Conjured
by PJ Francis

   It was a hot day. The sun was relentless in its anguished misery; a hot fiery ball of bilious gases. The heat shimmered across the desert, conjuring images of vast sparkling oceans. Surrounding were immense red granite giants-shapes contorted by the biting winds that howled across the plains at night. Dotted sprigs of gorse and thorns grew, punctuated by the occasional looming green cacti, standing with arms open and upheld-waiting for moisture to arrive.

   Amanda stood, one hand held to her forehead, shielding her eyes as she gazed across the plain. The glaring light made her squeeze her eyes tight as she tried to see if there were any dust trails-a dead give away that would show that they were being followed.

   "I don’t see anything, mum" she said, turning to the dark haired woman next to her.

  "Keep looking Mandy, they are there somewhere, I can sense them…"

   Amanda sighed with irritation. God she hated to be called Mandy-such a dumb name. "My name is Amanda, Mother," she replied wiltingly.

   She glanced at her mother. It was no good-Her mother was away with the fairies, again. She would expect no response.

   They had been travelling for six days now. The brand new, no expense spared Cherokee Jeep was looking fairly battered now. A deep scratch was gouged all along the one side-a result of her mother’s over zealous parking habits. The luxurious ebony paint work was pitted and marred, although a surface cover of fine sand and dust almost obliterated the damage.

   Amanda figured that her mother had got them lost, yet again.

   "Christ, mum! Do you have any idea where we are?" she demanded.

  "No profanities, Mandy. I do wish that you wouldn’t take our dear Lord’s name in vain. And you, of all people should know that!" her mother replied haughtily. "I have brought you up better than that!"

  "Yeah, yeah!" Amanda moaned" Mother? No more sermons today. I’m pretty fucked up with them. Ok?"

  "I do wish that you would call me Lorna, my name, instead of mum or mother! We are so young, that we could be sisters, well almost…" she sighed wistfully "It wasn’t that long ago that I had you!"

  "Gees, Mother! Who the hell are you kidding? Look at me! I’m seventeen for Christ’s sake! And you’ve got grey in your hair" Amanda laughed, spitefully.

 *********

   Six months previously, they had been sat in their luxury apartment, overlooking the Thames. Lorna had rushed in to Amanda’s bedroom, giddy with excitement.

  "Mandy! Mandy! Wake up!" she had shrilled. "We are going to America! I've done it, we really are going!"

   Amanda had sleepily pushed the cream duvet off her face. "What? Why are you so worked up, Mother?" She had glanced at the bedside clock, it read 8:15am."Shit…it’s still night Mum! Leave me alone! I need sleep…!"

   Her mother wouldn’t leave her alone, and she had kept on running around the room, screaming with joy. In the end, Amanda conceded, and got out of bed, albeit grumpily.

   "Tell me, mum, what the hell is up?"

   "You know that I work for The National Spiritualists Organisation? Well they want me to do a tour of American Spiritualist churches…and they want me to write a book on my findings! Written from my very own special point of view! Isn’t that something?"

   "Yeah-it’s something alright" she had replied.

*****************

   Here they were, six months later. Amanda had come with her mother begrudgingly, although she was secretly excited at the prospect. This really would be something to brag about to her friends.

   "Mandy? It’s time to hit the trail!" her mother’s voice broke into her thoughts. "Where were you then, darling? Somewhere nice?"

   "Yeah, mum. I’m coming" she sighed.

   They traveled for the next hour in silence. The scenery flowed past them at a never-ending pace. The landmarks all looked the same, though the only difference being the placement of vegetation, or lack of, Lorna thought bemusedly. She glanced at the young girl sat huddled in the passenger seat. Shame. She could make so much of herself! She was an attractive young thing, but the diamond stud in her nose and the gold ring in her bottom lip spoilt the illusion somewhat. And the hair! Why did she have to spoil her gorgeous long, luscious black locks? Her hair had been beautiful! Not this short cropped, blonde punky style that she wore now. Remnants of pink tinged the ends. Lorna shook her head in disbelief. What had happened to her little raven-haired angel?

   "Is that what I think it is?" Amanda said gazing out of the window. "Could it be that we have found the only fast food outlet in this godforsaken place?"

   "I think you are right, Mandy. Hungry?" Lorna replied, pulling the Jeep into the forecourt.

