The Tower

Six: Rowyn

Six: RowynI may have been a little bit drunk, but whatever my less-than-subtle best friend had talked about inside had Reed nervous… or guilty. I couldn't quite decide and wasn't totally sure that it mattered. Jared Simpson was sitting on my deck waiting to have a reading done. It was like existing in an alternate universe. I didn't even know why I'd offered again. Maybe because I liked the looks on people's faces when they realized I wasn't full of s**t. It was a look that spoke volumes about where they were in their own belief systems, and it offered me a somewhat selfish sense of I-told-you-so. Even if the next day most of them would deny any questioning of their own faith- in that moment? It meant something. I could help people. If they'd let me.

Jared's newfound beer-confidence remained while I spread the blue silk on our old wooden table. I ask and thank the universe for your assistance, guidance, and protection. I ask my spirit guides to lead this reading and to offer their insight. I repeated this a few times with different variations and let myself feel the woods in front of me and the cool breeze on my skin. Normally, it took a few moments to relax enough to see what I needed to see, but the alcohol in my blood made this process much faster. I didn't so much see my guides, not as people anyway, but I could see their energy and hear them when I needed to. My feet remained rooted to the ground as I shuffled the deck.

“Okay, did you have a particular question?” His energy was easy to find because I was already so in-tune with Rosalyn and Reed. His was the only foreign one there. While it was apparent he wasn't super open to this experience, he was curious enough for me to feel him.

“Ummm, I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to ask?”

“Well, anything, really, but you could just give me an area of your life that you'd like some clarity in, and I could see what comes up.”

“Sure, um, well, we'll have our home opener against Riverside soon, and coach wants to try all of these new plays, and it seems sort of, I don't know, overkill? It's kind of frowned upon to say anything… I just feel like we're going to look like idiots.” That was more than I'd ever heard him say at one time. Football, okay. I'd heard the answer before he even finished the question, but I laid down the cards for more information anyway. Once The Emperor came up, all was clear.

Reading Tarot was just like reading anything. I learned what the symbols meant first, the traditional meanings, and then I learned what they meant for me with practice. When a reading went well, it was like reading my favorite book- easy, clear, intuitive. When a reading didn't go well, or I didn't get any information, it was like trying to comprehend in another language. This reading was going well.

“Your coach has zero worries about the Riverside game. He thinks you're going to win without much effort, which is why he's willing to let you look like idiots running plays you don't know yet.”

“Why would he want to do that?”

“He has some sort of past with one of the coaches from another rival team, I don't know who, but he wants to have something flashy to show when that match-up arrives. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't do what he asks. It looks like it'll work out when the time comes.” Jared remained skeptical, but asked several easy follow-up questions. With each card and each answer, he warmed up to me. That's the only way I could describe it. When he met my eyes, I knew whatever really motivated him to accept my offer was about to show up.

“Can I… can I ask about my mom?”

“Sure, we can ask and see what we get.”

“She…her health. I don't know-”

“That's fine, I can go off that,” I assured him, seeing he wasn't totally keeping himself together. In the back of my mind I started feeling guilty about calling him Todd all night. I felt a tingling in my chest, letting me know that she was having some sort of cardio-vascular issue, or something with her blood. Okay… what does this woman need to know? I knew of Jared's mother, so I could picture her clearly enough in my mind's eye. All I heard was “Nashville.” Okay? “She'll already know,” was the only answer I got before they retreated on that one.

“I get that she's struggling with some sort of maybe heart issue? Or something with her vascular or respiratory system?” Jared said nothing, but the way his eyes now reflected the light of the moon told me my people hadn't let me down. “She needs to go to Nashville. I asked why, but I just got that if you tell her that, she'll already know what it means.” I glanced down at the cards I'd laid out absentmindedly, and sighed with relief when I saw many that represented healing. I found him nodding to me in agreement, and I wondered if he already had an idea of what she was looking at in Nashville. “Hey.” I interrupted his train of thought. “She's a strong lady. They're going to help her there.”

“Thanks,” he got out, coming back to our surroundings. Rose was quietly holding his hand, and Reed's protective vibe had died down some.

“Anything else before we're done?” I asked, hoping to end on a less emotional note.

“Ah, sure. Are we gonna win state this year?” That question made my lips turn up into a smile. I went back to my guides, fully expecting a “maybe” response, as was the norm when someone asked about an outcome like that, but I was unsettled to find that they'd completely shut down this line of questioning. That's odd. I mentally rephrased the question four or five times; I got nothing. Okay then, apparently you all are sticklers about sports?

Turning to the cards, I laid down three, then two, then three more, and it was like Chinese. I asked one last time, and the only card I pulled was The Tower. The Tower was my least favorite card in the deck, typically bringing with it a shift in one's entire foundation. It didn't always lead to a negative outcome, but the road was never easy. Maybe I was just too buzzed to even read into what that could mean, but I felt confident that winning state was an improbability.

“Sorry, I'm not getting a real clear answer on that one. I guess you'll have to wait and see,” I advised. No need to crush the quarterback's dreams before the season even began.

“That's probably for the best anyway,” he agreed. “Thanks for… what, reading? For me. Some of the stuff you said earlier… it makes more sense now. Sorry if I offended you or something.” Jared's voice rang with sincerity.

“Anytime.” I closed the reading much in the same way I opened it, and I thanked my guides despite their abnormal behavior. As I reshuffled the deck, a yawned popped out, making me wonder what time it was.

“It's 12:30,” Reed answered without me having to ask. “Can I stay here?” he muttered more quietly.

“Yeah, that's fine, whatever. I'm exhausted.”

“Rose, here are my keys,” Reed stated, tossing them to her.

“Aren't you coming with us?”

“Nah, I'm gonna crash here.”

“I'll be in my room,” I said. “Being awake is not agreeing with me. See you later, Rosie Posie. I love you.” I leaned against her in a hug, and I admired her scented hair yet again. Beer made me a hugger.

“Be nice,” she whispered. “And do not let Reed sleep in your bed. You guys aren't seven anymore.”

“Whatever you say.” I nodded, already half asleep. “I'll call you tomorrow.” Shuffling through the door and across the deep hardwoods of my house, I felt the sense of purpose I often got when I read for someone new. It had been kind of intense to see a guy like that be vulnerable. After suffering the injustice that was the first flight of stairs, I peeked into Tristen's room quietly, picking up the stuffed bunny from the floor and placing it back in his crib.

The second set of stairs mocked me, but I finally made it to my sanctuary and fell into bed.