My Name Is Evil Read online

  “Why? Because he’s your boyfriend?” Jackie teased.

  “It was so mean! Why did you do it in the first place?” I asked.

  She fiddled with the tiny glass beads on her necklace and grinned. “I don’t know. I just thought it would be funny.”

  “Hey, check it out. A fortune-teller!” Jilly said. She pointed to a small black tent that stood beside an ice-cream cart. “Can we do it? I love fortune-tellers!”

  “No way,” I said. “They make me nervous. I don’t even like watching them in movies.”

  “Come on, Maggie. It’s your birthday,” Jackie said, pulling me to the tent. “You have to have your fortune told on your birthday.”

  “Let’s see what the fortune-teller says about you and Glen!” Jilly teased.

  “I don’t think so,” I said.

  But as usual, they didn’t give me a choice. A few seconds later we were standing at the doorway to the dark tent.

  “We’ll all have our fortunes told,” Jackie said. “My treat.”

  “This is so cool!” Jilly whispered. “Do you think it’s a real psychic? Do you think she can really tell the future?”

  The three sisters started into the tent. I held back, staring at the red-and-black hand-lettered sign: MISS ELIZABETH. FORTUNE-TELLER. ONE DOLLAR.

  I suddenly realized that my heart was racing.

  Why do I feel so weird? I wondered. Why do I have such a bad feeling about this?

  I followed my friends into the tent. The air inside felt hot and steamy. Two electric lanterns on the back tent wall splashed gray light over the fortune-teller’s small table.

  Miss Elizabeth sat hunched with her elbows on the table, head in her hands, staring into a red glass ball. She didn’t look up as we stepped inside. I couldn’t tell if she was concentrating on the red ball, or if she was asleep.

  The tent was completely bare, except for her table and two wooden chairs, and a large black-and-white poster of a human hand. The hand was divided into sections. There was a lot of writing all over the poster, too small for me to read in the smoky, gray light.

  As she stared into the red glass ball, the fortune-teller muttered to herself. She was a middle-aged woman, slender, with bony arms poking out from the sleeves of her red dress, and very large, pale white hands. Squinting into the light, I saw that the polish on her long fingernails matched the red of her dress.

  “Hel-lo?” Jackie called, breaking the silence.

  Miss Elizabeth finally looked up. She was kind of pretty. She had big, round black eyes and dramatic red-lipsticked lips. Her hair was long and wavy, solid black except for a wide white streak down the middle.

  Her eyes moved from one of us to the other. She didn’t smile. “Walter, we have visitors,” she announced in a hoarse, scratchy voice.

  I glanced around, searching for Walter.

  “Walter is my late husband,” the fortune-teller announced. “He helps me channel information from the spirits.”

  Jackie and I exchanged glances.

  “We’d like you to tell our fortunes,” Jilly said.

  Miss Elizabeth nodded solemnly. “One dollar each.” She held out her long, pale hand. “Four dollars please.”

  Jackie fumbled in her bag and pulled out four crumpled dollar bills. She handed them to the fortune-teller, who shoved them into a pocket of her red dress.

  “Who wants to go first?” Again, her eyes moved slowly over our faces.

  “I’ll go,” Jilly volunteered. She dropped into the chair across the table from Miss Elizabeth.

  The fortune-teller lowered her head again to gaze into the red ball. “Walter, bring me the words of the spirit world about this young woman.”

  I suddenly felt a chill at the back of my neck. I knew I shouldn’t be frightened. The woman had to be a fake—right? Otherwise, she wouldn’t be working in a tacky carnival like this one.

  But she was so serious. So solemn. She didn’t seem to be putting on an act.

  Now she took Jilly’s hand. She pulled it up close to her face and began to study Jilly’s palm. Muttering to herself, she moved her long finger back and forth, following the lines of the palm, tracing them with her bright red fingernail.

  Jackie leaned close to me. “This is cool,” she whispered.

  Judy sighed. “This is going to take forever.”

  Jackie raised a finger to her lips and motioned for Judy to shush.

  The woman studied Jilly’s palm for a long time, squeezing the hand as she gazed at it, murmuring to Walter in the red glass ball. Finally she raised her eyes to Jilly. “You are artistic,” she said in her scratchy voice.

