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Carol Perkins: The Fortune Teller The author still remembers that Halloween while a student at Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, when a Berea friend took her to her first, and last, visit to a palm reader The next earlier Carol Perkins story: Dating By Carol Perkins On this Halloween night, darkness consumed the back regions of Berea, as my college friends (Eastern Kentucky University) and I snaked our way down a dirt road to the house of the local fortune teller. The only person who knew this so-called legendary figure was the driver, who lived in Berea herself. "Everybody goes to her," she assured us as we neared the city limits.My experience with the dark world was limited to a Ouija board, asking the mysterious trivet when I was going to get married or who my future husband was going to be. I knew, but I wanted to see if "it" knew.< Common sense told me that Halloween night was not the time to be traveling to the home of a so-called psychic. I didn't believe in witchcraft, and never thought I would succumb to laying my palm out for someone to read. Out the window went common sense and stupidity replaced it. We drove down a crooked two-lane highway We left just after dark, and as we drove the two-lane crooked highway to Berea, I realized that no one had any idea where we were, so if we disappeared who would know where to look? We could vanish without a trace. I was terribly uneasy as we turned off the main road onto a gravel one and from there, to a road that was nothing more than muddy crevices and ruts from long days of rain. The driver obviously knew the territory, but what else she knew, I hadn't a clue. Wedged into the backseat between two others, I rode between skittish and frantic. Skittish of what was ahead and frantic that I would hear some bad news. Even though I didn't believe in fortune tellers, I am the type who cannot dismiss negatives easily. Don't plant a seed in my brain and expect me not to water it. We parked under an overgrown tree a short distance from the house. The driver got out first and told us to wait. I watched her ease toward a shack. From what I could see from the yellow light screwed in on the porch ceiling, the house was in need of paint. Flat rocks led the way to the door and squished in the mud with each step she made. The woman holding a broom turned out to be the reader's daughter As we all peered out the car window to see what would happen next, a young woman holding a broom led her inside. At first I assumed she was the fortune teller, but later I would learn she was the daughter. We might have been better off had we gone to the Halloween party at the student center, I kept thinking while she was gone. In a few minutes, she returned and gave us directions."We have to go inside one at a time. You lay your five dollars on the table. We aren't supposed to talk about what she tells us." The first might happen, but not the last. I had two choices: go inside or stay in the car. If I stayed in the car, I would likely regret not experiencing the moment. If I went inside, I might regret experiencing the moment. When my turn came, I climbed out of the backseat and made the long journey to the door. "Come on in," I heard from another room. The daughter continued sweeping without looking at me. There were basically four rooms from what I could tell, and a wood store sat in the middle of the bedroom where the fortune teller was leaning over a card table, waiting for the next customer. "Cards or palm?" she asked, barely looking at me. She was dressed in the garb of a beggar woman. She wore a scarf tied in the back, showing no hair. A long flannel shirt covered another shirt and a long skirt underneath. The lamp light was dim. "Before we start, I want you to know that I don't want to hear anything bad. No hint of bad or a look of bad." I had to establish boundaries before I sat. I was surprised at her response. "Honey, I don't tell any bad things." She sure wasn't what I expected. Author chose 'palm' "Palm" I said as I handed her my hand and sat in a straight-back chair. As she spoke, I reasoned how she knew this or how she knew that. Although most of what she said was generic, she did hit on a few things that would cause any young girl a pause, such as that I was going to have seven children. True to her word, she told me nothing bad. After our "session," I returned to the car so the final person could have her turn. Later, I wondered what I would have done if, for a joke, they had left me there for a few hours. It pays to trust those who lead you astray. Once back to the dorm, we spent hours telling each other what she had said. For the most part, we could have told each others' fortunes and saved money. I never pass a sign along the highway advertising "Palm Reader" that I don't think about one Halloween night many years ago when I shared my palm with a stranger. I would never do that again. About the author: Carol (Sullivan) Perkins is a lifelong resident of Edmonton, KY, in Metcalfe County where she taught high school English at Metcalfe County High School until her recent retirement. She is a now a freelance writer. is married to Guy Perkins and they have two children: Carla Green (Mark) of Brentwood, TN and Jon Perkins (Beth) of Austin, TX and six grandchildren. Her latest book, Let's Talk About, is a collection of over 70 of her works, and she is presently working on the second book in this series. Carol's ties to Adair County go back to Breeding where her grandfather, Rufus Reece, and her grandmother Bettie Strange, began their married life and later moved to Metcalfe County. You may contact Carol at cperkins@scrtc.com or write at P.O. Box 134 Edmonton. If you would like a copy of her book, you can order through email. Watch for her next story next Sunday. IF YOU'VE ENJOYED READING CAROL PERKINS' STORIES on ColumbiaMagazine.com, you'll love her book, "Let's Talk About It. . . ." The books are $15 plus $4 for shipping. Send check or cash or money order to Carol Perkins, P.O. Box 134, Edmonton, KY 42129 They can be bought at the Herald Office in Edmonton, KY, or Terri's Fine Jewelry in Glasgow, KY. This story was posted on 2009-11-01 10:03:38
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Carol Perkins:
Carol Perkins: Dating Carol Perkins: The Bird Carol Perkins: The Bullfight Carol Perkins: Right Now in a Minute Carol Perkins: The Harvest Carol Perkins: Worry Wart Carol Perkins: What Page? Carol Perkins: Ma and Pa Kettle Carol Perkins: Shall we gather at the river Carol Perkins: Back to school is such grand time View even more articles in topic Carol Perkins |
 
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