Page 38 of Possibly Texas

“Nice to meet you, too. Hello,” I managed.

Mystic Molly seemed to size us both up for a moment, her eyes going back and forth, scanning the two of us, as though she was trying to read our intentions.

“What can I do for you two boys today?” she asked when her eyes landed back on Auggie.

“Oh,” Auggie sighed, “just a general reading, I would think. Jordan’s never had his fortune told before, so I thought it might be a nice way to welcome him to Possibly. He’s new. He’s staying with Jack Burke? Jack’s his stepfather.”

That was my life. All falling out of Auggie’s mouth to some stranger before I could even decide if I wanted Mystic Molly to know it or not. The mystic nodded along, a small smile on her face as she listened to Auggie give her the gossip about the new guy.

“Just the usual for me.” Auggie shrugged. “Nothing new going on in my world.”

“I see,” she said. “What are you trying to learn about yourself today, Jordan?”

The mystic’s eyes were on me, practically boring into my soul, and I suddenly realized how happy I was that I’d already shaken her hand. My palms were sweating profusely. Discreetly, I wiped them on the thighs of my shorts.

“Um, I don’t know…”

“Come on, Jordan,” Auggie said. “It’s so cool. Mystic Molly is one of the best.”

“Now,” Mystic Molly held a hand up, “don’t pressure Jordan, Auggie. One must be ready to receive the spirit before it will speak.”

“Of course.” Auggie nodded, as though any of that made sense.

“If Jordan isn’t ready, he isn’t ready.” Mystic Molly snuck a glance in my direction.

I didn’t confirm or deny whether or not I wanted a reading or to receive the spirit, but my answer was obvious. Mystic Molly didn’t have my permission to give me a reading, so she wasn’t going to give me one. Instead, she focused her attention on Auggie, completely ignoring me as she shifted in her seat to face him directly. Auggie looked a little disappointed that I had chosen not to get involved in Mystic Molly’s services, but he didn’t say so aloud.

“Okay,” Auggie said.

Mystic Molly’s eyes flitted over to me, then she was focusing on Auggie again. She slid her hand, palm up, across the table to him, a welcoming smile blooming on her face. Auggie enthusiastically brought his arm up to the table and laid his hand in hers, palm down. The two of them looked at each other for a moment, as though they had acted out this ritual before. Auggie continued to stare at Mystic Molly as her eyes slowly slid shut. My eyes were laser-focused on the mystic as she sat there concentrating, holding Auggie’s hand.

Again, I’m not a very superstitious person, but things suddenly seemed…heavy…inside Mystic Molly’s tent. Though it provided respite from the hot Texas summer sun, thus it was much cooler inside than expected, the air seemed to be pushing down on us all of the sudden. The smell of the incense—which I still hadn’t laid eyes upon—seemed to get stronger. Mystic Molly’s eyes fluttered under her eyelids uncontrollably and a light breeze seemed to ruffle her hair.

One glance at Auggie and I saw that he was intensely focused on her, waiting for her to say or do whatever she was going to say or do. The air pushed down heavily upon us and the smell of the incense grew, everything seeming to come to a crescendo. Then, Mystic Molly’s hair ruffled in the unfelt breeze a final time and her eyes fluttered open. For a second, she looked dazed, confused about where she was, and then a smile came to her face. She slid her hand from Auggie’s and nodded at him.

“She still thinks about you,” Mystic Molly said. “Every single day, Auggie. Every. Single. Day.”

Auggie’s face lit up and a happy gasp escaped his throat. Before I knew what was going on, Auggie had leapt out of his seat.

“Thanks, Molly!” He cheered.

Then he dashed out of the tent.

I was left sitting across from Mystic Molly, uncomfortable, anxious, and unsure of what to do. So, I rose from my chair jerkily and gave her a smile.

“Um, thanks,” I said and headed for the tent opening.

“Jordan?” Molly’s voice stopped me at the tent flaps.

“Uh, yeah?” I looked over my shoulder nervously.

Mystic Molly gave me a soft smile.

“I’m here whenever you’re ready,” she said before giving me a wink.

“Yeah,” I said. “Okay. Yeah. Thanks.”

Molly nodded and I dashed out of the tent opening, immediately jerking my head back and forth, looking for Auggie. I was just glad to be out of the dim light of the tent, the smell of whatever incense she had burning, the mysterious breeze, and the eerie gaze of the mystic. When my eyes finally landed on Auggie, he was across the street, lying in the grass, staring up at the sky. A huge smile was on his face.