  “Yes!” Jilly declared.

  “You are a … dancer,” Miss Elizabeth continued. “You study the dance. You are a hard worker.”

  “Whoa. I don’t believe this!” Jilly gushed. “How do you know—?”

  “You have much talent,” the fortune-teller murmured, ignoring Jilly’s question. “Much talent. But sometimes … I see … your artistic side gets in the way of your practical side. You are … you are …”

  She shut her eyes. “Help me, Walter,” she whispered. Then she opened her eyes again and raised them to Jilly’s palm. “You are a very social person. Your friends mean a lot to you. Especially … boy friends.”

  Jackie and Judy laughed. Jilly flashed them an angry scowl. “I—I don’t believe this,” she told the fortune-teller. “You have everything right!”

  “It is my gift,” Miss Elizabeth replied softly.

  “Will I make the new dance company?” Jilly asked her. “Tryouts are next week. Will I be accepted?”

  Miss Elizabeth stared into the glass ball. “Walter?” she whispered.

  I held my breath, waiting for the answer. Jilly and I were both trying out for the dance company. And I knew there was only room for one of us.

  “Walter can find no answer,” the fortune-teller told Jilly. “He only groans.” She let go of Jilly’s hand.

  “He—groaned?” Jilly asked. “Why?”

  “Your time is up,” Miss Elizabeth said. She motioned to us. “Who is next?”

  Jackie shoved Judy forward. Judy dropped into the chair and held her hand out to Miss Elizabeth.

  Jilly came running over to join Jackie and me at the edge of the tent. “Isn’t she amazing?” she whispered.

  “Yes, she is,” I had to admit. How did she know so many true things about Jilly? I was beginning to believe Miss Elizabeth really had powers.

  And now I didn’t feel afraid or nervous. I was eager to see what the fortune-teller would say about me.

  She squeezed Judy’s hand and gazed deep into Judy’s dark eyes. “You have great love in you,” she announced. “Great love for … animals.”

  Judy gasped. “Y-yes!”

  “You care for them. You work …”

  “Yes,” Judy said. “I work in an animal shelter after school. That’s amazing!”

  Miss Elizabeth ran a red fingernail down Judy’s palm. “You also have an animal that you care about very much. A dog … no. A cat.”

  “Yes. My cat. Plumper.”

  Judy turned to us, her face filled with astonishment. “Do you believe this? She’s right about everything!”

  “I know! It’s so cool!” Jilly exclaimed. She swept back her blond hair with a toss of her head. She kept bouncing up and down. She seemed too excited to stand still.

  The fortune-teller spent a few more minutes with Judy. She told Judy that she would have a long, successful life. She said Judy would have a big family someday.

  “Of kids? Of animals?” Judy asked.

  Miss Elizabeth didn’t answer.

  Next came Jackie’s turn. Once again Miss Elizabeth was right on-target with everything she said. “Wow,” Jackie kept muttering. “Wow.”

  Finally I found myself in the chair across from the fortune-teller. Suddenly I felt nervous again. My mouth was dry. My legs were shaking.

  Miss Elizabeth looked older from close up. When she smiled at
me, the thick makeup on her face cracked. Tiny drops of sweat glistened at her hairline.

  “What is your name?” she asked in a whisper.

  “Maggie,” I told her.

  She nodded solemnly and took my hand. She raised my palm close to her face and squinted down at it in the gray light.

  I held my breath. And waited. What would she see?

  She squeezed my hand. Brought it closer to her face.

  And then … then … her eyes bulged wide. She let out a loud gasp.

  With a violent jerk she tossed my hand away.

  And jumped to her feet. Her chair fell behind her, clattering to the tent floor.

  She stared at me—stared in open-mouthed horror.

  And then she screamed:

  “Get OUT! Get AWAY from here!!”

  “Huh? Wait—” I choked out.

  “Get OUT! You bring EVIL! You bring EVIL with you! Get OUT of here!”

  I stumbled out of the tent, my heart pounding.

  The air felt cool on my face. I sucked in several deep breaths.

  My three friends tumbled out after me. Jackie was the only one laughing. Judy and Jilly were shaking their heads.

