The Fortune Teller

It was twenty years ago and everyone was looking forward to starting their college careers. They had spent their whole summer having fun and living up their last year as kids. With college starting soon the guys(Brad, Roger and Ryan) were going to be men as far as they were concerned and could not wait to get started. They were all sitting in Roger's room that night and thinking that this was their last night together and they needed to finish off childhood with a bang.

Brad proposed that they go to a carnival that was taking place in the next county, but first Ryan suggested they go see the fortune teller, in the same county, that so many people raved about. Roger was skeptical. As far as he was concerned fortune tellers were just quacks that told you what you wanted to hear. Ryan told Roger that Madam Maria was very respected and people were satisfied with the results. Roger thought, Madam Maria, that's typical. Even though he was very skeptical he decided to go anyway.

So everyone agreed and off they went to the carnival but first stopping by to see Madam Maria, the ultimate fortune teller, as she calls herself. As they arrived they entered the home. It was a clean home and there was a table in the middle of the living room. The curtains were closed and even though it was daylight outside, it was very dark inside. The boys were a little afraid but decided to go in and sit down.

Madam Maria came in and asked who wanted to go first. Brad decided he would go first. Brad stepped up to the table and sat down in the chair. Madam Maria took Brad's hand and started to read his fortune. She told Brad he was going to be a doctor and a very good one. Roger could not control his laughter because Brad was terrible in science. In fact he had to take one science class over his senior year just to graduate. Brad was polite and thanked her and paid her even though he was thinking the same thing Roger was thinking.

Roger decided he would be next. He wanted to see what the great Madam had to say. She took Roger's hand and told him that he would up being a successful sports agent. Roger looked quizzical because he did not care much for sports. Madam Maria looked at him and said, "Son, you cannot change fate". " This will come true". Roger decided to be nice and pay so they could leave this quack.

Ryan wanted his turn, but Roger had enough. Ryan convinced him to stay a few more minutes. Ryan sat down and Madam Maria took his hand. She said that Ryan had nice hands, but then a look came over her face. She scribbled something on a piece of paper and told Ryan that she would give it to Roger and for him not to read it until later when he got home.

Roger took the paper and stuffed it in his pockets and the boys left and had a great time at the circus. Later that next day they went their separate ways.

Sure enough Roger became a successful sports agent and Brad became a physician and a very good one. Ryan had died that summer in a plane crash on his way to Los Angeles to start college. This is why they were here. Since that day the two meet every year so they can remember Ryan.

Just as they were twenty years ago, again they were in Roger's room. Brad was reminiscing about old times. They both laughed as they remembered the trip to the Madam and Roger was so skeptical. Roger went to the closet and pulled out what he had on that night. "That was twenty years ago", he told Brad. "Yeah and twenty pounds ago also" Brad replied. That old Kook was right they both thought.

Roger looked down at the paper sticking out of his jeans, and wondered after all these years what it said. Brad wondered also. They had so much fun at the carnival that Roger completely forgot about the paper. Roger pulled the paper out and started to read. He was mortified as he read:

"Do not let Ryan board that plane. Since you are skeptical though you will not read this, however it does not matter because as I told you son, you cannot change fate."