‘GREAT EXPECTATIONS’

An Outlook on My Destined Future

Written By: Zehra Nasirali

Date: 23 February, 1998

For: Ms. Houslander
Course: ENG-2AI


 

      A bell clanks as I open the door to a mystified and crafty fortuneteller's waiting room. A tall, thin to the bone assistant approaches me. She is wearing a long flare black skirt. Signs of the four elements on her necklaces jingle on her satin black blouse as she makes her way towards me. Sheenarie opens her mouth. Some words flow out.

      "Ms. Zehra Nasirali, Madame Houslanderie will be with you in a few minutes. You may take a seat," croaked her husky voice. 1 am astonished. It feels like everyone in the room can predict the future. So I take a seat and not long after my mind begins to drift on my computer project that is due in a few days at school. I am so excited about this project or shall I say so excited about this course, because everything in my project was just working out right. Computers to me are very interesting and amazing; to specialize in the computers field was my ambition. However, it isn't long before I stand from my chair and stride toward the golden covered door, leaving behind Mollerie and Jennie, two inert-looking girls who were staring at me with no expression on their faces.

      As I lift my forefinger to tap a knock at the golden-covered door, a voice reaches my ears. "You may come in." I assume it is Madame Houslanderie. The knob creaks as I turn it. I am now surrounded by charms, statues and hanging chains; all superstitious objects. In the middle of the room lies a round table covered with a black table cloth that has golden-embroidered unique designs on the edges. Two chairs follow with it. In one sits the fortuneteller and the other lies empty - waiting for me to fill it. I take a seat. The light is as dim as ever.

      A loose black robe covers the fortuneteller's body. A purple turban with a jewel in the middle sits on her head. Her crystal blue eyes light the room. Different coloured garnets and beads hang on her neck as bunches of necklaces. Her face is solemn and expressionless.

      "I want an outlook of my destined future, " I ask her.

She instructs, "Be attentive, make no noise and look into crystal ball. I will show you." She then utters a few magic words beyond my understanding. All of a sudden a light shines from within the crystal ball that lies in front of her. Her eyes are closed. I feel more indulged and engrossed in the luminous ball, so eager to find out how successful or trodden upon my future will be.

      "Bill Gates..." she mentions a person who has so dearly made an impact on my life. A person who was, is and forever will be my inspiration.

"...And you... Pentium IV, 900 MMX. Both you partners.. work in big company," Madame Houslanderie started her broken English. Her words widen my eyes and drops open my jaw in shock. Subsequently, my heart cries with happiness and joy. I mean, here I am almost at the turn of the century inspired by Microsoft's producer, Bill Gates, who has directed my goals in life to be a computer programmer. Least do I know that moi, I, am going to be 'his' partner in the 21st century! My mind is swirled in excitement and confusion as to how I would receive this opportunity to work with Bill Gates.

      "Oh! Oooh!" I translated that something big was coming up. (This time I could predict it!!) "...and LOTS and loooots and lots lots lots of, um," she pondered for two seconds increasing my heart beat with curiosity,

"...um...LOTS of money, money, money," she repeated emphasizingly. Now, I was hoping that I would be a charitable person in the future as one of my desired wishes was to elevate the life styles of the poor and needy wherever they are. This was confirmed when she wavered her fingers on the information packed ball saying the words 'good, you very good' with a pleasant expression. I guess God was finally listening to my prayers. All the times I would talk to Him, ask Him and invoke Him were finally being responded to.

      During this amazing and unbelievable session, I made a promise in my heart that come what may, my Lord comes first forever, and I vowed to keep that ethic for as long as I lived. 

      Despite the thoughts that roamed my mind, I listened to her attentively. The crystal gazing ball had my eyes glued to it as abstract colours and images swirled around it.

      "You smaart.-.also skateboard with Jazminerie... study in YMCA with friends, two friends. Shamilerie and Maryamerie." Her voice began to fluctuate in a dreamy tone. The tone of her voice and her actions has me really believing her with amazement. I hadn't known that my passion for skateboarding and friendship with my two good friends would accompany me in my future. It seemed that I would be living a balanced lifestyle in the future. Being Bill Gates’ partner, with cases full of money coming in, which is where my desired automobiles would easily come from. I can picture myself driving an orange 'lamborgini diablo' one day and the next day I would be cruising a black, 850 BMW convertible. SIGH!! All seems so good in the future. My studies are ongoing, my friends in contact, all this gives me so much pleasure and ease to know that my future will be ever so perfect.

      "You be very strong too," she continued, "Van Damme teach you Tai Kwon Do." At that very moment I could picture myself throwing a 360 kick high in the air as I have seen my idol, Jean Claude do in all of his five starred movies. I began to doubt this 'fortune-telling' thins, because everything seemed too good to be true. In this I still allowed my dreams to dominate my doubted thoughts. My future seemed so fascinating, however it was not long before the happiness in my heart was disturbed. Madame Houslanderie was sitting up straight with her eyes wide open; her pupils had turned red in color. The table began to vibrate and shake even more violently. I felt a presence in the room. Chains on the wall began jingling and creepy chimes were sounded. Chills started running down my spine. I could hear my heart thud louder by the second. I was petrified; I didn't want to get involved with this crafty magic. Concurrently, the crystal ball exploded. Shattered pieces of glass flew across the room and oozing fluorescent, foamy liquid was all over the table. This had hit the tops. I dashed out the eerie room faster than you can reach the end of this sentence. On my way out I threw $35 on the cashier's table and zoomed out the store faster than the speed of light.

      In fright, I promised myself I would never visit a fortuneteller ever again. It was an experience I would never forget and never even want to think about, however the thought on how and why the crystal ball exploded still crosses my mind many at times. Nevertheless, I had received the information about my future that I had wanted. Since that day onwards I worked my way to success always looking forward to my 'great expectations' that in time were to follow.

 

Teachers Comments: 85% Well done!

 

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