  I started to jog along the path between the rides. I wanted to get as far away from that crazy woman as I could!

  Screams from the roller coaster rang in my ears. And over that shrill sound, the fortune-teller’s frantic shrieks repeated in my mind.

  “Get OUT! You bring EVIL! You bring EVIL with you! Get OUT of here!”

  I stopped running and pressed my back against a tall wooden fence at the edge of the pier. The Three J’s hurried up to me. “Wh-why did she say that?” I gasped.

  Judy and Jilly both shrugged.

  “It was … crazy!” Judy whispered.

  “But why did she say that about me?” I repeated breathlessly.

  Jackie laughed and gave me a playful shove. “Because you’re a witch!” she cried.

  “But—but—” I stammered.

  Jackie imitated the fortune-teller’s scratchy voice: “You’re evil, Maggie. Get out of here! You’re so evil, you’re scaring Walter!”

  Jackie sounded so much like Miss Elizabeth, I had to laugh.

  “Let me see your hand.” Jackie grabbed my hand and pulled my palm up to her face. “Yuck! You are evil!” she cried. “That’s the most evil hand I ever saw!”

  They started laughing all over again. But this time I didn’t join in.

  “She seemed so serious,” I said, picturing the whole scene again. “And then when she looked at my hand, she really did look terrified. As if—”

  “It was all an act,” Jackie said. “I’m sure she does that all the time. To give people something to talk about and tell their friends.”

  “Maybe she wanted more money,” Judy suggested. “You know. To tell us what the evil was.”

  “But why did she pick me?” I cried. “Why didn’t she tell Jilly she was evil? Or Judy?”

  “Because it’s your birthday!” Jackie teased.

  And then I had a thought. “You set this up—didn’t you!” I cried. “You went to the fortune-teller earlier and told her to say that to me!”

  “No—” Jackie started. “Really—”

  “Yes! You know I always fall for these things!” I insisted. “It’s another one of your tricks. But I’m the new Maggie. I’m not going to fall for your little joke.”

  “We didn’t set it up! Honest!” Jilly said, raising her right hand as if swearing an oath.

  “I’ve never seen that woman before!” Jackie declared.

  “Come on. Let’s forget about it. Let’s go on the Ferris wheel,” Judy said.

  “When we’re up at the top, we can lean over and spit on Miss Elizabeth’s tent!” Jackie said.

  “No. I really want to get away from here.” I shuddered. “Really. Let’s go. I don’t know what to think about that crazy woman. I just want to go.”

  Jackie put her hands on my shoulders. “You’re shaking!” she said. “You didn’t take that woman seriously—did you, Maggie? She’s crazy!”

  “I know. I know,” I muttered.

  But as we walked back to the Mullens’ house, I kept examining my palm. I couldn’t get that woman and her frightened face and her terrified cries out of my mind.

  As soon as we got inside, we ordered pizza. Then I pulled out the magic kit my mom bought me for my birthday. And I started doing some of the tricks.

  “Watch carefully. Which hand is the coin in?” I asked, holding my closed fists in front of them.

  Jackie rolled her eyes. “Your mother bought you this?”

  I nodded. “Come on. Which hand?”

  “Your mother must think you’re five years old!” Jackie said.

  “I had that same kit when I was seven,” Judy chimed in.

  “But you know I’m really into this stuff!” I protested. “You know I love magic. Check this out.” I shoved the box in front of them. “The disappearing dollar-bill trick. And remember this one with the cups and the three red balls?”

  “You’re definitely weird,” Jilly said.

  “No, I’m not,” I replied sharply. The fortune-teller flashed into my mind again. “I just like the idea of making things appear and disappear. I think it’s so cool.”

  “Make the pizza appear,” Jilly said. “I’m starving!”

  “Okay,” I agreed. I waved my hand three times toward the front door. “Pizza—appear!” I commanded in a deep voice.

  And the doorbell buzzed.

  Everyone laughed in surprise. “Yaay! You did it!” Jilly cried. She ran to the front door to get it.

  “What did your father send you for your birthday?” Jackie asked.

  I sighed. “He forgot again, I guess. He didn’t call.”

