it has been a while
so i walked into the den
of a psychic reader
she had cozy chairs
a plush cushioned bench
and a short-haired cat

i sat down on the bench
next to the cat
who had tan and gray
patches on his back
ears dipped in black ink
white legs and belly
i could feel energy and electricity
pass between us
we were instant friends

the psychic read me
prodding my soul
for points of entry
accurately picking at a few scabs
and dumbfounding me
with some empty straws
when it was all said and done
she finally decided i needed to spend
half a grand on a spiritual cleansing

wordlessly
the cat said
you don’t need that

i know
i telepathed back
even as I verbally implied to the psychic
on my way out the door
that i would consider it

©A. D. Joyce, 2018