Chapter 35
OCTOBER
Phyllis
Phyllis peered at the leaves in her cup, then studied the ones in the saucer again.
She had a big decision to make and she hoped the leaves could help her make the right one.
A second-hand caravan had come up for sale on a residential site not too far away.
It was a nice site, convenient for travelling to the shop, and the caravan was a modern one with all amenities.
She would be comfortable there, and the money from the jewellery that Joyce had left her would provide a good deposit.
There were two things bothering her though.
One was that no caravans over fifteen years were allowed on the site, and this one was already five years old.
So, in another ten years she could be in the same position that she was at present.
The second thing was that she’d lived in a house for over five years now and she was starting to have doubts about whether she could even go back to living in a caravan.
Plus, she liked living with Nancy, Jackie and Slate, they all got on so well and wondered if she should buy one of the flats too so they could all be together.
She wanted the leaves to tell her which way to go.
But all she could see, near the top of the rim, was a dog. It was the symbol of good friends. So did that mean she should move with her friends?
She’d read them again in the morning, she decided.
‘I hope the leaves are showing you good news,’ Jackie said as she came in.
‘I was asking for help with a decision,’ Phyllis told her. ‘I’ll do a few more readings before I decide.’
‘Would you read my tea leaves, please?’ Jackie asked her. ‘I need help with a decision too.’
Phyllis nodded. ‘Of course.’
A little while later, when Jackie had drunk her tea, Phyllis studied the tea leaves in her cup.
‘What is it? What can you see?’ Jackie asked.
‘I see a forked path, which means that your life can go in two different directions.’
‘Can you see anything else? Anything to help me know which path to take?’ Jackie asked.
Phyllis shook her head. ‘There is no danger either way. It’s a personal decision so I would tell you to follow your heart.’
Jackie nodded, as if she knew what the paths might be.
‘Oh, can you read my tea leaves, too, please?’ Nancy appeared in the doorway, her dressing gown wrapped around her. ‘You saw a hammer last time, so I’m hoping it won’t show any obstacles now.’
Phyllis nodded. ‘I’ll brew up again.’
‘Thank you. I’ll get my cup.’
‘Morning, oh, we’re having another tea-leaf-reading session, are we?’ Slate said good-humouredly as he came in to see Phyllis brewing up her special leaves.
‘I can read yours too,’ Phyllis told him.
He shook his head. ‘No, thanks, I’ll make myself a coffee and leave you all to it.’
He didn’t leave them to it though. He made his coffee and stood sipping it, back against the worktop, watching. He’s curious, Phyllis thought with a smile.
As Jackie had done, Nancy drunk her tea and handed the cup to Phyllis. Phyllis studied the leaves. Oh dear. She could see a snake. There was no mistake about it; it was there coiled around the bottom of the cup. But there was also a crescent moon on the side of the cup. She would focus on that.
‘I see a crescent moon. That means a new beginning or success,’ she said.
‘You can see something else, too, can’t you? I can tell by your face. What is it?’ Nancy asked anxiously. ‘Are there more hammers? Please tell me.’
Phyllis shook her head. ‘Not hammers.’ She hesitated. ‘I can see a snake. It’s at the bottom of the cup so it’s not imminent. But I’m afraid it means trouble.’
Nancy’s voice quivered. ‘What sort of trouble?’
‘Please don’t worry, it’s not a shark or dagger. It doesn’t mean danger, it just means that you need to be cautious. It could perhaps be something to do with your divorce. Or work. Luckily, the crescent moon is higher up and bigger, so it overrides it.’
Nancy nodded. ‘Thank you.’ But she had a worried expression on her face when she left the kitchen.
‘I don’t think you should have told her. You’ve made her anxious now,’ Slate said.
Phyllis met his gaze. ‘What is going to happen will happen whether I read the leaves or not. At least now Nancy is forewarned and will be on her guard.’