"Good evening young man, would you like a chat?"
"...Me?"
"Yes. Is everything okay?"
"Um... look, I don't have any money."
"That's okay. Pro bono."
"..What does that mean?"
"Free consultation for those who are struggling financially. Please take a seat."
Eddy sat down in the chair offered to him by the young man who sat behind a small desk covered with a white table cloth. He had a handmade sign that said "Fortune teller" scribbled on it in one of the messiest hand-writings Eddy had ever seen. Actually it was misspelt "Fortune teler". Eddy thought he was the dodgiest fortune teller he had ever seen.
"I'm Brett by the way. What's your name?"
"Um.. can't you just tell?"
Brett smiled.
"No. I'm a fortune teller, not a clairvoyant."
"Oh.. sorry. I'm Eddy."
"Nice to meet you Eddy. So, what's been bothering you."
"Um..."
Eddy cast his eyes down towards his lap.
"Hey.. are you okay?"
"Um.. yeah... I haven't had someone ask me that in a while..."
"Take your time. You're a student. School must be hard at the moment. You must be under a lot of pressure to meet very high expectations... particularly those by your parents?"
Eddy looked up with his tears filled eyes.
"OMG, how could you tell?!"
Brett smiled.
"Just by simple observation, Eddy. You're in school uniform. I recognise it. It's the senior uniform for one of the top schools in this area. You're Asian. Wouldn't take more than 2 brain cells."
"Oh..."
Eddy may have given out a chuckle if he hadn't been so tense.
"There's something else though.. Most students from that school of yours are feeling academic pressure. But there seems to be more on your shoulders. Do you want to tell me about it?"
"Um...."
Brett sat back into his chair and smiled. He tried to give Eddy some space and time to speak. However, Eddy remained silent, either lost or trapped in thought.
"Eddy?"
"...I.. I don't know where to start."
"May I start then?"
Eddy gave a puzzled look, then nodded.
"Okay... may I see your palm to help me out a bit please ?"
Eddy looked at Brett then shrugged his shoulders as he held out his hand.
Brett took Eddy's hand with both of his hands. Brett's hands were significantly smaller than Eddy's and surprisingly smooth and delicate. Brett closed his eyes as he gently held Eddy's hand for while then he started to study his palm. Brett gently traced parts of Eddy's palm with his fingertips.
"Eddy, I think.. you're sad because.. you are misunderstood. This happens a lot to you and it upsets you but you rarely show it. But I think your cup is getting full and it's about to overflow."
Eddy shot a stern look at Brett.
"OMG... why... how..."
Eddy covered his face with his other hand and started to cry quietly.
Brett just held Eddy's hand for a while.
"Eddy... would you like to elaborate?"
Eddy answered softly between sobs.
"No... no I don't.. but how did you know?"
"Eddy.. please look at me."
Eddy looked up. Tears were streaking down his face.
"Eddy... I'm about to share you a trade secret with you.. "
Eddy tilted his head with a confused look on his face.
"99% of people will have a strong reaction towards what I've just said to you... We all feel misunderstood yet all want is to be understood."
"OMG...!!!"
Eddy pulled away and stood up. The fold-up chair he was sitting on crashed behind him.
"That's... that's..so..."
" Yes?"
"Manipulative!"
"Why, Eddy? It's not like I've tried to sell you anything. I have no such intentions. I just wanted to help make you feel a bit better."
"... D, deceptive then!"
"...but I was right, wasn't I? And at this stage, we're just having a chat. I haven't even read your fortune yet."
"I thought you were reading my palm....!!"
"Look, Eddy, all I tried to do was try to understand you. And that act alone has healing effects – when people show an interest in you. Holding your hand should have the same effect. Do you feel any better, Eddy? Even if it was just a little bit ?"
Eddy looked at Brett, holding back his sobs. He then quietly picked up the folded chair and placed it back upright.
"...I'm sorry I crashed your chair Brett."
"That's okay... please take a seat again.. If you don't want to, it's also okay to just walk away."
Eddy took a seat.
Brett held out his hands to Eddy.
"Can I have your hand again please? Actually, preferably both ?"
Eddy obliged. Brett gently felt Eddy's hands.
"Eddy, you are an amazing person."
Eddy scoffed.
"You say that to everyone, too?"
Brett looked into Eddy's eyes and squeezed his hands.
"Actually, yes, I do. Because it's true, we are all amazing in our own right Eddy. But f*ck, you really don't seem to realise how truly amazing you are. Do you think you aren't any good because you always have to try so hard ? Do you realise that being able to try hard is a talent in itself? Not everyone has the stamina, the drive and the grit to keep pushing themselves like you have been, Eddy. That alone is truly admirable. "
"Brett.. do you have a logical explanation as to why you thought I am a try hard? Or is this you reading my fortune?"
"You have calluses all over your left fingertips. I'm assuming you play the violin ? Like for hours on end. And your right hand has an enormous pen callous, in this digital device era. You're studying old style and you're doing a lot of it."
"OMG.. are you ever going to read my fortune at all?"
'Well... tell me what's bothering you the most and I'll see if I can read something useful for you."
Eddy thought about what Brett said.
"I... I'm not interested in a lot of things that are popular among my school friends. I like... other things.. different things from my peers... and I can't tell them about it because I don't want people to make a big fuss about it.. and it's hard.. and it's lonely."
"Okay Eddy. I hear you. That would make your life pretty difficult. I'm sorry to hear that. I read here that you are very wise and insightful for your age. And it's difficult to cope in an environment if you are years wiser than those around you."
Eddy looked at Brett in surprise. This man just seemed to know and say exactly what Eddy wanted to and needed to hear.
"Eddy, there will come a time when your physical age will catch up with your mental age and vice versa for those around you. By this time, you will be surrounded by like-minded people and won't have to give a toss about what other people say."
Eddy tried to imagine a picture of his future and liked what he saw and sighed.
"...But what am I meant to do in the meantime??"
"Keep trying to find like-minded people. People you can talk to. I'm sure there are some at your school. You don't need a lot of them. You really don't. This popularity thing is way too overrated, I promise. Eddy, don't forget, you're amazing and you will be okay. No, you are amazing and you will be fabulous. I promise. That's your fortune I'm telling you."