Sucker Face

By Eliot Gabriel Graham

As I was hustling back from an odd job today, a man arrested my attention.

“You have lucky face.”
I had my headphones on so I didn’t quite make the words out. But his confidence was remarkable. I slowed my gallop, keeping pace with the middle-aged south-Asian, who was now following me casually.
“What was that?”
“Lucky face,” he repeated, “September shall be good month for you. Three positive, life changing things happen this month.”
Beguiled, I slowed my pace to a stop, confronting the man face to face.

(Avenue Montaigne worked its way around us. Situated between the Champs Elysée and Pont d’Alma, gaudy facades throbbed with young doormen, uncomfortably dressed beyond their station, loitering in front of the likes of Armani, Vuitton, and Versace, smoking cigarettes and eye-balling young, well-postured girls.)

“You were able to determine all of that by looking at me for just a few seconds?”
It was July hot. My shirt was greasy from the humidity and exercise of my walk.
“Yes, I am doctor of Astrology.”
“How did you know I speak English?”
“I know.”
“So, you’re a fortune teller?”
“Yes.”
“Look, I don’t have any money.”
“Give me hand. I read palm.”
Usually I would step over someone like this, but he caught me at an impressionable moment, apparently.
“Alright dude,” I warned, “but if you try any crazy shit…,” tapping my back pocket, “…I just wanna let you know that I don’t fuck around.” I gave him a hard stare as I handed over my palm.
He gave it a perfunctory scan and then said, “Okay, I make you deal: I read palm, and if good, you pay me for service.” With this he reached for a little pocket he had attached to his shoulder strap.
“Ahh, naw dude, I told you…I don’t have any money.” I picked up my steps and headed towards the bridge.
“You have very stressful face,” he barked as I paced ahead.

I looked back at him and shouted, “today you’ll have two lucky things happen to you!”

We both smiled.

***