The Looking Glass
Laura
and Hannah sat chatting outside the door of Madame Mystique’s parlour. Their friend Sue had begged them endlessly to
accompany her.
“Extraordinary,”
was all Sue could say when she emerged from behind the door.
It
was now Laura’s turn. Taking her seat
beside Hannah, Sue told her all about her experience.
“Its
total nonsense,” Hannah scoffed. “Even
her name is a crass cliché. It conjures
up pictures of a dodgy looking boudoir on the end of a pier somewhere.”
Hannah
was not impressed and could hardly believe that she had agreed to come on this
ridiculously extravagant excursion, but it wasn’t long before it was her turn
so against her better judgement, she took Laura’s place in the parlour.
Madame
Mystique was younger than she expected, clearly not the wizened old hag that
she imagined.
“At
last,” she said by way of a welcome.
“I’ve been waiting to see you for a long time. I knew you would come eventually.”
Hannah
found her act amusing and sitting down at the little table watched as the woman
wrapped her fingers around a crystal ball.
She couldn’t help thinking that this was a complete waste of money and
what would her husband think when he found out.
Perhaps it would be best not to tell him.
“You
shouldn’t keep secrets from your loved ones.”
Madame Mystique told her. “Don’t
worry, I can’t read your every thought but I know you are a disbeliever.”
Closing
her eyes before Hannah could reply she drifted into a trance like state and the
atmosphere in the tiny room became intense.
“Be
patient,” she murmured.
Hannah
chuckled inwardly at this act, becoming even more sceptical than before.
“You
have a child.”
That
was easy Hannah thought. Her friends had
obviously set this up.
“Be
still,” she snapped continuing with the charade. “She is not ready yet.” Visibly composing herself, Madame Mystique
went on. “Shaun is not well, he doesn’t
enjoy good health, but he is looking forward to his birthday next week.” She was silent for a moment. “Despite his illness Shaun is a happy boy who
gives you great pleasure.”
It
sounded as though she was reading from a script, probably supplied by Laura and
Sue.
“Yes,
yes. I will tell her.”
Hannah
smiled at the silly conversation the woman was having with herself then pulling
her cardigan tighter around her shoulders she shivered. Despite the closeness of the room, a chill
suddenly touched her skin.
“I
see a machine,” she was off again, “a machine for purifying the blood. Shaun has kidney problems.” She went on quickly as if sensing that
Hannah was about to get up and leave.
“It’s been a long time but the wait is almost over. Soon the machine will no longer be required.”
Hannah
could feel her anger rising. “What is
this? You have no right to talk about my
boy like this.”
“When
he was a child we used to play at the bottom of the stairs.” The voice of a little girl filled the room
and looking round Hannah searched for its source.
“A
grand staircase in the house where you still live.” This time it was a boy.
Hannah
imagined her friends outside having a good laugh at her expense. How could they be so cruel.
“He
used to talk to us and you called us his imaginary friends.”
“He
has a rare gift.”
Madame
Mystique remained silent as the voices spoke in turn.
“We
are Freddie and Lottie.”
Hannah
had not thought about these names in a long time. She may have mentioned them to her friends
but she was not sure.
“Shaun
will soon be well again. “
“We’ll
have another friend to play with,” the little boy sounded excited, but what he
said next made her shudder. “A life for
the gift of life.”
Hannah
thought this charade had gone far enough.
“We
are sorry for breaking the looking glass.” The voice stopped her from getting
to her feet. “We had to do it because
Shaun almost saw us.”
Hannah
frowned as forgotten memories came flooding back. She had definitely not mentioned this to her
friends. The incident happened one day
when Shaun was playing at the bottom of the stairs. A full-length mirror hanging in the hallway
had shattered and he refused to say how it happened. It was a miracle he was not injured by the
shards.
“He
almost saw us and we couldn’t allow that to happen.” This time both voices were talking at
once. “We have been sent to look over
him. He must not see us because then we
will have to leave before our task is complete.
Shaun is a special boy who has something very important to do. We have been tasked to keep him safe until
that time arrives.”
Hannah
was confused and very angry. She wanted
to confront her friends but something held her back. How could Laura and Sue have known all
that? Surely, they wouldn’t play such a
dirty trick.
Slowly
the temperature returned to normal and Madame Mystique opened her eyes. They stared at each other in stunned silence.
“You
have never told anyone about the mirror or Freddie and Lottie. These are names that you have not heard in
years, even Shaun has forgotten them.”
Hannah
knew this was true.
“Shaun
has something very important to do in his lifetime,” Madame Mystique looked
up. “Don’t ask me.” She shrugged her shoulders in anticipation of
the next question.
“You
were a long time,” Sue said.
“Delving
into your sordid past,” Laura giggled.
Hannah
smiled at them both. “I’m so glad that you
persuaded me to come along today.”
“You’ve
changed your tune.” Laura remarked. “So
what did she say?”
Both Laura and Sue stared at
her in anticipation.
“Let’s
just say that the experience was very revealing for the both of us.” Hannah turned to Madame Mystique and winked
before quietly closing the door.