   "You bet! Hell, I could eat a scabby cat!" Amanda said, laughing. "On second thoughts-I think I’ll settle for fries and a double cheeseburger. Mmmm… think my tastebuds are gonna explode at the thought of it"

   Lorna opened the Jeeps door, laughing. "You and your junkfood! You will have clogged arteries…"

   "Spare me the lecture, mother!" She swung open the door and leapt out. "Hey! Should we pretend that we aren’t tourists? Act natural? Like the natives?"

   "I’d watch what you are saying there, young missy!"

   Amanda turned sharply at the sound of a deep voice.

   The man was leaning against the diner’s doorframe. He was a big man-at least 6ft 4 in height. Muscles bulged from under the arms of a denim work shirt; the sleeves were casually rolled up to the elbow. He wore dirty jeans and scuffed tan cowboy boots. Slung around his waist, was a thick black belt, the buckle a silver skull.

    "Wow, look! It’s the Lone Ranger!" Amanda retorted. "Where’s your horse, Cowboy?"

   The man looked at her. "You wanna watch your mouth young lady. It will land you in trouble"

   Lorna rushed over, amazement etched on her face. Amanda’s going to land us right in it, she thought, panicking.

   "I’m ever so sorry, Mister. She’s not normally any trouble" She shot Amanda a look as if to say you wait ‘til later, madam, then you will know what trouble is all about.

   The man stared at Lorna "That’s ok, ma’am. But around these parts, it’s better that you keep a tight rein on yon missy’s mouth. We don’t need strangers around here, especially smart asses!"

   He straightened up, and moved towards them. They both gasped as he reached into his shirt’s pocket; he noticed their reactions and smiled. He reached in to his pocket and pulled out a battered pack of Marlboro’s. He flipped the top open, and took out a cigarette, lighting it leisurely.

   "The name is Rudy Goldsmith" he said "I’m sorry that I scared you ladies, I didn’t mean to, no way ma’am. You really ought to be careful around places you ain’t been before. Strangers tend to wind up in trouble around here. People go missing almost at any time-night or day" he drawled softly.

   Lorna took a step back, "Are you threatening us, Mr. Goldsmith?"

   Rudy looked at the strange woman with the long dyed black hair, and her equally strange daughter (he surmised that they were related because the daughter looked like a smaller replica of the older woman-albeit weirder looking).

   "As I said, ladies. I would be very careful. It’s not me that you gotta worry about."

   He turned on his heel, flicking the burning stub of his cigarette into the dirt, and strode away, leaving the dust swirling in his wake.

    "Well! How impertinent!" Lorna spat at his retreating shadow.

   "Maybe we ought to listen to him, mum. He does appear to be a native. Gave me the spooks he did. Urgh!" Amanda shivered "What with his ominous warnings. Maybe we should just frig off from here rather rapidly!"

   "We will do no such thing! We need some food, I need to freshen up-I feel as dirty as a pig in mud!" Lorna said. "We won’t be long at all; then we can push off from this dusty old place."

   They marched up to the diner. Above them a sign winked at them in red neon. It grandly announced
‘J O E ’ S  D I N E R’

   Amanda pushed open the door. The smell of cheap fried food hit her senses squarely. There were three other customers inside, an extremely obese man, and his equally large female companion, and a small middle-aged man who was tucking into a large rack of ribs with gusto.

   "Not exactly packing it in here are they?" Amanda whispered to her mother.

   "Hush Mandy! I don’t want you causing me any more problems, Ok?"

   "Moi? Like I would!" Amanda giggled.

   Lorna looked at her daughter with impatience. "Just behave" she hissed.

    They headed for a table near a large window; from here they could plainly see their battered jeep outside. Amanda sat facing the window, her mother sat opposite her, so she could keep an eye on the goings on in the diner.

   "Your order, please?" a bored voice asked them.

   They both turned and looked at the waitress- Amanda noted the dull expression on her face. Her bleached blonde hair was lacquered ornately, the black pencil thin eyebrows arched in a state of perpetual surprise. She looked like a jaded Hollywood wannabe, Amanda thought bemusedly. The nametag pinned on her red and white striped apron said ‘Marlene’. The apron was covered in assorted stains, the most prominent and recent being ketchup.

    They looked at the menu "Can I order fries for two, a double cheese burger, and a medium rare steak?" Lorna asked.

