Title: Mama Mathilda
Prompts: Candles, fantasy, flowers, glow
Rating: K
Warning: None I can think of, other than too much sap!
Disclaimer: I don't own these people!

OCTOBER 21, 1990

"Oh, c'mon, Lindsay! It'll be fun. Don't be such a spoiled sport."

Inwardly, 16-year-old Lindsay Monroe rolled her eyes at Missy Danville's whine. Her best friend, Laura Hughes, joined the peer pressure.

"We're at a fall festival in Montana. It's nothing to worry about. She calls herself Mama Mathilda, for God's sake." Despite her annoyed words, Laura's words are gentle. Lindsay is always a bit cautious in nature. Always has been since that night two years ago, when the police showed up at her parents' home to tell her Andy, her brother, had been killed by a drunk driver at the age of 17.

Lindsay looks once again at the handmade sign over the entry of the faded, striped tent. Gaze into the future with Mama Mathilda. "Okay, fine, whatever."

Missy jumps up and down, squealing like a toddler who's had too much candy. "Me first! Me first! I want her to tell me Patrick McCandlish is going to ask me to the spring formal!" This time, Laura and Lindsay roll their eyes together.
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A few minutes later, Mama Mathilda, a grandmotherly woman with curly gray hair barely contained in a bun, is calmly explaining to Missy that while she sees romance in her future, she can't be sure if it involves Patrick or the spring formal. Pouting, Missy huffs and walks outside. "I'll meet you guys out here."

Mama Mathilda turns and smiles benignly at the other two girls. "Who's next?" In real life, she runs a knit shop two towns over. She puts on this persona to raise funds for the Rotary Club. Her own grandmother would be pleased to see Mathilda putting her "third eye" to good use. She sighed. Unfortunately, most people seem only interested in their next date or investment tips.

"Go on, you go." Laura nudges Lindsay, who shrugs and heads over to the chair, holding back some trepidation. Stop it, it's a sweet old lady at a country festival, she chided herself.

Mathilda uses no crystal balls, tarot cards or other props. The room has a large card table covered by a floral tablecloth, and fat vanilla candles give the area a soft glow and comforting scent. Without any magic words or hocus pocus, she simply holds Lindsay's hands in her own and closes her eyes. Usually she only sees flickers – sometimes nothing at all – but once in awhile …

"Oh my!" Her eyes open briefly to glance at Lindsay. "It would appear your inner self has an open window, dear. This should be interesting." She closes her eyes again, and Lindsay sends another eye roll in her friend's direction.

"Oh … I see blood."

That grabs Lindsay's attention, and she's tempted to pull her hands away. But Mama Mathilda's furrowed brows relax. "I see now … it's part of what you will be doing … your job. It will center around death."

The hairs on the back of her neck prickle. Lindsay's already taking extra science classes – she wants to be a crime scene investigator, like the men that used broken bits of windshield glass and tire tracks to find her brother's killer – some idiot with a suspended license for previous DUIs.

"Yes, it's something you've dreamed about I think – a loss breeding a calling, I believe? You will overcome obstacles, people who would stand in your way, but you won't let them. I keep seeing an ugly plaid – greens and browns - and I smell Old Spice. I wonder what that means? Oh well.

But you will reach your goal, and it will take you far from here. To the east coast, perhaps? Follow your heart, my girl. Let's see, where was I? Oh, yes, the east, where you will find your mentor in the land of lions and tigers and bears …"

"Oh my!" Laura adds before dissolving into giggles. Instead of getting angry, Mathilda smiles.

"It doesn't always make sense to me either, my dear. This time in your life is very clear for me – it's the important time, when the decisions will be what build your destiny. But I digress. On the coast you will meet your mentor – the man with the sad eyes. Father figure perhaps? More importantly, you will also meet the man of your dreams."

"Of course," Laura snorts, but Lindsay shushes her. Something tells her this is more than just some cheesy parlor trick, more than a fantasy.

"My picture is not all that clear, although I see a beautiful pair of blue eyes, full of love for only one woman – that would be you, my dear. It will take you a long time to find your way to each other, but it will be worth it. Let me see what else …

"You will bond over the blood of others, I see. Not only through your job, but over those close to you. Strange images that bring you together – spiders? Dumb bells? A cigarette butt? Hmmmm … what's this? Oh, I don't believe he will ever call you by your given name."

Even Lindsay has to raise an eyebrow at this, but she listens all the same.

"He will pledge his life to you – it will be the fantasy you hope for. Flowers, candlelight. A romantic evening that ends with …. Goodness! Never mind, dear. Wait, something else about what morning will bring. Rainbows? That's all.

"My advice is to follow your heart, first in your calling, then to this man. He will love you until you both leave this earth and beyond."

Mama Mathilda opens her eyes and Lindsay is surprised to see tears there. "Sorry dear, just remembering my one and only. My grandmother – she had the sight – told me about him when I was about your age. And she was right – he's gone from this earth, but he's with me everyday."

They stare at each other until Laura clears her throat. "My turn?" She switches places with Lindsay, who's lost in thought and doesn't even hear her friend's reading. Wonder when I'll find ole' blue eyes?

TBC