The Gift That Keeps On Giving

A strange smell was seeping through the vents as Addy opened her eyes to the morning sun peeking through dingy brown curtains. “Garbage day,” she grumbled, swinging her legs onto the floor and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She tied a bandana around her face to curb the smell. With earplugs still in, she peeked outside to find the usual suspects causing an all too early morning ruckus.

She rolled her eyes and allowed them to shut, granting herself a moment of stillness. Before taking her next breath she grabbed a tattered, black moleskin from beside the unsupportive bed and began writing with fervor. Eyes closed, she recalled on paper everything she’d seen, felt, heard, and experienced from the dream walk she just returned from. She dated the page and closed the little book, wrapping it in a shimmery blue cloth and tucking it in her already overpacked satchel.

Addy exited the room filled with bunk beds and uninspiringly tiled floors, to find a hot breakfast buffet on offer in the cafeteria. She glanced over, hungry and in a hurry. There wasn’t enough time if she was going to catch the lunch rush. Her satchel was noticeably weighing her down but she sprinted forward, unphased by the weight of the things she carried. Pushing through the doors of the shelter, she popped her headphones in and set out on the streets of New York.

The subway was hot as Hades and Addy found herself in the midst of a real steamy mixup between the MTA cops and a turnstile offender. Visibly annoyed, she knew this would inevitably delay her usually very punctual work life. She sat in Union square five days a week, long enough to catch the early birds, the afternoon chess players, and the skate kids at night.

Addy abandoned her usual method, which thanks to the man hopping the turnstile, was too hot to try. An unassuming man in a tracksuit came in with his metrocard ready to swipe. Batting her eyelashes, she asked if he could spare a swipe. Headphones in, he heard not a word of what she said, but swiped her in anyway and walked off.

She clapped her hands excitedly as she zoomed through the turnstile and booked it, clutching the satchel that held all her belongings for dear life. She skirted down the subway steps to the N train going downtown and caught it as it screeched on the tracks. Barely sliding through the closing doors, she exclaimed, “Whew!” taking her rightful seat amongst the New Yorkers inside.

Smiling lovingly at a disheveled kid at the other end of the cart who boldly made a pass at her, Addy nodded her head along to the music bumping in her ears. She came alive among the people, though she preferred to spend her time alone. Those that felt they knew her and her mystery, considered her an embodied oracle… a weaver of time.

Addy bowed her head silently as the train barrelled through the underbelly of the city, repeating a mantra she cycled through her heart, “Guide me as I begin. Protect me as I interact. As I seek, I achieve. As I change, my circumstances change. Amen.”

The park was buzzing; sun beaming down on city dwellers that found their daily reprieve amongst an odd blend of New York characters. Amidst them was Addy, the resident oracle. People came from all over the tristate area to see her, and if they got lucky, she’d make them an appointment for a reading.

Having laid out a golden shawl to sit on, Addy was perched elegantly before a fountain with six decks of cards, a large crystal ball, and a plethora of gold jewelry on her hands, wrists, and face. Her dark skin adorned in purple cloth from head to toe, she was radiating as if on display.

Like moths to a flame, person after person approached her, eager to soak up her words like rays of sun. With a faint smile and locs wrapped to the heavens, Addy embodied otherworldliness by simply existing. Equally though, odd characters were often enamored by her. She paid a friend that slept in the park a few dollars to watch closely in the background while she conducted her readings.

After a successful day of work, Addy double checked the fanny pack around her waist to make sure her earnings from the day were safely tucked. She gave her security detail a few extra dollars and thanked him for his help, letting him know he had a job if he could show up everyday around the same time.

While packing her things, a well groomed, grown but not old, white man in a custom suit scurried up to her almost desperately. With her back turned, she sensed someone approaching and turned swiftly, holding her satchel back high as if to swing on the man.

He backed up instantly, putting his hands out to plead with her, “Woah! Woah! I’m sorry I didn’t think you’d be packing up this early!” he panted. “I tried to come sooner but…” Addy lowered her bag, looking at him suspiciously. The rich looking man leaned in pleading with her, “I’m sorry, please… I’ve been trying to find you all week…I’ll pay double what you normally charge.”

Addy examined him from head to toe, taking particular notice of the fact that he had on some of the nicest shoes she had ever seen! She felt badly for him, though she laughed at herself for this. She granted him a reading, at double the price, but told him he could not ask any additional questions when she was done.

Concerned about a deal he was set to make in the weeks ahead, he begged her for a prediction on the matter. She opened and closed his reading with a prayer for his good fortune. Letting out a sigh of relief when the reading was over, he held her hand in deep gratitude proclaiming, “You have no idea what you’ve just done for me.” The man reached into his wallet as he stood up, paid her double her rate in cash, plus a generous tip then disappeared as quickly as he arrived.

