Was it the hat?

On occasion I wear a purple fedora with a tilted brim. The occasion usually being during a winter month on a day when it's not too windy - like yesterday. It's a rather adorable little chapeau, if I do say so myself; so much so that people often stop me on the street to tell me how much they like my hat. "Thank you," I usually reply, "it's Italian!" to which they usually reply, "Of course!"

Whilst sporting said purple hat, I was in Barnes & Noble last night with my best friend, my sister and her girlfriend. As we bounced around the DVD section, making oh-so-pithy comments on movies we enjoy and remarking upon the exciting revelation that with the current Barnes & Noble offering of "Buy 2, Get the 3rd Free!" we could purchase The Way We Were AND Love Actually and get Sixteen Candles FOR FREE when a young lady approached me.

"Can I ask you something?" she said.

"Of course," I replied, assuming she was going to ask about my purple hat.

"Have you ever had a reading?"

"Um, no," I responded rather sheepishly, wind knocked out of my sails and more-than slightly taken aback by her unexpected question.

"Because I think you have a very interesting aura..."

"Oh, why, thank you," I replied.

"and if you're ever interested in having a reading, I'd love to do one for you."

And with that, she handed me a slip of paper and said good-bye. Her calling card reads:

PSYCHIC

Tarot Card Readings

by Bella

She has intervisions to see all & tell

all if you want to know more about

yourself call this gifted psychic.

One visit will amaze you.

She will tell you your most deepest

secrets such as love, health,

marriage, business & success.

In the wake of her departure, the response of my companions was one of perplexed curiosity without a consensus as to whether or not I should venture to see Bella on West 106th Street.

The jury is still out so stay tuned for the outcome. I may just take Bella up on her offer and pay her a visit - without my purple hat.