Dec, 2021 1st place winner: Divination by Sara Jordan-Heintz

Delia’s heart still thundered as she walked away from the tents filled with laughter, screams and the smell of stale popcorn. Fortune telling was for entertainment only she’d told herself going into the dimly lit pavilion.

The Gypsy, Iza, had given her the usual spiel: change was coming in her life, there was conflict between she and a loved one, she possessed a kind spirit. Oddly, the Gypsy had asked for another gold coin to be able to probe further into the future. What a preposterous scam!

Delia went back and forth in her mind about whether to return the next evening to confront the fortune teller. While curiosity had gotten the better of her, Delia wasn’t that keen on giving the woman any more money. After all, a single gold coin represented what she earned in a week’s time cleaning the Fuller mansion.

Delia’s worn boots thudded against the wooden bridge leading to Iza’s domain. When she didn’t find the Gypsy in her tent, she asked other carnival folk. No one had seen her, nor had anyone heard of her. Now running at a brisk pace, Delia headed to a sideshow, hoping a schedule of events would be printed.

At the front entryway, Iza stood with her back facing the entrance. Delia reached for the woman’s wrist, heavily layered in bracelets.

She watched as the entire arm tumbled to the ground. The Gypsy stared at her with painted eyes as her plastic body swayed from Delia’s touch.

Sara Jordan-Heintz has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and magazines. Her novella “A Day Saved is a Day Earned” was published in Rod Serling Books’ inaugural anthology “Submitted For Your Approval” edited by Anne Serling. Her flash fiction has appeared in “101 Words,” “Red Planet Magazine,” “365 Tomorrows,” “Friday Flash Fiction,” “The Mambo Academy of Kitty Wang” and in the “Brilliant Flash Fiction” print anthology “Branching Out.”