Wednesday December 14th 2016
Woman comes up to me, holding a piece of heather with a foil-wrapped stem, as I’m putting on my coat, leaving a restaurant. I know what you’re going to do, I say. She presses two small glass pebbles into my hand. Asks me for paper money. Grey, sharp eyed, taut face. As if it’s the same woman I’ve seen over the years and she’s finally caught me. She crosses my palm with silver and tells me to make a wish with her, together. I pause and wish for good health. It’s going to be a good year, she says. Before January 25 something important will happen to me. She keeps me close and I stay close, almost mesmerised. She asks for paper money, you know, to make Christmas right for me and her. I realise there’s another woman rocking on her heels nearby. Black hair. Lipstick. Handbag.
I look in my wallet but all I have are M&S gift tokens. I offer her one, but she declines it. I say I have no paper money, but remember I picked up a handful of £1 and £2 coins before I left home.
I pull the change from my pocket and open my hand to select some coins. Ah, just give us that handful of change, she says. I admire your technique I say. I count out £8. It is Christmas, she says. I count out two more.
That’s it, I say.
Blessings, she says. And we part.