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“Do it. Shuffle the cards.”
Eugene looked down at the cards, turned to look at the table, in front of them. He didn’t understand if Merriell meant by shuffle. He straightened up the card and shuffled them as if they were playing cards. Tarot cards, at least in Eugene’s eyes, seemed like playing cards. But it was like playing with fire. But once again, that’s what his parents taught him when he was a boy. Now, he was a man.
“Boy, what are you doing?” Merriell asked, taking a long drag from his cigarette.
“Doing what you asked me to do,” Eugene responded as he finished shuffling them and handed them to Merriell, “You did say to shuffle them.”
The Cajun snorted as he took the set of cards and began to carefully lay down the cards.
“As if you're one to talk.”
“Jesus, you're a handful.”
Eugene carefully watched Merriell’s calloused hands lay the cards down in an intricate order. He laid the first two cards on top of eachother, the four on each side, and the last four to the left. It looked like a celtic cross.
Eugene didn’t know much about Tarot Cards. Merriell and him had been bored one night. Merriell had casually recommended it, and Eugene followed along. He wasn’t much of a believer in those types of things, but Merriell was. Both of them grew up with different lives. Regardless, Eugene was intrigued.
Eugene’s eye was caught by one of the cards. It showed a woman in a white headdress and a blue dress with a cross as a necklace and scroll in hand. In thick black letters, it said The High Priestess. Eugene wished he knew what these cards all meant. It only drove his anxiety as he fidgeted with the ring on his finger.”
“Don’t freak out about that card, by the way.” Merriell calmly mentioned, “Everybody does. But you’ll see.”
Eugene looked at Merriell to see a grin plastered on his face. Like a naughty cat who was up to no good.
“I’m not liking the looks of that grin, Merriell.”
“Aw, don’t be so sour, sugar. I’ve done this before. Besides…” Merriell took a glance at the cards and tilted his head, “I think you’d be shocked at what you hear.”
“Is it my future…all of it?”
“Possible, but…” Merriell emphasized on the word on the but, “I don’t know. This is like a draft of your life, but you choose what you want to do.”
Eugene followed Merriell as he moved to the first card, which was his current situation. Merriell displayed the first card of a dial, angels, and devils. It was the Wheel Of Fortune Card.
Merriell made a humming noise, “Well, you're in luck. In the upright position, this means you're in luck. Your possible future is lining up to benefit you down the line. Think of.. surprising offers and new opportunities.”
Eugene took in Merriell’s words and thought about the card. He was somewhat relieved about the benefits in his future. It did also bring him to the surprising offers and new opportunities aspect. In the recent month, Eugene had been offered a promotion to a higher class. Not to mention a surprising offer from Sid about a small apartment in Florida that he and Merriell could use in the summer if they wanted.
Still, Eugene wanted to believe, but he kept an open mind. He turned to Merriell and nodded his head for him to go on.
“Next one is Raising current influences and…” Merriell picked up the card and raised his thick eyebrows, “well, it’s the devil card.” He flashed it to Eugene, “But…it’s reversed.”
“And that means…?” Eugene felt his heartbeat faster. The devil-the color red-made his skin all cold.
“Overcoming an addiction. Freedom. Indepence-“ Merriell explained, “Take it as you will. I’d take it as something good. I mean..” He sheepishly shrugged his shoulder, gently brushing it against Eugene’s, “If you know…”
Eugene looked down at Merriell, who’s big bluish greenish eyes looked right into his hazel ones. Eugene let out a small chuckle, in disbelief and shock.
“You think that me…coming out is overcoming an addiction?”
“If an addiction to validating people such as your parent’s and their needs, then sure. Why the hell not? Those things make you feel out of control…but, your taking control of those things and liberating yourself from it.”
Not too long ago, Eugene had put his foot down. Well, in a very quiet manner. When Mary Houston, bless her soul, kept pestering her baby about finding a pretty gal, Eugene had stated that he wasn’t interested in finding a wife anytime soon. Eugene had also mentioned that he was living with Merriell, a stranger and not the type of person you’d bring home to your parents, instead of someone from his college.
When piecing the puzzle together, Mary Houston wasn’t exactly pleased. Their current relationship was similar to that of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
But Eugene didn’t know how much longer he was gonna be able to keep it in for. To be fair, it was quite obvious.
