the palm reading

i ride by

the old gypsy house on

the way home.

i see Esmeralda on the porch

smoking a cigarette.

there's a u-haul truck out

front.

i pull over and get out.

what's up? i ask her, you moving?

covid, she says. i haven't

given a palm reading

in three months.

damn virus is shutting me

down.

do you need to know the

future?

i haven't packed up my 

tarot  cards or crystal ball

yet.

maybe read your palm?

i'll give you the holdiay

special.

here's a coupon.

sure, i tell her and go sit

beside her

on the porch with her

green eyed black cat.

she takes my hand

and sprays it with some rubbing

alcohol

then stares deeply into the lines.

oh my she says.

what hell has been  going on

with you dude.

she puts out her cigarette and

blows the last puff of smoke

into the air.

yeah, yeah, i tell her.

but tell me the future

forget the past.

geez marie, you have so much

paint and what is that,

caulking, on your hands.

it's hard to get a clear reading.

but from what

i can see

it's pretty damn good.

the rockettes just flashed into

my mind

for some reason.

they're coming to town for

the holidays.

i see you with the rockettes

at the Hilton Hotel.

i give her a twenty

dollar bill.

and tell her good luck.

skipping down the steps.

wait wait, she says, there's

something else. there's more.

stay far away from the red

head. don't go near her.

okay, i yell from the car

as i pull way. got it.

stay away from the red head.