Vegas story

If your fortune teller decorates with her ex-husband’s head, maybe it’s time to reconsider your life choices.

The life was being choked out me. I tried to scream my lips wouldn’t move. 

 I threw punches and kicked trying to break the strangle hold. His hands tightened around my neck. I was gasping for breath.

I suddenly woke, my soaking wet t-shirt glued to my skin. 

My sheet coiled around my neck and chest like a Florida python. My heart racing faster than a Space X rocket leaving the launch pad. 

Seven nights running. Seven times I lived through this nightmare. Me walking on the Vegas strip. Me grabbed from behind by a casino heavyweight collecting unpaid gambling debts.

I needed professional help all I could afford was Madame Xua (pronounced Shoo-Ah). Madame Xua, the psychic who contacts the spirit world. Madame Xua, the psychic who predicted the decapitation of my on again off again girlfriend Anita’s grandmother.

Two more recurring dreams later I sat across from Madame Xua staring at a shrunken head hanging from the ceiling behind her. The walls were covered with photos of rice paddies, Vietnamese tribal people, spears, and a large photo of Madame Xua standing barefoot in the middle of a bonfire, wearing a gossamer gown her eyes closed and a smile across her faced. 

I wanted to bolt. Before I could, she took hold of my hand and I felt an electric charge exchange between us.

“I’ve been waiting for you for two weeks, Henry. Why didn’t you call?” Madame Xua said.

What was she talking about? I made the appointment yesterday.

“I called you yesterday, not two weeks ago,” I said.

Madame Xua saw me staring at the shrunken head. 

“Pay no attention to Minh, my second husband. He did me dirty.”

“He did you dirty? What did he do? How did he die?” 

“He ate sushi I specially prepared for him. Soon after he had a stroke and was quickly gone.”

I wanted to leave but I didn’t want  I didn’t want Madame Xua thinking I did her dirty and placing my head hanging  next to Minh.

I turned away from Minh and stared at the Madame Xua’s photo. The flimsiness of her outfit left nothing to imagination.

“Do you like my body?” she asked.

“I was looking Minh.”

“Oh come now, Henry. Let’s not begin our session with a lie.”

“Okay, I was staring at your picture.”

“It doesn’t do me justice.”

I needed to change the subject. “Can you tell me about my dream. Is someone going to kill me.”

“I have intimate knowledge of your dream. Place your hands in mine and close your eyes.”

“Why are doing this?” I said as I placed both of my hands in hers and closed my eyes.

“Do not speak, do not open your eyes until I command you to. I am connecting with the spirit world. They get angry if they are interrupted.”

For the next ten minutes Madame Xua hummed an ancient Oriental sound.

She opened her eyes and stared at me. I thought I was looking into hell.

“It’s not good is it?” 

Madame Xua shook her head. “Do not return to Vista drive.”

“That’s the street I live on.” 

“I know,” Madame Xua replied.

“Will I get killed if I go home?”

“You can go home. Just do not go home by Vista Drive. That’s where it will happen.”

“We all die. Maybe you will die on Vista Drive. Maybe you won’t. The voices asked me to warn you not to go home by Vista Drive.”

I thanked Madame Xua and left depressed. Vista Drive was my only way home.

Twenty minutes later I was cruising down Vista Drive wondering where I would die.

My apartment building was two blocks ahead t. I hit the brakes and pulled to the curb. 

The three local TV studios were outside my building. I saw news helicopters circling. I got out of my car and began walking to my apartment. I heard a car stop behind me. I stopped and turned. It was a police car. The officer was putting a ticket on my car.

“That’s my apartment building. There are no other spots,” I pleaded..

“You’re parking in front of a fire hydrant. I’m having your car towed.”

“I’ll move it.”

“Too late. I already called the tow truck.”

I remembered, too late, Madame Xua warned me not to go home by Vista Drive.