   "Certainly you may! Would you like any drinks with that?"

   Lorna glanced at Amanda "Two cokes?"

   "I’ll have a chocolate thick shake instead, thanks"

   Marlene wrote the order out on a small tatty pad. "It will be with you soon," she said stifling a yawn.

   "Has work been busy?" Lorna asked her.

   Marlene glared at her. "As you can see, we ain’t exactly over run here! Guess the coaches with all those rich tourists ain’t coming!" she laughed bitterly, walking away.

   Lorna looked at Amanda and raised her eyebrows "Sorry I asked!"

   Marlene returned carrying their drinks-the thick shake frothing over the side of the long glass. "If there’s anything else ya need, don’t hesitate to ask! We like to look after our customers here at Joe’s" Her blue eyes bored into Amanda’s brown ones. "Yep-don’t hesitate, not at all!"

"Are you ok?" Amanda asked shyly.

"No ma’am, no I ain’t!" She leaned over to Amanda, so close that Amanda could smell stale cigarette smoke combined with minty gum. "Stay here any longer, sweetheart, and you’ll know what I mean! Thing’s ain’t right here, not anymore. You ought to turn back-go, leave here. I don’t want to see nothin’ bad happen to a sweet young thing like you."

   Marlene leaned back "Your meal won’t be long." she said to both of them." I’d better move Joe’s fat ass in to gear-for those that don’t know, he’s our resident culinary expert." As she left, she winked at Amanda.

   Amanda wondered what Marlene was talking about; another warning? She went over it in her mind. What the hell did Marlene mean? Amanda sighed and turned to gaze out of the window; dusk was falling. The brightness in the diner leant an emphasis to the approaching darkness. A small flood of yellow light illuminated the area where the vehicles were parked. Amanda shivered. She wasn’t sure if it was from the slight chill that she had sat next to the window; or from a general sense of eerieness. A sudden flash of light made her peer closer to the window. She wiped the glass where her breath had misted it, watching the approaching twin head lights of a car. The lights grew brighter, making her squint, then the lights suddenly dimmed, leaving an after glow on her retinas. She heard the sound of a door slamming shut then nothing.

   "Yes. Then imagine my surprise when Jule’s said that he didn’t want to know. I ask you! Some people have the cheek of the devil!"

   "Huh?"

   "Weren’t you listening to me Amanda? What is it with you lately?" Lorna demanded.

   "I saw a car pull up. And there is nothing up with me!" Amanda retorted hotly." You are always going on at me. Give me a break, for fuck's sake, mum! You are always on my case…"

   "If you took the time out to listen-I was saying that Jule’s has turned out to be the no good rotten crook that I always thought he was! Don’t forget…I can sense these things…!"

   "Spare me the psychic babble, mum! I am not one of those morons that you take in spiritualist circles!" Amanda muttered, "Glorified seances, that’s all they are…!"

   "I’ll have you know, they are very moving! Very serene, sacred even, but then, you wouldn’t know, would you Amanda? You wouldn’t know because you won’t join in!" Lorna replied haughtily.

   "And you wonder why!" Amanda said laughing "You are all kooky! You really think that I would get caught up in all of that nonsense? You gotta be kidding! Oh mum-get a life!"

   They were interrupted by Marlene who brought over their food. She dumped the plates on the table "Enjoy!" she said.

   The diner’s door banged open, revealing a tall thin man. He hurried over to a corner table, long black coat flapping like bat's wings behind him. He pulled up a chair and sat down heavily- wheezing with the effort.

    This strange looking man caught Amanda’s attention. He looked dirty, grimy, like he hadn’t washed in months. His long grey hair was lank and matted, and when he lifted his face, she saw a long ragged wound that ran down from his temple to his chin. The wound looked angry and raw, crimson blood ran along the lips of the cut and dripped onto the plastic table. Amanda grimaced. The man was bleeding over everything, yet seemed unaware of it.

   Marlene strode over to the man, pad at the ready. She gasped when he looked at her. She felt his eyes bore into her soul, making her feel woozy and nauseous. She gripped a chair nearby, clutching it so tight that her knuckles went white.

   "Two steaks; blue"

   Marlene regained some of her composure "Would you like…"

   "No! Nothing else! Just two steaks as rare as you can get ‘em. Now go" he snarled.

