Chapter 2: Birthday Gift
I took a shower and brushed my teeth, then I towel dried my long brown hair. I put on my usual heavy dark brown eyeliner and a haze of soft fawn brown on my lids. Then I dressed in my favorite baby blue peasant top with the embroidery on the loose neck. The little cap sleeves covered my bra straps just enough. My skirt was dark brown with baby blue flowers, then my favorite brown sequined flip-flops. I wore slave bracelets on my hands and matching ankle bracelets. I enjoyed belly dancing with Auntie for my Physical Education class. Especially to anything by the Pussy Cat Dolls, it was perfect belly dancing music.
I turned around in a clockwise circle at the top of the stairs then walked down the stairs, counting each one. When I reached the bottom I ran into the kitchen and found Auntie sitting quietly at the table with a small one layer cake, covered in candles, and in front of her set a small box wrapped in Sunday comic papers. I smiled at her and she grinned back at me. Cake for breakfast, that is how it was on each and everyone of my birthdays. As usual it was chocolate on chocolate, my favorite.
We ate while listening to Clint Eastwood by the Gorillaz. Then we did the dishes and danced around to Black Tambourine by Beck. We laughed and then went back to the table to open my present. I carefully took off the wrapper and opened the ancient looking ivory box. Inside was a beautiful ivory and onyx fist sized tear shaped pendant with a clear spinning lens in the center of it. A piece of paper fell to the table and I began to read it.
This is the tear of fate, it will seek out its mate. If you seek your destiny true, your life will be in full view. Sometimes three become one, but this is rare and not to be undone.
Life is what you allow it to be, heed the words as you see.
Open the door of fate,
Take me to my mate
Let me find my destiny true
Show my life in view
3 to 1
Not to be undone
Let my life be
As you see
(Turn in three counter clockwise turns and cross your hands over the pendant about your neck as you chant the above words in 4/4 rhythm.)
I will be there waiting for you, for I need to be rejuvenated.
Do not fret, this is not the end. I love you, and always will. I will see you soon.
Love Auntie Hazel
When I looked up my Auntie was standing in the kitchen her hands crossed over her own silver and pearl pendant saying the words as she turned. To my shock she began to fade from view. I was beginning to freak out, my Auntie had just vanished and I was standing looking like I should be fitted for a straight jacket at any minute. Then I saw Auntie's three cats converge on the spot where she had vanished and one by one they looked as though someone was picking them up and then they also were gone. My heart was beating so hard I knew it was going to beat itself right out of my chest. Tears were beginning to fall, sliding unbidden down my flushed cheeks. I ran up the stairs and grabbed my handbag, my mp3 player, batteries and my cell phone and cord. Then I ran back down to the kitchen and put the pendant on and put the directions in my bag. Then I did as my Auntie had done, as I looked at the kitchen it began to fade, then I was being pulled toward a strange vortex. Then I stopped and opened my eyes to a beautiful mossy forest. I looked around and things seemed to look familiar. When I saw a red house with a garage set on blocks I began to hyperventilate.
Then all went black…