Apparently this is my sixty-fourth story posted here! Had I realized it before now, I would have written something involving a Commodore 64.

Oh well :P

Uhh, this one is more of a sketch. I was mucking about with some characters I thought would be fun to write about.

---

The Family Business

Miranda did tarot readings Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at a coffee shop near the downturn campus. It was a good location. She got students coming in looking for love life and exam advice. She also got a lot of businessmen and bankers seeking advice in their love lives and the markets.

This particular Tuesday had been a slow day. It was Reading Week for the students and the economic downtown meant the bankers were either laid off or spending their lunch breaks in the bar.

She was working on a crossword puzzle. Six letters, learned scholar. The third letter was a V.

A shadow blocked her light.

"I'd like a reading done. I'd like to know why my twenty-four year old daughter abandoned the family business to hang out in a coffee shop."

Miranda looked up and saw her mother. Wavy hair and a scarf that clashed with her shirt.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

"I told you, I came to have my palm read. Or whatever it is that you do."

"This is my place of business," she hissed.

"In that case I'll have a cafe au lait."

Sean, working behind the counter raised his eyebrows but Miranda shook her head.

Her mother pulled out the chair across from her and sat down.

"And really -- Second Cup? Starbucks wouldn't have you?"

"Mom why are you here?"

"You're breaking your father's heart, Miranda. And to do voodoo for strangers in coffee shops. And most of them only sit down here because your top is cut so low. Phrenology is the family business."

Miranda tugged up her top and responded, "We've been through this a million times. I don't like touching peoples' heads."

"Both your grandfathers were phrenologists. Your great uncle Pete was Nixon's phrenologist. I met your father at phrenology college."

"How many times have you got lice from touching someone's head?"

"Every job has its hazards."

Her mother's eye was suddenly caught by something behind Miranda. Miranda twisted in her seat and saw an older man who had just come out of the restroom. He was bald and there was a scar running across the top of his head.

Her mother smoothed down her hair.

"Now that's a head that could tell some stories."

"Mom!"

19 responses to "The Family Business "

Drew wrote: Friday, 29 Jan 2010 22:39 SAVANT. *coughs* It bugged me and I couldn't get past that line until I figured it out. XD I really like this. So many of these could be explanded upon. *sighs*

Patrick Mitchell wrote: Friday, 29 Jan 2010 22:57 He he he he he he...Nixson's Phrenologist. I love it. Though I was really looking for something in an old Tandy.

Olivia Tejeda wrote: Friday, 29 Jan 2010 23:14 Savant, yeah! That's right. I didn't even think much about that! Phrenologists? Really? A whole family of them? That's really funny and unusual. And even funnier is that they're heart-broken that Miranda's not following in their footsteps. Aside from the story, your writing is so fun to read. Thanks for sharing this! ~ Olivia

shannon esposito wrote: Friday, 29 Jan 2010 23:41 Oh yeah, phrenologists! I've actually heard of that before. Not much more far fetched than what she's doing...lol. Love the idea of this one! Well done :-)

Mel Morton wrote: Saturday, 30 Jan 2010 02:59 Really enjoyed reading this. I loved that the family business is not the traditional run of the mill business. Great line, 'Every job has its hazards.' Only problem is you wanted to read more!

Cascade Lily wrote: Saturday, 30 Jan 2010 03:49 Yep, agreed. I too was stuck on savant, but because I'm drinking red wine, I couldn't work it out. Glad your other readers are smarter than me :p Excellent sketch. In fact, a perfectly fine flash. Even if it wasn't written on a Commodore 64 :)

ganymeder wrote: Saturday, 30 Jan 2010 10:10 That was great. I was suspecting the 'family business' was something other than phrenology. 'Every job has its hazards!' LOL

Laura Eno wrote: Saturday, 30 Jan 2010 10:12 The other responses are funny - I breezed right past the crossword puzzle. I wanted the story! It might have something to do with the fact that I don't like working them. :) I loved how the family business wasn't more traditional than what she chose to do. This was great as is and could also be a much larger story.

Deanna Schrayer wrote: Saturday, 30 Jan 2010 10:16 I already adore this family. I hope you'll flesh these two out and tell us more. They sound like a hoot!

Sam wrote: Sunday, 31 Jan 2010 05:59 Great story. I hope there will be more with these characters, I really enjoyed this story.

CJ wrote: Sunday, 31 Jan 2010 09:18 Heh, I liked that you used phrenology (a nice obscurish word that sounds very smart & legit). Cool story! (Did you mean "economic downturn" not "downtown" to explain why bankers were laid off or boozing?)

Kylie wrote: Sunday, 31 Jan 2010 11:39 These characters sound fun and promising. I hope you bring them back some time! "And really -- Second Cup? Starbucks wouldn't have you?" - Favourite line! She could probably charge more at a Starbucks...

Al Bruno III wrote: Sunday, 31 Jan 2010 16:39 Like all goods tories this one offers us a tantalizing glimpse of an entire past and an uncertain future. Great work.

Susan Cross wrote: Sunday, 31 Jan 2010 19:24 Your story reminded me of when I used to read Tarot...my mother wanted me to read tea leaves! Can you believe it? Tea leaves? Great story. One typo in 2nd paragraph - didn't you mean downturn?

Eric J. Krause wrote: Monday, 01 Feb 2010 18:29 That was good. Funny what is considered voodoo and strange by some when you look at what they do. Great story!

mazzz_in_Leeds wrote: Thursday, 04 Feb 2010 13:37 phrenology runs in the family? Blimey! I suspect doing tarot readings is much better paid though The whole students and tarot thing has reminded me of late nights spent with cheap wine, medieval chants on the stereo, a pack of tarot cards and the ghost of a forgotten 9am lecture the next day...

Marisa Birns wrote: Sunday, 07 Feb 2010 19:01 I thought the mom was upset because the daughter was doing something so offbeat as reading cards. But to find out she was annoyed that Miranda wasn't following in the family quirky footsteps was hilarious! "Ever job has its hazards" hee hee!

Cathy Olliffe wrote: Monday, 08 Feb 2010 12:03 Your story is great... and so is your blog in general! Enjoyed the visit, thanks!

Deb wrote: Tuesday, 09 Feb 2010 07:36 The tension between mother and daughter is very believable. I would take this for a serious story if not for the "Family Business!" It's just the right level of humor. Great stuff!

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