I rested my ankle on a chair the whole next day after the accident. Three bags of ice have melted for the cause of curing my swollen foot and it was slightly better as long as I didn't move it at all. It felt explicitly worse when I tried to walk. But today was the last show of the week and I had to participate. Ma said I didn't have to if my ankle hurt like that but my dad kept his head down in silence. We both knew I had to at least get on stage and show off May or word would spread and visitor counts would go down again. Nothing worse for a fair than their main attraction not showing up.
"I brought you something." Mariah said, distracting me from my thoughts. She sat next to me in the hot autumn sun and handing me one of her hot dogs. "Mariah special." She gave me the most glowing white smile as a side with it.
Suddenly the burning heat of sun rays turned into soft touches of orange light that didn't hurt as much. "Thank you." I said, not only being thankful for her food but also the company as I was alone watching the busy workers all day.
"You're welcome, sweetheart. When you can't come to the food, the food comes to you. Can't let you starve." She leaned back in her seat to enjoy the sun while I was munching away on the hot dog. We sat in silence like that until I finished it and a little bit longer than that. Letting the orange sun caress our skin.
"Do you plan on performing today?" Mariah asked, not opening her eyes or moving at all.
"You know I have to or the crowd will demand a refund. The show must go on." An elaborate gesture of mine accompanying the last sentence.
"That's the dumbest thing I heard you say all your life, child."
I looked at her, staggered but I knew what she tried to say. Somewhere deep down I wished that life would be simpler. Not different but easy. Easy decisions that your life didn't depend on.
She turned to me and looked me in the eyes like my mother had done when we had 'the talk'. The way you looked someone in the eyes when you want them to really feel the seriousness in your words.
"You're no use to anyone when you get seriously hurt. Even less for yourself."
"I won't get seriously hurt." I put her off with a small wave off my hand, trying to stop my troubled mind from wandering off too far and her from further infecting me with her doubts.
"You should consider my words." Her voice dangerous enough to make me listen. It was almost a threat but not really. "I have seen it."
Now she forced my whole attention on her, plus goosebumps to listen to her following words.
"I had a dream. I saw you fall and get seriously injured. So much that they left you behind. Something wanted me to give you a warning." In a flash the sunlight got cold enough for me to shiver and I averted my gaze from her, rather staring to the largest tent on the fairground. Deep sadness flooded me but I pushed it aside. "It was just a dream, Mariah."
"It brings bad luck to ignore a wicked omen."
Now I got angry. "You know I don't believe in your magic.", I snapped and stared her down. She was the nicest woman I knew until it came to her magic. With it she suddenly turns dark and scary and full of poor news for each person she deals with. No wonder she's been fired as a fortune teller and had to resume with her hot dogs. Nothing about her knowing is ever fortunate.
"Even your holy book speaks of dreams that come true and visions that tell the future. Don't be so naive, child."
"I will take care as I always do when I perform. I will even watch out a little extra because I'm hurt already. But that's it. There's no bad luck." I hoped she would shut up about it so bad that I said it with a bit more anger than what would have sufficed. And it did do the job. She seemed not really content but still pleased with her work.
"I will light some mandrake for you." She finished and stood.
"I will light a candle." I replied and that was the end.
She left hugging herself with her red fringed scarf as if it was cold. As soon as she was out of sight the sun made my skin sweat again.