A Secret

 

“Mom, I know a secret,” No-No said, pulling me into a social worker’s office. The windows were covered in vertical blinds and files laid neatly in three distinct piles on a desk.

I remember pulling my brows together, “You do?”

“Yeah.” No-No’s already big brown eyes grew wide. “But you have to promise not tell.”

“Okay. I won’t say a word to anyone.”

No-No moved away from the desk. Behind her stood my oldest daughter, Fred, looking malnourished everywhere but her stomach. A pregnant belly extended from her.

Panic ran through me and I woke up. Immediately, I got out of the bed and went to the girls’ room. “I know a secret,” I said.

No-No and Fred sat up in their beds. Both swallowed obvious lumps.

My eyes went straight to Fred. She lowered her head.

“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” I said.

No-No kept her sister’s secret for three months.

I’ve had other similar experiences, but can’t say I’m actually psychic. Although…we’ll leave it for the skeptics to decide. I’ll have more stories for you in the future.

But I’d like to share a little bit on Edgar Cayce. The man has always fascinated me. I’ll try not to be long winded.

Anyway, Edgar Cayce was a man who warred with himself over his psychic abilities since he was church goer and became a member of the Disciples of Christ. Believe me, I completely understand his dilemma.

People referred to him as  ‘the sleeping prophet’. In fact, there is a book about him titled as such.

While in a self-induced meditative trance, he would give  readings. People all over the world would send him letters with their questions. The majority of them were for remedies and healing illnesses.

You can learn more about him by copy and pasting the links below into your browser:

www.edgarcayce.org/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Cayce

***

Yellow Prada’s is still being created. This week I tore it apart and have been rewriting portions. I’ve got a couple new characters, too.

Tilly is one. She sports a rainbow-colored Mohawk and uses the word ‘like’ like a lot. It’s the 80’s, of course. She uses quite a bit of slang when she speaks. She’s total punk, wearing a spiked dog collar and a pair of combat boots.

Hope everyone is great!

Hugs and chocolate everyone!

Shelly

A to Z Challenge, Day 17: S is for Snake

 

Mr. Water Moccasin  or Cottonmouth

Today, my dear friends, I thought I’d talk about creepy, slithering Florida snakes. Well, just a little.You see, Lila, the main character, in Secondhand Shoes, has many fears. Mother induced, of course.

So many chapters in, we learn of her horrific fear of snakes. In fact, it could’ve been the catalyst to her taking a different path than the one she chose in the novel.

 

Ms. Copperhead

Snakes come in many shapes and sizes. They can also be symbols in dreams. Usually when this occurs it means you can’t trust some one. For me, it also meant that my mother-in-law was coming to town. Really. I’d see snakes and dream of snakes three days before I’d hear she’d be coming. Just to let you know, she’s now my ex-mother-in-law. So don’t worry, I’m always in trouble no matter what I say or do, even when I was married to her toad-boy.

Anyway, my point today is fear can keep us from climbing through any window of opportunity if we let it. Even the fear of snakes.

And before I give you a little diddy allow me to give you a website on Florida’s poisonous snakes. Just in case you all decide to visit and go hiking in the Florida woods or, you happen to open your car door and are greeted by one of these creatures when you get here. You need to be able to identify one correctly. Click on the link below for more information.

Florida's Poisonous Snakes

Time for the diddy.

Woods spread beyond the diner’s dumpsters. Trees all the way to the interstate’s on-ramp to my left and on down behind the gas station to my right and beyond.

A light wind blew my hair across my face. I looked at the sky. Dark clouds coming up I-75. I looked back at the woods. Snakes came to mind.

“Don’t be afraid, Lila,” Gram said.

DISCLAIMER: This written content may not be used by anyone. It belongs to Shelly Arkon.