Arcadia's Gift(39)

“Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thanks,” I replied, sitting down on the edge of the couch.
“Thank you for coming back,” she said with an understanding smile, before taking a seat across from me.
I pressed my lips together. I didn’t know how to start or even why I was there. I guess when people drop the bomb on you that they are psychic, it piques your curiosity.
“I’m not saying I believe you or anything,” I started, “but you must have had a reason for telling me about your…” I couldn’t say it. It was all too ridiculous.
“I know how this sounds to you,” Jinx said with a sigh. “I always have this problem when I tell people I’m a telepath. Most think I’m a fake, that I must be secretly Googling them in order to act like I can read their thoughts. But honestly, this isn’t a parlor trick. I wish I could escape it sometimes.”
“Well, like I said, I’m not saying I buy into this, but I want to hear more. Can you like…talk to me without speaking?”
“No, the connection only works one way. I can hear thoughts of others, but I can’t send messages back.”
“Convenient,” I replied. Her claim would be easy to prove if she could communicate something to me.
“No, actually it’s not convenient. It’s damn frustrating sometimes.”
She obviously didn’t pick up on my sarcasm.
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.
Jinx unfolded her legs and leaned forward, focusing a serious gaze on me.
“I’m telling you this in order for you to understand how it is I know certain things about you.”
A chill ran through me. “So you can hear my thoughts even when I’m all the way over at my house?”
“I have about a three block range. Give or take depending on how strong the person is broadcasting.”
I pictured our neighborhood with its rows of houses. Three blocks in every direction would include not only houses, but a gas station, a Catholic church and the small strip mall on Asbury Road…even the high school athletic fields and parking lot.
“That’s a lot of people.”
She sighed and frowned. “I know. I can tune most of it out now, but the buzz is always there, like background noise. I have to actually pay attention to focus in on a particular voice. Some people transmit more clearly than others. Their emotional state also makes a difference. If a person is calm, their thoughts are quieter, but if they are upset or excited, the thoughts can be loud enough to wake me from a sound sleep.”
“So when Lony died…”
She nodded. “Yeah. Your household practically has its own channel now. Your brother is the worst.”
“Seriously? I would have thought that would be my mother.”
“No. Your mother is sad and having a hard time, but her thoughts are muddled with intoxicants. She sleeps a lot, and I don’t pick up on dreams too clearly. But your brother isn’t sleeping much at all. He’s really suffering deeply.”
I never would’ve guessed. Aaron always acted so aloof.
“What about me? I assume that’s what you wanted to talk to me about.”
Jinx took a deep breath in and out as if buying time to weigh her words. “You are also suffering, obviously, but you’re stronger than they are. You’re pulling through it well. You’re lucky that you have such nice friends to support you.”
I didn’t say anything. My mind ticked through the last few weeks wondering what things this woman might have eavesdropped on. I still didn’t really believe her. Psychics are fake, right? I decided to test her again to be sure. I plastered what I hoped would be a neutral expression on my face, relaxed, and then shouted with my thoughts, Stand up!
Jinx hopped to her feet, sending the little dog scurrying under the coffee table. “Like this?” she asked.
My jaw fell open. “Y-you heard me!”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course I did! You yelled at me! Can I sit again?”
I nodded.
“Any other experiments you want to try? Guess what number you’re thinking or something?”
I shook my head no.
“Okay, then.” She scooped the dog up and set him on her lap, threading her fingers through his tiny curls. “So, the reason I wanted to talk to you is because I noticed something going on with you that you are not aware of yet.”
“If I’m not aware of it, how would you know? I can’t be thinking of it.” I was trying to sound like a smart ass, but the shakiness in my voice betrayed me.
“You’re not thinking of it, but I recognize the signs and feel an obligation to tell you.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Okay…”