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‘Do you think that today might be the day?’

Mystic Meg paused a hand midair, the smoke from the incense stick that she was using to create an aromatic vibe curling into the ceiling of the community hall. She frowned and looked over her reading glasses at the hopeful face of Tess. Meg sighed. ‘I still don’t think you’re quite ready.’

Tess took a step towards her and somehow managed to tangle herself around the table leg. Within seconds, the carefully arranged tarot cards, scented candle and crystal ball were scattered. Only Meg’s quick reflexes saved the crystal ball from ruin.

‘Sorry, so sorry,’ Tess muttered as she scrabbled on the floor to pick up the tarot cards. They were well-worn and slippery, and seemed to be doing their best to evade Tess’s fingers.

‘Maybe that’s a sign, hmm?’ Meg levelled the table and began putting things back in their rightful place. What had she been thinking, taking on an apprentice? Initially, she’d been flattered to be asked, and it was good to have a hand with setting up for showcases like the new age gathering today. She looked around at the other stallholders, mostly couples who were familiar from other events. None of them seemed to have an apprentice. But Tess had been so keen. And Meg had been given a helping hand when she started, so it had seemed the right thing to do to pay it forward.

It wasn’t just the clumsy, haven’t quite grown into her limbs awkwardness that was the problem. Tess seemed to have trouble with getting the bookings right, and there had been some double bookings and even a triple booking which Meg had managed to turn into an impromptu group consultation. That Tess was keen wasn’t in doubt; it was more of her ability to make meaningful predictions that was the issue.

‘You will meet a tall, dark and handsome man.’ This had been said to a woman with a thin gold wedding band and the deep lines of grief carved into her face. ‘Good luck is just around the corner.’ This had been what Tess had predicted for a young woman with all the visible trappings of wealth and a lucky life.

Meg had tried to guide her. ’So much of what we do is observe closely, taking in clues as to where the person is from, what’s happening in their life, and what it is that they need to hear.’

‘That seems a bit, well, superficial. I thought it was based on what we feel, what we sense about a person?’

‘Let’s try it. What would you say to me?’

Meg had watched as Tess had closed her eyes. Trance-like, her eyelids flickered then opened. ‘Your aura is too cloudy for me to read.’

With a sigh, Meg bent down to pick up the Five of Cups card which had slipped under the table. She grimaced at the card of regret.

This piece was written to a prompt on the Writer’s Digest website. The Fortune Teller’s Apprentice is terrible at their job.

Photo: zodiac scarf