Crystal Ball and Blue Velvet

By: L.Doyle

The sounds outside of the tent were cheerful and light. Carnival music played, and bells rang out announcing the losers or winners of the games at the different stalls. The scent of summer was heavy in the air, mixed with freshly popped popcorn and, sweet caramel apples. Amy had always loved coming to the carnival. The rides, the performers, and just the general attitude of the people attending such an event, always seemed to put a smile upon her face. It was getting late out, the night air was charged with a kind of anticipatory electricity. A storm was coming, and she knew without asking the supposed psychic who she was waiting for, that she was going to be walking home in the pouring rain.

 Inside the tent held quite a different attitude then the one outside. The interior was draped in faded blue velvet, with several spots that were completely thread bare. Amy could imagine it looking amazing and elegant at one point in time, but now it gave off a feeling that the tent, and the carnival in general, had seen better days. Smoke hung in the air above her head. It was a mix of cigarette smoke from the carnie who was manning the entrance to the tent, and the incense that was burning in every corner on rickety wooden tables. Amy sat on an old chair that creaked a little every time she breathed. It was the only sound she could hear other then the muffled noises of the carnival from outside which seemed now to be a million miles away. In front of Amy was another old table, this one however was covered by a lace tablecloth and featured an antique circular metal base of some sort. “It’s probably for the crystal ball” she laughed to herself.

The “Magnificent Omniscient Opella” was what the psychic referred to herself as, or at least what the sign said that hung outside of the entrance. Amy didn’t really believe in psychics, especially ones who added adjectives to their names. Her friends however, had all been to the psychic at least once since the carnival had been in town. She had heard stories about Opella, stories that really did make her deserve the title of “Magnificent”. She had predicted things such as break-ups and hook-ups, firings and hiring’s. Opella had even saved two of her friends’ lives by warning them that they were going to experience some sort of car trouble. They took the time to look over the car before driving home that night, and discovered that someone had cut their break line. This interested Amy, and made her wonder what news the women would have to share with her.