   She scuttled away like a whipped dog-relieved to be away from the stranger. She had thought to mention that with a cut like that, he should see a doctor, but with that attitude, he could rot for all she cared; preferably fifty miles away from the diner, No, she amended. Make it a thousand miles- creepazoid!

   She shoved open the double doors that led to the kitchen. A fat man wearing a greasy white cap sat near a large oven smoking a cigarette. He eyed Marlene lecherously as she leaned in.

   "Joe, I think we could be in for some trouble. There’s a guy out there with real bad manners. He’s bleeding like a stuck pig, and he wants two steaks, blue, or as rare as you can get ‘em-his words, mind!" She sighed "Something real creepy ‘bout him."

   "There won’t be any bother, Marl, rest assured! He won’t be a problem-got my friend here for company," he said, getting up off the chair. He pulled open a large cupboard and reached for the stained baseball bat that resided inside. "Nope. No trouble at all!" He caressed the wood, smiling. "I’ll get them steaks ready for our guest…"

   Amanda sat watching the man, while she picked bits of cheese out of her cheeseburger. She thought he looked familiar, but she couldn’t think where from. They had been travelling for so long that she thought that everyone looked familiar. Maybe, she reasoned, it was the person that had been following them.

   "Mum?"

   "Yes Mandy? Lorna replied as she methodically cut her steak

   "Do you recognize that guy over there?… the one with the long coat?"

   Lorna glanced across at him. She felt a stab of fear. It was the same man. But it couldn’t be- could it? They had encountered him three weeks ago, while she was holding a private séance in Utah. He had been there with two other men, in the home of the recently widowed Mrs. Jackson and her disabled daughter, Lily. But what happened to him? Three weeks ago, he had been immaculately dressed in a grey suit, hair groomed in to a ponytail. Lorna remembered that he had been most polite and courteous- graceful in his manner. That man bore little resemblance to the wreck that sat in the corner.

   "Mandy, he was at the séance that I held at Mrs. Jackson’s. You know, it was about three weeks ago- in Utah?" Lorna hissed quietly.

   "Yeah, I remember. What happened to him?" Amanda replied in a shaky voice. "I hate to tell you mum, but he could be the one that’s been following us…"

   Lorna gazed at her daughter, eyes wide with fright. "You could be right! I’ve been telling you that I have had this strange feeling, since we left Utah!"

   Marlene approached the lone man with caution. The hand that held the plate with the steaks trembled with fear.

   The man looked up at her and leered "You wanna get yerself home, Marlene. Your husband, Ricky, is at home fucking your young brother. I hear Tommy likes it up the ass. Oh Ricky’s dead good-slipping it in nice and easy. Didn’t realize that your husband and brother have been having relations for over a year now, did ya? " He smiled, showing jagged broken stumps of teeth.

   "How dare you…" Marlene said breathlessly "My Ricky’s working nights, construction. Tommy is at home with his wife, they’ve just had a baby boy two days ago…"

   She looked down at the weird, creepy man. "How do you know my Ricky? Is this a prank? Well I think it’s pretty sick"

   The man stared at her "I don’t know any Ricky, Ma’am!" he whined rubbing his hand over his face. "What's happening to me…" He looked up at Marlene, tears coursing down his cheeks, wincing as the salty liquid seared in to the long ragged cut down his face. "I used to be respectable…once. Now I’m tainted, dirty…"

   Marlene leaned towards him, gagging as she caught the scent of his breath. It smelled dirty, like rotten meat left for the maggots to crawl over, spoiled meat. She gasped, trying to get a hold on the nausea that was threatening to erupt. "You are one sick fella. I suggest you eat your food, and then without causing any trouble, sling your goddamned ass out of here!"

   "Goddamned is just about right…" he whispered.

    Amanda witnessed what had happened to Marlene. Although they were sitting too far away for her to hear anything. She had seen the dismay that had crept over the waitress’ face, and heard the anger in her voice. She felt scared.

   "Mum, can we go soon? I really think we ought to leave…"

   "I’m nearly finished. Just give me two more minutes, Huh Mandy? This steak is to die for!"

   Amanda glanced over to the man. He was hacking his steaks in to bite sized cubes; blood red slices, Amanda thought faintly. She watched in horror as he picked up a handful of the moist red cubes with grimy fingers and bundled them into his mouth, dribbling saliva and gobbets of blood down his chin. His lips smacked together with a resounding rubbery sound, as his fingers sought more bloodied meat on the red stained plate. He looked up at that instant, their eyes meeting, and he gave Amanda a leering crooked smile-almost a grimace, showing blood stained smashed pegs of teeth.

