by Carol Deminski
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\nThe town of Seaside Beach was in decay. \u00a0It was once a wholesome family destination with a Ferris wheel and salt water taffy stands. \u00a0Now its worn boardwalk was lined with tattoo parlors and bars where leather-clad bikers and their women danced to loud music and drank beer into the early hours.<\/p>\n
Florence sat re-reading The Witches of Eastwick<\/em> at her cramped bistro table in her booth on the boardwalk. \u00a0On the table she had a deck of oversized tarot cards, a piece of quartz, and an incense burner.<\/p>\n A young man approached the booth. \u00a0His black hair was in a ponytail. \u00a0He had green eyes framed by long lashes. \u00a0He was tall and rail thin.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like a reading,\u201d he said. \u00a0He sat in one of the chairs and his bony knees barely fit beneath the table.<\/p>\n She picked up her cards and began to shuffle.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me about yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy friends call me Luc. \u00a0I work at the Crab Shack down the boardwalk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of reading do you want?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n \u201cJust tell me what you see,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright. \u00a0Cut,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n His left hand hovered over the cards, then he cut them.<\/p>\n She turned the first one over.\u00a0 The Devil. \u00a0Violence. \u00a0She revealed the second card. \u00a0The Magician. \u00a0Sickness and pain.<\/p>\n She shifted in her seat; these were difficult cards to get in combination. \u00a0She hoped the third would be better.<\/p>\n The Tower. \u00a0One of the worst in the deck.\u00a0 Deception. \u00a0Misery and ruin.<\/p>\n \u201cWell? \u00a0What do they mean?\u201d<\/p>\n She detected his impatience. \u00a0\u201cYou\u2019ve had severe difficulties in your past, perhaps with family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t get along with my father. \u00a0I wound up on the street at a young age.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded. \u00a0\u201cYes, that makes sense.\u201d \u00a0Rivulets of blood flashed through her mind.<\/p>\n \u201cViolence has been a big part of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n He crossed his arms over his chest. \u00a0\u201cIf someone gets in my way, they get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed to the second card, the Magician.<\/p>\n \u201cThis tells me that you are a skillful negotiator.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMany have said that,\u201d he said with a smile, revealing a mouthful of perfect white teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you say you did at the Crab Shack?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t. \u00a0But I won\u2019t be there much longer.\u201d \u00a0His lip curled into a snarl. \u00a0\u201cThose people treat me like dirt.\u201d<\/p>\n She gestured to the last card.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re thinking of changing jobs, this would be a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n She began to reshuffle the deck.<\/p>\n \u201cChange jobs? \u00a0Isn\u2019t there anything else?\u201d<\/p>\n She shook her head. \u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s all I see.\u201d<\/p>\n He leaned over the table.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the hell kind of reading is that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can only tell what I see,\u201d she added, \u201cbut perhaps you should meditate on it.\u201d<\/p>\n His eyes narrowed and became bloodshot. \u00a0He got up and threw a crumpled twenty on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cRespice post te, mortalem te esse memento, Madame,\u201d he said and stormed off. \u201cIs Luc here?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d the waitress said, snapping her gum.<\/p>\n \u201cLuc. \u00a0Tall, thin, dark pony-tail?\u201d<\/p>\n The woman shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got Jesus,\u201d she pointed to the busboy, \u201cand Joseph,\u201d she pointed to the grill man who was busy cooking. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m Maria and that\u2019s everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut he told me he worked here,\u201d Florence said.<\/p>\n The waitress played with a gold cross around her neck.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know how some men are, honey,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019ll say anything.\u201d\u00a0 Maria rested her hand on Florence\u2019s shoulder. \u00a0\u201cC\u2019mon in. \u00a0We\u2019ve got an excellent special tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Florence took a seat at the counter and noticed Maria\u2019s cross.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you religious?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI go to church everyday, if that\u2019s what you mean.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does this mean?\u201d \u00a0Florence handed her a piece of paper. \u00a0\u201cThe guy I mentioned said this to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Maria\u2019s smile disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Latin. \u00a0It means \u2018Look around you and remember you are mortal.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Florence\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat guy must be big trouble,\u201d Maria said. \u00a0\u201cI wouldn\u2019t keep looking for him if I were you.\u201d<\/p>\n Jesus came and pushed a plate of fish in front of Florence along with a basket overflowing with rolls. \u201cYou like. \u00a0Pescado.\u201d \u00a0He made an eating gesture.<\/p>\n Florence smiled at Jesus, saying, \u201cGracias.\u201d<\/p>\n The food smelled delicious. \u00a0She took a bite. \u00a0The flavors transported her to her childhood Friday night family dinners. \u00a0Feelings of love flooded through her along with the memories. \u00a0She looked back down at her plate and realized she had finished every morsel.<\/p>\n Florence caught Maria\u2019s attention; the waitress sauntered over.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do I owe you?\u201d Florence asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s on the house; do something good for someone else,\u201d Maria said. He startled her when he appeared in front of her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d Florence asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt could have been so easy for you,\u201d Luc said. \u00a0\u201cYou could have told me something nice, something… different than the others.\u201d<\/p>\n Florence shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know you need to work this out with them.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t we go back to the Crab Shack? \u00a0Talk to them; they\u2019ll listen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, they won\u2019t,\u201d Lucifer said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t know unless you try.\u00a0 They invited me in and fed me, I think they would do the same for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026\u201d he mumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want to change jobs?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n He shrugged.<\/p>\n They walked towards the Crab Shack together in silence. \u00a0Luc\u2019s eyes bespoke his desire and apprehension about reuniting with his family.<\/p>\n They approached the broken screen door; Florence opened it for him.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on,\u201d she said, \u201cthey\u2019re waiting for you.\u201d by Carol Deminski The town of Seaside Beach was in decay. \u00a0It was once a wholesome family destination with a Ferris wheel and salt water taffy stands. \u00a0Now its worn boardwalk was lined with tattoo parlors and bars where leather-clad … Continue reading
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\nAfter he left she couldn\u2019t shake off their encounter. \u00a0She wanted to see the Crab Shack for herself and find out more about this mysterious stranger. \u00a0She walked down the boardwalk and found a ramshackle hut with a broken screen door. \u00a0She stepped inside and called the waitress over.<\/p>\n
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\nFlorence left the Crab Shack feeling content. \u00a0It wasn\u2019t just the nourishment of the meal, but the experience had created a deeper satisfaction. \u00a0She walked along the boardwalk and looked out at the Atlantic.<\/p>\n
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\nCAROL DEMINSKI<\/strong> was born and raised in New Jersey and currently resides in Jersey City, which is near Hoboken but much, much bigger. She published her first short story in the Summer 2010 issue of the Aroostook Review. She has never seen, and has definitely never dated, the Jersey Devil.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"