Wild New Year

1

Jasmine studied the sign beside the grocery store.

Why did she want to go inside? She had never seen a psychic before, but lately… she had just been floating aimlessly through life.

Why not?

Taking a step toward the sign set up on the sidewalk, Jasmine patted her wallet. She knew how these things worked: The psychic would predict that she would meet a tall, dark stranger, she would meet someone random, and assume that the prophecy had been fulfilled. Still, if she didn’t take it too seriously, maybe it would be fun.

Jasmine hurried to her car and set the rotisserie chicken and potato salad in the front seat before going back to the psychic’s tiny shop. She should probably go ahead and do it before she lost her nerve.

When she stepped inside the shop, it was too dark to see well. Hello? Jasmine called, blinking. Once her eyes had adjusted, she could see that the waiting room, if it could be called that, had two plush chairs that looked like they were close to a century old. Had no one sat on them recently, or was the dusty look in?

Coming! a voice called from the back.

A poster over the tiny wooden desk alerted Jasmine that a quick reading would only be ten dollars. Smiling, she clasped her hands and waited for what the psychic might say.

What can I do for you today? a woman asked as she came into the waiting room. She didn’t look anything like a psychic. None of the wrinkles, no headdress, no intriguing Eastern European accent.

Hi, I saw your sign out there about five-minute readings, and I thought it would be a good idea.

Sure; let’s go back to my room here for a little privacy.

The hanging beads met Jasmine’s expectations as she pushed through them and felt them tickle her neck. The room behind the hanging beads wasn’t exactly private, but Jasmine didn’t care. She didn’t think this woman would predict anything unusual.

The process is really quite simple, the woman said. But I always like to know someone’s name before giving them a reading.

Jasmine.

Nice to meet you, Jasmine. I’m Layla. Is there any specific reason you came in for a reading today?

Well, it’s New Year’s tonight, so I thought maybe… She shrugged as she waved her hands to fill in the rest of her sentence.

Sure. There’s so much riding on a new year, such a chance for new beginnings. Layla shuffled a handful of cards. I’m going to have you select two of these cards. Pick the ones that call out most to you. She spread six cards in front of Jasmine. Their backs were decorated with a swirly blue design.

Taking a deep breath as though her future rested on this decision, Jasmine pointed to the card that was second from the left, then ran her hand along the other cards. She picked the last one, then sat back in the chair and waited for what Layla had to tell her. Layla smiled at her as she gathered the ones Jasmine had chosen and placed the others beside the table.

For some reason, nervousness curled in Jasmine’s stomach, like she actually had something to be afraid of. She studied Layla’s face, the way she blinked slowly at the cards, looking at the first one much longer than the second. No longer smiling, Layla looked back and forth from one card to the other.

Sure it was for dramatic effect, Jasmine watched as Layla laid the cards faceup, quickly pulling the other cards toward her and laying them in a neat stack to the side.

Jasmine studied the pictures. One of them showed a lighthouse, and Jasmine smiled. She had fond memories of visiting a lighthouse at the beach with her family as a child. They had climbed the stairs all the way to the top, huffing and puffing, and Jasmine had required two breaks to stop for snacks.

The second card showed two people holding hands, standing in front of something that looked like a totem pole or maybe another lighthouse.

Layla pointed to the lighthouse card, her face serious.

This card represents some sudden upheaval or a disaster. See the clouds around the lighthouse? It’s making it hard for the sailors to see the shore. They’re going to wreck.

Jasmine leaned forward to study the picture in more detail.

Okayyyy, she said, dragging out the second syllable. "But what does that mean? I’m not planning on going on any boat rides soon."

Let me show you this second card first, Layla said. Her face was drawn, like she had just received terrible news, and Jasmine sat on her hands to stop their annoying and unnecessary trembling.

Layla pointed to the second card, and Jasmine’s stomach warmed. This one had to mean some sort of chance meeting. This card represents a loss of balance or disharmony. See the snake coming toward them? Something is going to cause this pair of people some trouble.

I’m not even dating anyone right now, Jasmine said. That one doesn’t make any sense. She was desperate to find a reason that this woman’s card-reading was bogus, because if she was speaking the truth, then Jasmine didn’t want to think about what that could mean to her.