   Amanda grabbed her mother’s arm. "That’s it! We are going now mum! That guy’s a fucking nut! He’s eating raw steak and he’s smiling at me like a bloody vampire!"

   Lorna didn’t hesitate when she saw the look on Amanda’s face. The poor girl looked fit to faint-the color had literally leached out of her face. She reached into her purse, and took out a wad of notes. She grabbed a few and thrust them on to the table. She had over paid for the meal-but Marlene could probably do with the large tip; after all, she had to deal with the psycho. She’d earned it.

   It was dark and cold outside the diner; the temperature had fallen rapidly. Amanda wrapped her arms around her, teeth chattering against the cold. She wore a thin black cut-off T-shirt bearing the word Metallica; it wasn’t offering any protection from the chill of the desert air. Lorna was already by the Jeep, struggling in the dim light to find her keys. A sudden noise made her whirl around in fright. The crazy man was rushing out of the diner towards them.

   "MUM! Quick!" she squealed.

   "I can’t find my bloody keys, Mandy!" Lorna yelled.

   The man grabbed Lorna by the arm, his grip strong and fierce." I know you…!"

   Lorna struggled against him, but he held her tight.

   "It was you...you bitch." He spat in her face," You don’t know what you have done! You have sent him to me! I AM CURSED…and it’s your damned fault" he wept bitterly.

   "I…I…I don’t know what you mean" stammered Lorna in her fright, the man’s closeness to her was making her feel sick.

   "HIM! He makes me do things-terrible things. I can’t stop him. He’s inside me, I feel dirty…dirty and unclean" he yelped in pain "I can’t fight him anymore. I can’t stop…"

   "Bitch. Bitch. BITCH. Do you know that your friends think you are a joke? That your editor only wants to feel your daughter’s young tight pussy? Jules, your dear friend only wants to screw you in more ways than you could ever think possible…from behind and up the shitter? There’s more I could tell you…" He winked suggestively at Lorna, all the while gripping her arm tighter, bruising it.

   "Get away from me!" Lorna screamed "Get away from me and my daughter, you vile creature"

   "Vile creature? It was you who called me"

   Lorna looked blankly "W…W…What?"

   "That séance, the one in Wendover. The lovely Mrs. Jackson and her delectable disfigured daughter are not quite what you think they are. They wanted me summoned. I have since paid them a return visit. Funnily enough though, they weren’t laughing when I left. It sounded more like screaming. Mmmm… music to my ears…"

   "Who are you?" shouted Amanda, trying to pull her mother away.

   "His name is Ahriman. He’s a demon" a deep voice replied.

   Amanda spun around to see who had spoken. She screamed when she saw the large figure of Rudy Goldsmith approach.

   "Take your hands of f the woman" he demanded roughly.

   "And why would I do that?" Ahriman sneered.

   "I know you, demon-spawn. Haven’t you killed enough?"

   "I have only whetted my appetite, bastard."

   Rudy neared Lorna and Ahriman. He could see that the woman was in pain, tears glistened in the dim light. He pushed Amanda out of the way, hearing her cry of "damn you" muttered under her breath. "Lady…I want you to move towards me…"

  "He won’t let me go…" she whimpered.

  "He will. Listen to me. He needs sustenance, another sacrifice to hold him in the body that he has taken"

   Turning to the demon, he said, "Ahriman, let go of the woman. She commands it"

   Ahriman looked at Lorna "Do you command it?" he hissed.

   "DO it mum, Fucking command him or whatever the hell else" screamed Amanda. This was turning in to a real bad day she thought, biting her lip at the sudden burst of perverse humor.

   "I COMMAND you Ahriman. Let me go!"

   The arm that held her went slack, then dropped to his side "So be it"

   Ahriman turned to Rudy. "You are next. She’s spared for now, as she’s the one that summoned me. What about you?"

   Rudy slipped his hand underneath his denim shirt, pulling out a gold crucifix. He pulled it from his neck, breaking the fine gold chain. He lifted the cross and held it in front of him. "Be gone foul demon" he intoned deeply.

