Swindled by Seth Bleuer

“I’ll need his name, something of his, and payment upfront, of course,” I say. The young brunette sitting across from me forces a half smile.

“Of course,” she replies. “His name is,” She pauses and her lower lip trembles slightly. “His name was Theodore,” she corrects herself. She reaches into her Dior purse and pulls out a pair of cufflinks. She then pulls out a matching wallet and pauses. “You said cash only, right?” She inquires. She slides her Gucci sunglasses off to see better in the dim lighting. Even from across the table, her eyes look red and puffy, presumably from crying.

She slides five one-hundred-dollar bills across the table with the cufflinks on top. It takes all my restraint to keep my face passive, as if making this much is a normal thing for me, as I take the money and cufflinks. I can’t help but glance again at her few thousand-dollar purse and sunglasses. Maybe this will require multiple sessions.

“Let’s begin,” I say, sitting up straight in my chair. “This sort of thing is tricky and dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.” I give her the usual lines as I light the candle in the center of the table. Strolling slowly across the room I turn off the light, returning with a skull. I place it on the table and her eyes go wide. I smile.

“No need to be alarmed. This is the skull of my ancestor. The first in my line to possess the power to commune with the dead. She guides me and protects us from malevolent spirits,” I say reassuringly.

She smiles a quick, forced smile. I place my hands on the skull and close my eyes. The table rattles, gently at first and then a little more violent.

“I’m sensing that we aren’t alone,” I say. “Theodore? Are you here with us?”

A cool breeze blows through the room. The candle flickers. The hair on my neck stands up. I hear the woman gasp from across the table.

“He’s speaking to me, but it’s difficult to understand,” I say, pausing for effect. I tap the foot pedal again, causing the table to shake even more. I subtly shift my foot to tap the air conditioner pedal twice. The temperature in the room slowly drops. I peek through my shut eyes at her worried face. She’s bought it.

“I’m sensing a feeling of dread,” I say. “He’s telling me he feels he left this world too soon. He had so much more life to live, and he loves you,” I say over the gentle rattle of the table.

“Theo! Theo baby, I’m sorry. I love you too!” she calls out to the room.

My foot taps several times on the air conditioner and again on the pedal controlling the table. The icy breeze stops. The flame on the candle steadies in the still air and crackles gently. I pry my hands from the fake plaster skull. “He’s gone,” I say. “I’m sorry, but the energy fields are hard to control sometimes.”

She reaches across the table and takes my hand in hers, smiling. “Thank you so much for giving me this. He died so suddenly, and I never got to say I love you to him that morning,” she says.

Getting up, she steps around the table and embraces me tightly. “Thank you,” she says again. She turns quickly and is out the door in a flash. I follow her to the door and lock it behind her, then light a cigarette and do a little happy dance. I check one pocket, then the next for my small fortune, my smile quickly turning to a frown. The money is gone! I look down at my hand and realize my ring and bracelet are missing too. Swiped when she grabbed my hand and hugged me, no doubt. I look behind the counter and notice my purse missing as well. Probably got up and grabbed it while my eyes were closed during the séance. How stupid I must’ve looked. I never even heard her move.

My jaw drops open in disbelief. I’ve been swindled! I unlock the door in a hurry and step out into the bright daylight. Squinting against the oppressive sun, I see her sitting in a beat-up old convertible across the street, trying desperately to get it to start. The engine sputters and then turns over. She grins and blows me a kiss.

Seth Bleuer

Image by Pexels from Pixabay – An adult human skull on a black background.