Ah; even though it shows a couple, it doesn’t just mean two people in a romantic relationship. It could represent a friendship, or a relationship with coworkers, maybe even family. Any type of relationship will experience some sort of disharmony.

Jasmine glanced back and forth between the two cards. So basically, something bad is going to happen?

She glanced up at Layla and saw sadness in the woman’s face. "The cards predict that something disastrous is going to happen — most likely in a relationship, but it could be disharmony with yourself. If you’ve ever been torn over a certain decision, I’m sure you’ve experienced disharmony."

Jasmine slid her chair back from the table. This woman clearly knew nothing about her life and didn’t have a right to tell her how to live it. Thank you, she said, reaching into her pocket for her wallet. She shuffled around for a ten-dollar bill, thinking that the woman really hadn’t earned it.

I usually don’t make specific recommendations, Layla said, but with this being New Year’s Eve, it might be better if you stayed in tonight. Were you… planning on going to a party? Layla looked just as nervous as Jasmine felt, and Jasmine didn’t appreciate it. She focused on her wallet more than necessary. She didn’t have a ten-dollar bill, so she settled for a twenty, crossing her arms as she waited for Layla to find her the correct change. I’m going to a friend’s, she said.

Layla pursed her lips. Perhaps you should stay home tonight, she said. You can’t always avoid fate, but tonight is a dangerous night anyway, with everyone out drinking until late, then trying to drive home. That must be why the cards all point toward a disaster.

Jasmine watched Layla’s fingers play with the ten that she was going to receive as change.

I’m sorry that these are your cards tonight. If you come back again later, I’ll give you another reading for free.

Jasmine wanted to snap back something about not building a good business with these kinds of predictions, but she kept her mouth shut. She was being ridiculous. It was just a reading, and Layla clearly didn’t really know anything about the future.

Standing, Jasmine stuffed the bill into her pocket, not bothering to carefully replace it in her wallet. Thanks, she muttered as she marched out of the tiny shop. When she emerged, darkness was starting to fall. The clouds in the west hung heavily with orange.

Pulling out her phone, Jasmine looked over the barrage of group texts that her friends had been sending each other all day about the party that night. She read them carefully.

BYOB, the host texted. I’m not supplying enough for all of you to get drunk.

I shouldve known you’re a cheapskate. Don’t worry. I’ve got a specialty drink that will ring the New Year in right.

Is anyone making sure they have a designated driver? If not, I can split an Uber with you.

Piper, calm it! We’re not going to die tonight. We’re going to live it up.

Jasmine should say something, text them back and tease Piper about always being so responsible. But she couldn’t think of anything to say. Her mind kept reverting to the black-and-white pictures on the cards, the way the snake had been slithering toward the couple and the boat had been motoring toward the rocks.

This is stupid! Jasmine exclaimed out loud as she got into her car and slammed the door. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

Jasmine pulled down the driver’s-side mirror and studied her face. She might be saying it was stupid, but the lines around the corners of her mouth told her that she was worried. She brushed her long black hair behind her ear, her finger snagging on one of her earrings. She carefully extracted her finger and touched each of her three piercings in turn, remembering the moment when she had gotten each one. They represented freedom from her parents’ house.

Jasmine sighed; she had been looking forward to this night for a while. She couldn’t let some stupid psychic warn her off from it. Right?

She only had a ten-minute drive home, but it seemed to drag on slowly. People were clearly heading out to parties early. Jasmine gave the car in front of her a death stare as she inched forward, the smell of chicken wafting up to her nostrils.

Slowly, she took a deep breath, then let it out. She had to talk out loud and make a decision. Then, no matter what decision she made, she was going to stick with it and stop second-guessing herself.

Layla was clearly crazy. She believes in the cards, that was clear. But do I? It’s not like she actually proved she knew anything about me or my life.

Jasmine swallowed and switched lanes. She was almost home.

"On the other hand, if there’s a chance that something bad could happen, shouldn’t I avoid it?

"But if it’s really fate, if that’s a real thing, then can I avoid it?"

As Jasmine pulled into her driveway, she shook her head. She didn’t believe