“Gene,” Merriell had said and it caused Eugene to look up at him, trying to hide that he was a hot mess on e inside.
“It’s possible. Let’s move on to the next one. It’s how the past is relevant to your current.”
Great, it’s just what he expected. Now Eugene was overthinking the whole situation. Fuck, Merriel just wanted to have some fun, smoke, read tarot cards, and trash talk Eugene’s family and friends.
“It’s the moon,” Eugene saw the card. It was just what he expected. A moon with a human sideline and two dogs looking up at it. Merriell pointed at the tire, The Moon, at the bottom.
“It’s upright…so it means you’re being driven by your emotions or your heart. Here…” Merriell pulled over a small, aged leather book. It looked like a mini bible, just was actually a guide to Tarot cards that Merriell’s mama had given to him.
Once Merriell found the page, he began to read the definition of The Moon.
“The upright Moon can also be some illusion. There may be a hidden truth in your life that you need to uncover. The Moon cautions you from accepting what things seem to be. It may be time to dig a little deeper and allow the light to shine upon the fallacies in your life.”
“So, what I’m saying is…” Merriell made an explanation gesture with his hands, “You're accepting yourself for who you are by moving forward. Not to sound all sappy and shit, but with these cards..”
“So these Tarot Cards are predicting my possible future from a deck of cards Is all one big allegory for me to come out?” Eugene questioned. “Everybody knows.”
Merriell nodded with a shrug, “I mean..I did say it was a possibility. Maybe not everyone. I can see it happening. But we ain’t done, we’re only halfway through. Next is the halfway best outcome.”
The card Merriell held was called The World. It showed a naked woman, her hair covering her breasts, holding two candles.
“Oh! Now this is what the best outcome is. You’ve persevered, overcome the past, and have fulfilled your future-and your content with it. You’ve worked to be what you’ve wanted to be.”
Eugene leaned it, squinting to look at there card, “Graduating college and having my parents accept me?”
“Well, and having a hot boyfriend, but…” Merriell shrugged and poured, “Guess I ain’t in there.”
“Merriell,” Eugene patted his head, “Don’t act like a victim. You're fine.”
Merriell huffed and pulled out the sixth card, “Guess we’ll see how your future shapes up.”
Eugene saw the card. He wasn’t an expert in his field, but he was damn smart enough to know that the card had to do with romance. It showed two naked lovers and a creature with wings holding their hands above them as if he, or she, were blessing the couple. Seeing the words The Lovers, Eugene could already sense the smile growing on Merriell’s face.
“The Lovers…how your future shapes up. Oh Eugene’s possibly future, what are you doing to us?”
“Just get on it with,” Eugene hid his smile with a hand covering his face, gently smacking Merriell’s shoulder.
Merriell let out a fake groan and looked at the card, “Well, it means a decision is made about a relationship. Whether it be about something that exists or not, it’s happening. It’s usually a yes card. And with your other predictions…”
Eugene wasn’t surprised when Merriell leaned his head onto Eugene’s shoulder, snuggling up like a cat. He felt his boyfriend’s breath on his neck, and it made him let out a soft sigh. He leaned onto Merriell’s head and closed his eyes, letting out a bum.
“Don’t other cards appear that can change that?”
Merriell grumbled, “Yes, but with the looks of it…it seems like we’re attached at the hip. Partners in crime. Soon to be. Soulmates .”
Eugene raised an eyebrow at Merriell, and Merriell saw the amusement in his boyfriend’s face. He liked how red his face got. He seemed happy, but stubborn to accept his fate. Which he wanted to accept, but he was holding back. Merriell was bound to make him accept it. He had seen it in his visions, felt it in his bones. There was something about Eugene that radiated that just attracted Merriell right to him. He knew Eugene wasn’t leaving him anytime soon.
“Alright, then let’s see. But I need a little boost.”
“Of what? Coffee?”
“No- your face. ”
Merriell ducked right under Eugene and stole his lips. Eugene was taken by surprise and sucked on his lips back, holding Merriell’s head to feel his soft curls and for balance as well.
“Stay?” Merriell said through the kiss. Eugene wasn’t leaving on his watch. That was at least what these cards, and the feelings that had been engraved in his bones were telling him.
Eugene smiled and broke the kiss, “Yeah. Why the hell not.”
Eugene wasn’t much of a skeptic anymore. Merriell did offer some real magic; besides the cards.