  My parents have been divorced since I was four. My dad lives in Seattle, and he doesn’t call that much.

  I took out a silvery box from the magic kit. “Here. Let me show you a great trick before we eat. Jackie, lend me your necklace.”

  Jackie’s smile faded. “My necklace?” She reached a hand up to the tiny, brightly colored glass beads.

  “Yeah. Just lend it to me for a minute,” I said, holding my hand out for it. “This is a really cool trick. You’ll be amazed. Really.”

  She frowned. “Be careful, okay, Maggie?” She bent her head and started to slide the necklace off. “You know how much this necklace means to me. My great-grandmother gave it to me. I never take it off.”

  “She didn’t give me anything,” Judy griped.

  “She didn’t like you,” Jackie snapped. The beads caught in her long, black hair. She carefully tugged them free and handed the necklace to me.

  “Wow. It’s so light and delicate,” I said. “Now, watch carefully.”

  I slid open the silver box and carefully tucked the necklace inside. Then I turned the box over and over between my hands. “You watching?” I asked.

  “Yeah. Sure,” Jackie replied. Judy stared at the box without blinking. Jilly set the pizza down on the coffee table and watched the box twirl in my hands.

  “This box leads to the fourth dimension,” I announced. “When I open it up, your necklace will not be inside. It will be in the fourth dimension.”

  “Jilly lives in the fourth dimension!” Jackie said. Judy laughed. Jilly stuck her tongue out at Jackie.

  “The necklace is gone!” I declared. I slid open the box and showed them it was empty.

  “Cool!” Jilly said.

  “Good trick,” Jackie said. “Very good.”

  I slid the box shut again. Then I turned it over. “Necklace—return from the fourth dimension!” I ordered.

  I pulled open the box and peered inside. “Hey—!”

  “It’s not there,” Jackie said.

  “Whoa. Wait a minute,” I said. I turned the box again and slid open the lid. “No. Not there. Hold on.”

  I raised my eyes to Jackie. She was glaring at me impatiently. “Maggie—?”

&nb
sp; My chin trembled. “It’s in here. I know it is!”

  I turned the box and opened it again. No. I opened both sides. I slid open the secret compartment. No.

  “Oh, wow!” I cried. “Oh, wow. Jackie—I—I’m so sorry! I don’t know where it went!”

  With an angry cry Jackie jumped up from the couch. She grabbed the box from my hands and examined it. “Maggie, is this some kind of a joke?”

  I couldn’t keep up the act any longer. I laughed. “Of course it is!” I exclaimed. “It’s a magic trick—right? Look in your pocket.”

  Jackie squinted at me suspiciously. “Huh?”

  I pointed. “Look in your pocket.”

  She reached into her T-shirt pocket and pulled out the necklace.

  “Wow!” Judy clapped her hands.

  “That’s so totally wild!” Jilly declared. “You’re good, Maggie. You’re really good!”

  I took a quick bow.

  But then I saw Jackie still glaring at me. “I think it was mean,” she said through her teeth. She carefully returned the necklace to her neck.

  “It was just a trick!” I protested. “Besides, it’s not as mean as making someone’s pants fall down!”

  “But you know how much this necklace means to me,” Jackie said. “It’s the most beautiful thing I own.”

  “Yes, it’s beautiful,” I agreed. I sighed. “I wish I had one like it. I’d never take mine off, either.”

  Jackie eyed me suspiciously. Finally a smile crossed her lips. “Well, if it ever really disappears, I’ll know who swiped it!”

  I laughed at that, along with Judy and Jilly.

  I had no way of knowing that Jackie’s necklace would disappear for real just a few days later.

  Jilly brought paper plates and cans of Diet Coke from the kitchen. We each took pizza slices and carried them back to the living room to chow down.

  “Maggie, do another trick,” Jilly urged.

  “No. Turn on the TV,” Judy said. “See if there are any good movies on.”

  Jackie glanced at the clock on the mantel. “It’s pretty late,” she said to me. “Think you should call your mom or something? Tell her you’re still here?”

  “No. She had to work tonight,” I replied. My mom is a nurse at Cedar Bay General. She has a different work schedule every week.