen war and hunger… But this isn’t about me! Look, these are your interests. You’ll discover something new, maybe in science, maybe elsewhere, bringing you fame and luck. People will come to you for help. It’s all here, in your soft palm… About your parents, I can’t say much. Your mother will write, asking forgiveness—respect her, she didn’t mean to leave you, it was fate. Your father… I don’t see him. But your grandmother is still alive? She’ll dance at your wedding! Not walking? I see her dancing! Maybe the doctor will help? The one you’ll meet! Learned all you wanted? Well, Tanya, I won’t see you out, my legs hurt… Where to put your gift? On the table, under the cloth. Thank you, dear, go on, all will be well! Tell your friends and grandmother what Granny Mary foretold. Maybe someone else will visit me… *** “What are you staring at, whiskered face? Eyes wide… Don’t like my truth? But you like fresh liver and cream, don’t you? You turn your nose up at Whiskas, want pricier fish! Where would Granny Mary get such money? That’s it! Everyone wants to pay for good news, not the truth! What should I have told her? That her fiancé’s a pig? That thugs will attack them at night and he’ll run off? That in a month he’ll be courting her friend because her dad’s a businessman? That Tanya will get pregnant from that assault and her grandmother will die from the shock? Should I have said her son will become a junkie, beat her, and she’ll end up in a psych ward, lose her job, and work as a janitor? That she’ll get cancer at forty-five and not survive surgery? Should I have told her all that? And then she’d thank me with a gift? Honestly, whiskered one, only you and I know her real fate. The one I invented, now Tanya, her friends, and grandmother know. Don’t squint, I know she’ll tell everyone! More than just us two? More! Did Tanya believe me? She did! So maybe things will turn out differently… *** Tanya walked away from Granny Mary, smiling. She felt good, light-hearted. Her foretold fate sounded like a kind fairy tale, but… maybe it will come true? People praised this fortune-teller… In a dark alley, Tanya heard footsteps and laughter behind her. She ran, but they got closer… They would have caught her, but she bumped into a young man with a huge dog. The dog barked, the man pulled out a gas gun: “Back off, scoundrels! Or else…” Tanya could barely catch her breath, but her kind protector smiled: “I’m Vitaly. Shall Jack and I walk you home?” And everything changed. *** “Come in, dear! What’s your name? Olga? Tanya recommended you? I remember her… How is she? Married? Wonderful! Let’s see your palm… So soft and smooth…”