Weeks later Addy found herself sleeping on the streets again. The shelter swiftly tossed her, and her bag of tricks, out into the streets after a fight broke out. Just her luck, someone tried to steal her bag while she slept. She was happier to be out in the world anyway, even if that meant she had to sleep out in the open.

Addy thanked her ancestors for the warm summer air, thinking, “It could always be worse.” It was humid as the sun set vibrantly on the waterfront, shining pink and orange hues that filled her with joy. Moments of peace often reminded Addy to be on guard. In the streets she called home, comfortability was fleeting and not always optional.

She pulled a small flashlight from her bag, deciding to do a reading for herself. She said aloud, “Now this is not the change of circumstances I had in mind… but okay! Just help me to see what’s coming next.”

She sighed, laying out her golden shawl and placing her smallest crystal ball in her lap; she shuffled the cards. Instantly, the Queen of Wands jumped out before her and Addy smiled, laughing heartily as she clapped her hands in awe. “Okay, okay, I’m picking up what you’re putting down,” she laughed to herself as she studied the card, the queen, and the black cat that appeared beside her. In Addy’s world, this particular card heralded powerful changes on the horizon.

Night fell deeper and Addy decided she would not speak to anyone, out of both a desire and a need to feel safe. She scoured her overpacked satchel trying to find a cigarette and got lucky! Lighting it, she laid back on the waterfront bench, head resting on the bags she carried.

Looking out onto the water, she took a big puff and exhaled the day away, imagining a future version of herself that was blessed with material comforts and silly little luxuries. The Hudson glimmered as a hot breathing man appeared in her periphery. “I just know you saved one for me,” he sneered.

Addy flicked her cigarette at him, sucked her teeth, and turned hastily to face him. He had a nice face but smelled like booze. Annoyed, she waved him off saying, “This the only one I had. Ask someone else.” He seemed surprised by her sharpness and didn’t much like it as far as Addy could tell. She sat up a little straighter unsure what he was about to do.

The man swung at her knocking the cigarette she had out of her mouth and onto the ground. Addy shot up instantly, lunging at him, causing her things to hit the ground. Sirens rang out close by and the drunken man stumbled off the bench, booking it down the pier.

She’d only had a few seconds to grab her things off the ground and run, but the cops got to her before she could. Thrown in handcuffs without question, Addy complied. She’d spent enough nights in jail to know this wouldn’t be her last sleepover with the boys in blue.

Released into the early hours of the morning, Addy left the precinct having barely slept or eaten. She put her hands to her face, tired and holding back tears... Addy shook it off and crossed the street heading toward the subway. On the other side of the street, a tiny black cat appeared just ahead of her.

It stopped in its tracks, sat and looked back at her. She said laughingly, “Well, hello! Nice to see you again.” As she walked on, the cat repeated it’s funny behavior as if leading her along. The two of them played this little game for about 5 blocks until the cat crept off.

Addy made her way to her fountain in Union Square despite a restless night. Time went by almost unnoticed as she conducted her readings on autopilot throughout the day. At around six o’clock, Addy realized she was exhausted and still needed to find a place to sleep for the night.

She had packed her things up early and started walking toward the subway. As she exited the park, an arm grabbed her from behind. “Wait!” they exclaimed. She turned to find the same rich looking man from weeks prior. “I’m sorry, man. I really don’t have it in me today,” she said tiredly.

He jumped in front of her holding a large packing envelope in his hand. “I’ve been asking around about you on my lunch breaks all week. People call you the oracle... they say you see the future.” He had gotten her attention.

“Something like that,” she replied, now intrigued. He clasped his hands, and the envelope, as if to pray. “How much for that little black book you carry around?” he inquired. Addy shook her head and started to walk away, unsure of how he knew about the book. She replied sharply, “It’s not for sale.” He raised his voice to reach her, “Name your price.”

She turned around with a cheshire grin on her face, “Yeah? How ‘bout $1,000?” she laughed. He walked up to her slyly, getting closer than she was comfortable with. Addy pulled back a bit as he leaned in, shoving the envelope into her hands. “How about $20,000?” he said with a low voice in her ear.

Her mouth dropped as she glanced down into the envelope. She had never seen that much cash in her life. Reluctantly, she reached into her bag for the tattered black moleskin. She handed it to him, in pure disbelief. The rich looking man tucked it inside the lapel of his jacket, then grabbed Addy’s shoulders with a clandestine smile saying, “Tell God I paid his bill.”