Reading

He'd been having doubts for quite a while now but Barry was really
on the verge of quitting the spiritualist industry. What wasn't helping
was being late for his appointment: He supposedly had powers to be able
to see what was to come and yet he'd misread his diary.

He dodged through the crowded sunny lanes, arriving at the crystal shop
ten minutes late. As he passed through the open door into the
comparative darkness he barely noticed the reassuring smell of
essential oil burners and ambient sound of an Inuit chanting cd playing
in the background.

"You've made it then" barked Sarah under her breath from behind the
cash desk.

"I'm sorry I.." he caught his breath and looked around. An adolescent
about five foot tall stood nervously by the bead curtain with an
elderly gentleman.

"You must be Tim, I'm sorry I'm late" Barry shook the hand of the boy
with whom he had the appointment.

"And I'm his grandfather", the old man extended a hand curtly "I'll be
looking after him".

"Please come through", Barry issued them through the bead curtain and
sat them down at his table whilst he readied himself.

Barry touched Tim's hand. "I'm getting a sense from you that you're
someone who doesn't like to leave things unfinished. You like a sense
of finality and yet you won't quit until it's really over".

"Yes, yes that's me", replied Tim eagerly.

"Well how bloody vague is that?" interjected the grandfather. "Who
likes to leave things unfinished? How can he agree with you? Have you
seen this boy's bedroom? Give us some specifics for God's sake!"

"OK. Tell me Tim, has an elderly relative died recently?" Barry paused.
"Your grandmother?..Was her name N?"

"Oh God not this chestnut! Her name was Edith." Interposed the
grandfather.

"Edith"

"Yes, yes - that was her name"

"And was she close to you?"

"She was his bloody grandmother. Of course they were close!"

"Yes, yes. I wonder, can I ask a specific question? Is my grandfather
there too? You see I'd like to get in touch with him - he introduced me
to spiritualism"

"And a right bloody idiot he was too! They all were on that side of the
family. Full of mumbo jumbo."

Barry soldiered on in spite of the heckling of the grandfather and Tim
listened eagerly.

"No I'm only getting a feeling from your grandmother. Maybe your
grandfather might appear at another session."

Barry continued on the same line until interrupted as the grandfather
stood-up. "You're a bloody charlatan - be honest you're not getting any
feeling for her at all are you! You're just taking this lad's money and
preying on his sense of loss cause he misses his other grandad".

"OK that's enough. I can't do this anymore. You'll get your money back
at the counter." Barry stood-up grabbed his coat and left the table,
passing through the bead curtain for the last time. He'd quit a job
he'd had doubts about for a while. The grandfather had been
right.

Tim was puzzled, he thought it had been going quite well. He was still
disappointed not to have got in contact with Grandad Mackay, although
it was nice to know Grannie Mackay was OK in the spiritual world. One
day he might get around to asking about his other granddad, Grandad
Baker who had died before his was born. But according to his Mum he was
a curmudgeon and a cynic who never really approved of the marriage and
didn't sound very nice.

He went to leave the shop, collecting his money from an apologetic
Sarah and then passed through the open door into the sunshine.
Alone.