Fortune Teller

• Riley Musgrove, Grade 7, Cooran State School
• Short Story
• 2013

Excellence Award in the 'Dream Big 2013' competition

It was ten 0'clock on a Friday night and Herm was staying at Mitchell's house. He planned it to be a fun night but it was cold, wet and there was a power cut. They decided to go outside for a bit. When they were seven they used to go and hunt for mysteries, but that was years ago.

Mitchell saw a black cat streak across the yard. "Hey Herm," he started, "Wanna go and follow that cat like we would if we were seven?" He was being stupid and was sure Herm would laugh and say no. But to his surprise Herm agreed.

They followed the cat along the dark street. A few houses along they saw an old woman, staring at them. Mitchell wanted to go back but Herm kept walking towards her. He tried to yell out but his voice stuck in his throat and a cold breeze swept through the street.

Mithcell raced up to Herm, who was already at the woman. "Come on! Let's go back. She's creeping me out," he said urgently. But Herm was transfixed on the woman. Neither spoke for a while and then the woman said very slowly, "The cats'll come."

Mithcell was bewildered but then sure enough, several black cats stalked out of the night from all directions. Mitchell gasped in shock whereas Herm just stared at her and the cats.

Then the woman said, "The dogs'll cry," and all the dogs on the street let out piercing howls that made Her and Mitchell cry out in shock. The woman nodded at them as if to say, 'I am what you think I am."

What the woman said next though, nearly scared Mitchell silly. "Your family will meet a tragic end." She was staring at him now and Herm was looking at him. Mithcell gestures that they should go home so they both set off at a run back to his house.

They smashed open the front door and ran up the stairs to his parent's room. His mum and dad were laying in their bed, snoring lightly, both completely fine. MIthcell sighed hugely in relief and they both went quietly back to his roomn. They laughed at themselves for thinking that the woman could tell the future. "Those animals were just trained!"

But just as they were about to go to bed, they heard a car pull into the driveway. When they looked out the window they saw Mitchell's parents getting out of the car. Of course! They had been out all night at a special dinner.

They looked at each other. Then who was in Mitchell's parents' bedroom?