   "You really are foolish, man. You think the cross of the false prophet will save you?" Ahriman cackled. "You are so mistaken, my brave friend!"

   He swept his hand at Rudy; the gesture as light as a butterfly’s caress. Rudy gasped harshly and staggered backwards-hands grabbing his stomach. From between his fingers, a trickle of blood seeped, staining the torn denim shirt black. He looked at Amanda, slowly removing his one hand to look stupidly at the blood covering it. His face went ashen. He burped and spewed up a dark congealed clot of blood. A pale loop of intestine shyly popped out of the large gash in his stomach. Rudy burped again, and the loop turned into a coil as his intestines poured out, pale and shimmering, plopping out on to the desert floor. A slight steam arose from the pile. Rudy glanced once more at Amanda, taking the image of her to his grave. He fell heavily.

   Lorna looked at Amanda, and felt unsurprised to see that the girl was puking up steaming roils of part digested burger, roll, and thick shake. It splattered darkly on the dirt.

   Ahriman smiled at Lorna. "Can you behold my power, woman! I am strong! I am Ahriman-the true spirit of evil!" he burst into maniacal laughter. "After I devour our fallen comrade, I may allow you to watch me eat your succulent daughter! I think I will start with her young firm breasts first…"

   The mention of spirit brought a realisation to Lorna. She thought about it, realising that there was no other recourse. This she had to do herself. There was no time to be weak; she had to be strong for Mandy. The other realisation she had was that the maternal bond was strong-she could be like a lioness to protect her daughter. And if it meant a fight to the death, then so be it!

   "Ahriman…Ahriman…Ahriman. I command you to return to whence you came from. Foul creature-I command it in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ"

   The demon turned slowly to face her-a flap of skin hanging loosely across its cheek. He couldn’t believe it. The conjurer was sending him back. He’d only just come back after what had seemed a millennium. He thought that she was weak and malleable, but she had proved him wrong. She knew the secret of saying the name three times. Had he been wrong in using this woman as a means to come back? Could he be wrong?

   A strange white light seemed to glow around Lorna. In the distance, lightening lit the sky in great ragged tears, thunder rolled echoing dryly. Lorna felt an inner peace, so tranquil and so full of the most tenderest love she had ever known. She felt at peace.

   0"Ahriman…Ahriman…Ahriman, go from this place. You do not belong. You belong with the other vipers and serpents that were cast from The Lord’s feet. Slither back to where you belong. Be gone foul creature from hell! I COMMAND IT! I have the power to summon you, and I have the power to cast you back! I command it in MY Lord’s name"

   Ahriman screamed; an unearthly sound. Steam rose from out of his chest, the skin bubbling and blistering, melting the long black cheap polyester coat to the skin. His hair flared with sudden light as yellow flames licked around his scalp, smoldering the hair. He screamed again, this time in fear as he reached a hand to his face. His skin peeled away, leaving a countenance as raw as chopped liver.

   Amanda gaped open mouthed, as her mother ran to her.

   "My baby, my baby" her mother cooed to her. Lorna wrapped her arms around the slight figure of the girl, "Are you alright, Mandy?"

   "What the fuck do you think, mum!" Amanda sobbed.

   They watched the figure burn, then drop to the floor. A dark shadow emerged from the burnt ruined chest, driving upwards in to the sky. They followed it with their eyes, for a moment Lorna saw Ahriman’s true form- an immense hunched figure with a large square brutish head with horns, it’s lower half a mass of contorting snakes. Then the image drove in to the ground with such force that they were nearly thrown to the ground.

   "Thank God!" Lorna sighed wearily, slumping to her knees. She noticed a movement from the still smoldering figure on the ground. She leaned over, carefully.

   The charred and blackened figure opened its eyes. They were of the purest blue. Lorna leaned closer; the man was trying to speak.

   "Thank you!" the cracked lips moved again, but the voice was too faint for Lorna to hear. The man stiffened, a sigh escaping the ruined lips-then was still.

   She stood up, and faced Amanda. "Time to move on, Amanda. Fuck the book I’m writing! Would you fancy going to Miami, for a break?"

   Amanda stared at her mother and laughed. "After all we have been through, why the hell not?"

   Lorna smiled.

   "Hey, mum! After this, I might even become a medium like you- one day! You sure kick ass!"

   Lorna’s smile grew wider.

 ©2004 PJ Francis