Mark groaned at the Valentine's Day decorations in a store window as they passed by.  Was it that time of year already?  Bob and Wade chuckled at his discomfort.  Of course THEY could laugh.  Bob has a wife.  Wade has a girlfriend.  He was the only one who had to suffer through the lame idea that he would once again be all alone on this stupid holiday.  Bob clapped him on the back, telling him bluntly.  "Stop bitching. Every year, you see the decorations and you make that noise. Then we have to listen to how much you hate this holiday. Let's face it, Mark. You only hate it because you don't have a date. So, go out and find one. Take a random fan-girl. Make her day".  Wade chuckled to himself, then nudged Bob saying.  "With his luck, he'd get the crazy fan-girl that just wants a literal piece of him".  Bob chuckled until he saw Mark's fowl look.  Then he tried to sound more upbeat as he told him.  "Oh come on, Mark. If it bothers you so much then just stay home".  Mark bitterly told Bob as he scowled at a passing heart sign.  "Oh sure. Just stay home and watch nothing but romance movies playing all day.  Or love songs on the radio. Let's not even count the look on the damn pizza mans face when he sees I've ordered for one".  Wade fell back a little to switch sides.  Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, Wade pointed to a little house just up the road, telling Mark casually.  "How about trying that"? 

Mark waited until they were close enough to the little sign out front, before reading it aloud.  "The bobbling cauldron. Where we meet your needs. Palm & Tarot & Crystal readings. Herbs to sooth your worldly problems and much more".  Mark shot a sarcastic look to Wade, then to Bob.  Bob simply shrugged, telling him curiously.  "Could be fun to see what she says".  Mark tossed his hands up in a dismissive gesture, telling them both sternly.  "Oh no! I don't believe in that stuff. I'm not that desperate".  Wade leaned in close to Bob, mumbling out.  "I think he's afraid, Bob. Afraid she'll say he is doomed to walk this earth all alone".  Bob nodded, adding in casually.  "Oh most definitely. I'd go so far as to say he's scared of the little old lady".  Mark stopped walking away.  Slowly turning around to snap back slightly defensive.  "I'm not afraid. I just think it's a waste of our time".  Bob leaned against Wade's shoulder, chiming out.  "Definitely afraid".  Groaning out loudly, Mark told them both reluctantly.  "Fine. I'll go. It's not going to do any good".  Bob strolled over the bench along the sidewalk in front of the little house, telling Mark with a smile.  "Make it quick though. We don't want to miss meeting up with Jack".  Mark slowly started up the stony walkway toward the house, as Wade called out to him playfully.  "Be careful in there, Mark. I don't want to be the one to tell your subscribers that you were turned into a frog".  Bob chuckled, replying to Wade with a wide grin.  "Hey if Mark becomes a frog, do you think he'll still be buff and handsome as far as frogs go"? 

Gritting his teeth and trying to keep from smiling, Mark knocked on the door.  The little sign on the door said it was open, so he knocked again but a little harder.  When the door opened, Mark was a little taken aback.  It wasn't some creepy old woman, or some earthy flower child.  It just looked like a normal looking woman.  She looked him over quickly with her eyes and asked him curiously.  "What can I do for you"?  Mark cleared his throat nervously.  He hadn't really thought that far.  He was just so focused on showing up Bob and Wade.  The woman opened the door wider for him to enter, saying sweetly.  "First time, huh? Come in and have a seat".  Mark hesitantly stepped into the house, glancing around.  He thought he'd see a house that screamed Halloween... or was dark and smoky.  This was just a small house like any other.  The woman gestured to the small dining table, closing the door as she told him.  "Not what you were expecting"?  Mark shook his head and nervously sat down into one of the wooden dining chairs.  The woman smiled warmly back at him, and moved to a cabinet just inside the tiny kitchen.  Removing a black wooden box wrapped in a silk cloth, she sat down across from him, sweetly saying.  "Don't believe everything you see in the movies. We are actually quite nice people. Shall we begin"?

Mark started to reach for his wallet, but the woman raised a hand to stop him.  Smiling warmly, she told him.  "All readings are free".  Mark raised a curious eyebrow, when he asked.  "Then how do you make a living out of this"?  The woman opened the box to reveal a set of beautiful tarot cards, answering calmly.  "I sell herbs and oils of my own making. Sometimes baked goods. Even crystals and other witchcraft supplies. But to preform magic for money is not the witches way".  Mark straightened up watching her shuffle the tarot cards.  Then she spread them out before him face down and asked him to pick five.  Mark randomly chose five cards from different places and she laid them out in a weird layout.  One after another she flipped the cards he had chosen face up.  After a moment of silence, she looked up at him to say honestly.  "You're past is filled with sorrow and a since of loneliness.  Your present is content. It tells of great joy and wealth. While your future will bring change. But it seems to balance on scales... which could mean it will be good or bad based on the decision you make".  Mark tried hard not to chuckle.  He guessed something like this would happen.  Just a vague and obvious reading.  The woman extended her hand suddenly across the table and asked for his hand.

Reluctantly he placed his hand in hers and she closely examined his palm.  After a moment, she told him in slight disbelief.  "Your love line is broken".  Mark blinked in confusion, asking her nicely.  "What does that mean"?  The woman looked up at him with a sad expression saying softly.  "It means your looking for love in the wrong people. That you will struggle when it comes to love".  Mark yanked his hand away, unable to keep the slight bitterness from his voice as he snapped back.  "You were listening to my friends outside, weren't you"?  The woman looked at him confused, before telling him gently.  "Look, I don't normally do this... but you seem like a guy who deserves a little break".  Mark closely watched her get up and open a small door on the cabinet.  Inside were tiny little glass bottles.  She pulled one out carefully and moved back to the table to set it before him.  Looking from the little bottle to her, he asked curiously.  "What is this"?  She slowly sat back into her seat, telling him seriously.  "That is a love potion".  To Be Continued...