Mother Madison upturned the teacup on its saucer, giving it a little twirl before righting it on the table. The punter eagerly awaited the verdict.
Mother Madison strung it out a little, for show. Reading the tea leaves had been her mother’s occupation too. Passed on through the generations of Madison women. They knew how to spin a tale.
“I see a perfect storm”
“Pshaw!” said the punter, “It’s already stormin’! Don’t need no huckster to tell me that.”
The women’s American accent was harsh and grating. Mother Madison was not sure which part of America the punter came from, but she knew she wouldn’t like it. Too pushy by half. And loud!
“As I said, I see a perfect storm. One that will change your life forever. Beware the machinations of dark gentlemen. Before this storm passes your fate will be decided. The Tempest will strike when you least expect.”
The American woman left in a huff, refusing to pay for the reading.
“I wasn’t born yesterday!” she snarled, as she left the tent and strode off to find her tour group. Mother Madison could only imagine the stories she would tell her fellow tourists.
“Better put the kettle on”, she said to herself, “They’ll be crowding in soon.”
She carefully washed the fine china cups with the apple-blossom design. Her mother’s favourite. She felt her presence whenever they were used.
“Yes mother”, she acknowledged “I know we need to handle them carefully.”
She waited patiently, watching as the storm passed overhead. Storms were the perfect cover in her trade.
Sitting on the fence, eleven black crows fluffed their damp feathers, eager for the signal.
Soon a long line of dupes waited under umbrellas to enter the tasseomancy tent.
Just as the rain stopped and umbrellas were furled, Mother Madison opened the tent flap, whistling Black Crow King to the crowd.
In a perfect storm of black wings and caws, the crows advanced, snatching earrings and bracelets, necklaces and watches from the unsuspecting dupes in line.
“Oh my” said Mother Madison ineffectually wielding a broom at the crows, “I just don’t know what’s got into them today.”
The crows took off as one, laden with loot.
“Are you ladies alright?” crooned Mother Madison, trying to soothe their ruffled feathers, whilst at the same time attempting to calculate how much they had made today. American tourists were the most lucrative of all.
Copyright May 2021
bluebellina 
You must be logged in to post a comment.