a visit to the fortuneteller

So she asked politely, “Nathan, can I take you to see the fortuneteller?”

On the other end of the phone, Nathan began to chew on his tongue before letting out, “Mom…[what are you thinking?!?]”

Nathan’s mom sensed his skepticism and sighed. Her son knew better than have them listen to a fortuneteller. But she was a woman who worried like she was paid to do it. Besought by every worry known to womankind, she wrung her hands over her son constantly. Where will he live? Whom will he meet? What will he do? These were important questions that demanded answers, and she decided that she could find them from a stranger for the low, low price of one hundred dollars.

“Nathan, I know what you think. But honestly, I worry about you. She is well-respected and helps people all the time. And, I think she can help us.”

“Mom,” he shot back, “Why don’t you just ask ME your questions? What the hell does she know? The fortuneteller is a fraud. She just tells you vague stuff that anyone could guess and in return, you pay her lots of money like she just did you some big favor.” He could almost sense a lump forming in his mom’s throat. Poor mom, he thought to himself guiltily.

“Nathan, please. It’s only an hour. Please. For me?” his mom asked sweetly.

Nathan felt his iron will wilt instantaneously. There was no way out of this one. “Alright, fine!” he said, and imagined his mom doing a triumphant fist pump over on the other end.

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Nathan didn’t care much for Koreatown. He mused quietly in the car while his mother drove to see the fortuneteller. His eyes glazed over the endless row of Korean restaurants, shopping plazas, and night clubs, all brightly lit with the glow from neon lights.

They reached their destination – a house in the middle of a residential street. They walked through the metal gate and rang the doorbell. A stout and portly Korean lady answered the door and asked them both to come inside. She led Nathan and his mom into a small room – a converted bedroom-turned-office. Nathan and his mom took their seats in front of the lady’s desk. A chart of the human body hung behind the fortuneteller, illustrating various pressure points throughout the body. Nathan wondered for a moment why such a chart was here before being interrupted by the lady taking her seat before them.

The next moments were a blur. Nathan’s mom gave the fortuneteller a brief synopsis of her son’s life while the fortuneteller listened intently and took notes. Nathan was surprised at how…formal the whole process seemed. It felt more like a doctor’s visit than a visit with a mystic. Finally, the fortuneteller turned to Nathan. “Hello Nathan.”

Nathan smiled and bowed his head, a kind of half-assed greeting.

“Your mom tells me that you’re feel like you have trouble focusing these days. Is this true?”

Nathan gave his mom a look before nodding at the nice lady.

“Give me your hand.”

Nathan stuck out his hand, which the fortuneteller gingerly took in her own. She then revealed a small, plastic tube in her other hand. “This won’t hurt a bit.”

What won’t hurt a bit? Nathan thought to himself as the fortuneteller, with one swift flick of the wrist, stuck a thin silver needle from its plastic case into the middle of his open palm. Nathan sat in stunned silence, staring at the needle standing up out of his hand. Jesus!

“We’ll take it out in ten minutes, is ok?” the fortuneteller asked. Without breaking his gaze, Nathan nodded again slowly.

The fortuneteller then consulted with some of her books and took some more notes. She asked his mom some questions, which she eagerly answered – When was he born? What’s the father like? What school did he go to?

Finally, the fortuneteller began to share her findings with both mother and son. First, her son would undergo a number of surgeries, one which may save his life. Pfff, Nathan thought, who's not going to have two or three surgeries anyhow? He noted that his mom, however, was taking this seriously and was taking copious notes on a pad of yellow legal paper on her son’s behalf.

Next, the fortuneteller revealed that her son’s love life would be very rich and eventful. Nathan, according to the fortuneteller, would have no problems. His mom gave him a scolding yet playful look, as if to scold him in advance for being a womanizer.

Finally, the fortuneteller told both of them that for as long as the son lived, he would never be happy living at home. He’d always be away. Nathan noticed that his mom’s brows furrowed and her lips pursed at this news. She was obviously upset. Nathan tapped his mom on the shoulder and gave her a reassuring look. Mom, this woman’s crazy. But, unexpectedly, his mom smiled and said, OK. That’s fine.

With the needle still protruding from his palm, Nathan stared in disbelief. He felt like a bad son, like someone who had disappointed his mother for things he hadn’t yet done! This whole thing - insane!

And yet, he knew there was a chance he was never coming home. The Bay was truly home now, and he knew he’d only move back as a favor to his family. The fortuneteller gave him an “out”, a way to reset his mom's expectations without having to do it himself.

Sensing his discomfort, his mom smiled again. “It’s a big world, Nathan. There’s TONS out there, and I want you to see it.” While disappointed, she was nonetheless at ease with this news. She could live knowing that her son was happy, no, happier, living away from home. Pleased to see that his mom was taking it so well, Nathan eased back in his seat. “Now,” she said, this time to the fortuneteller, “could you take out the needle? Please?”