Fates Rewrite

Step right in, love. Yes, yes, Ill spill all the beans, just hand me your palm. Old Maureens not one for fibs, shell give it to you straight. Whats your name, then? Charlotte? Charlie, is it? Splendid!
What a dainty little hand, almost childlike. Soft as a marshmallow And these lines, like a novel waiting to be read. If youve got questions, dont be shy, just ask away. Otherwise, Maureen will start reading your palm and you might hear things you didnt bargain for.
Want the whole lot? Oh, go on then!
Your love lifes as pure as a spring morning. Youll get hitched. Your husband will be a decent chap, proper serious. Hell treat you kindly, you know. See this line here? Thats love, that is
Youll have a son together. Smashing lad. Hell breeze through school, ace university. Its all written here, clear as day. Hell end up in the civil service or maybe working abroad. Hell rake in the pounds and help you and your hubby out.
And a daughter too, a real sweetheart. Shell have an easy life, a lovely family. Shell give you grandkids galore.
So, the kids are sorted, yes
Work Now, darling, I see you moving up. You say theres nowhere to go? Theres always somewhere. You say that now, but youll remember old Maureen, pop into church and light a candle for my health Youll have plenty of money. Look here, see? Dont get it?
Nothing to get, really
Your health well, you know its not tip-top. But whose is these days? Youll see a doctor, and hell know more about fixing you up than I do. Hes a real expert, yes. Youll meet him soon Not because youre ill, just in good company. Hell tell you whats what. Youll live long, longer than me. And Maureens no spring chicken. How old? Nearly eighty Wouldnt guess, would you? Ive seen war and rationing, you know. But enough about me!
Look, these are your interests. Youll discover something new soon, maybe in science, maybe elsewhere. Itll bring you fame and luck. People will come to you for help. All of its here, in your soft little palm.
No, Charlie, not much I can say about your parents. Only this Your mum will write to you, asking forgiveness. Be kind to her, shes old. She never meant to leave you, fate just played its hand. And your dad Cant see him anymore. But your grans still kicking, right? Thats what Im saying, shes alive! Good health to her! Shell be dancing at your wedding! Cant walk? What do you mean, cant walk? I see her dancing! Maybe the doctor can help?
You know, the one youll meet!
Got all you wanted? Well, off you go, Charlie. I wont see you out, my legs are killing me Where should I put your little gift? On the table, under the cloth. Thanks, pet, off you trot, all will be well! Tell your mates what Maureen said, and your gran. Maybe someone else will pop by for a reading
***
What are you staring at, you whiskered rascal? Eyes like saucers Dont like my stories, do you? But youre happy enough with fresh liver and cream, arent you? Turn your nose up at Whiskas, want posh fish, wont touch mackerel! And wheres Maureen supposed to get that kind of cash? Thats the rub! Everyone wants to pay for good news, not the truth!
What was I meant to say? That her fiancés a pig of the highest order? That theyll stroll down a dodgy alley and get jumped by hooligans, and her beloved will leg it? Hell be fine like water off a ducks back! That in a month hell be courting her mate, because her dads loaded? That Charlie will end up pregnant from that mess, and her gran will drop dead from the shock? Was I supposed to say all that?
That the son shell have will take after his dad, get hooked at fourteen, beat his mum, bleed her dry? Shell end up in a psych ward, lose her job. Theyll scrape by on bread and water till she lands a job as a street sweeper. That shell get cancer at forty-five? Was I meant to say that?
And that she wont survive the operation? Was I supposed to tell her that? And then shed give me a present?
Honestly, I reckon, whiskers, her real fate is known only to you and me. The one I spun for her, well, now I know it, and so do Charlie, her mates, and her gran. Dont squint, I know shell tell everyone, just let her get home first! How many? More than just us two? More! Did Charlie believe me? She did! So maybe, just maybe, things will turn out alright
***
Charlie walked away from Maureens, grinning. She felt good, light as a feather. Her foretold future sounded like a fairy tale, but Maybe itll come true? Folks did say Maureen was the best
In a gloomy alley, Charlie heard footsteps and rowdy laughter behind her. She started running. They were gaining Theyd have caught her, if she hadnt bumped into a young man with a massive dog around the corner. The dog barked, the bloke whipped out a pepper spray:
Back off, you lot! Or else
Charlie could barely catch her breath, but her gallant rescuer smiled:
Im William. Shall Jack and I walk you home?
And everything changed.
***
Come in, dear! Whats your name? Emily? Charlie sent you, did she? I remember her
Hows she doing? Had her wedding? Thats grand!Lets have a look at your palm, then Oh, its soft as a cloud, isnt it? Lines all over, like a treasure map. Dont be nervous, love, I wont bite. Now, lets see whats written here Ooh, I spy a bright future, I do! Youll find love, proper love, the sort that makes you want to dance in the kitchen. Your chap will be a good sort, steady as a rock, and hell treat you like gold. Youll have a clever boy, sharp as a tack, and a daughter wholl charm the socks off everyone. Both will do you proud, mark my words.

Work-wise, youll climb the ladder, even if you think youre stuck on the bottom rung now. Lifes full of surprises, pet. Youll have enough money to keep the lights on and a bit extra for a cheeky takeaway. Health? Well, youll have your ups and downs, but nothing a good doctor and a cuppa cant sort. Youll live long enough to see your grandkids make a mess of your garden.

Your mum will reach out, wanting to patch things up. Be gentle with her, shes had her share of hard knocks. Your grans still going strong, and I see her twirling at your wedding, even if its just in spirit. As for your dad, well, some stories fade out quietly.

Youll stumble upon something new soon, maybe a hobby or a bit of research that gets people talking. Folk will come to you for advice, and youll be the wise one in the room. All thats here, in your lovely palm.

Now, off you go, Emily. Pop your gift under the tablecloth, thats the spot. Thanks, darling, and dont forget to tell your friends about old Maureen. Maybe Ill see another bright-eyed visitor before the kettles boiled again.