“No kissing,” Elena said. “I will tell his fortune and yours, too, for five dollars each.”

Paul and Andre said nothing.

“Unless you’re afraid?” Elena added.

“No way, we’re not afraid,” Paul said.

“A girl who makes up stories doesn’t scare me,” Andre said.

“All right then, so all of you come to my place at seven o’clock,” Elena pointed her finger at them. “And don’t forget to bring your money.”

It was summer and there was plenty of daylight left after supper, which meant Fortin and his friends could stay out until eight p.m.. Elena’s family had a small basement apartment that smelled of onions and spices and was crammed with exotic things. A huge, battered steamer trunk with a padlock stood in a far corner, ancient photos in ornate oval frames of unsmiling, creepy ancestors stared from one wall, and a bowling-ball sized crystal sphere mounted on a wooden base sat on the mantel.

Elena’s little brothers talked in some strange language as they played with toy trucks and miniature soldiers in their bedroom while she and her guests sat at the kitchen table. She lit a red candle that was wedged into a wax-webbed blue bottle at the center. Then she switched off the lights and pulled the curtains, casting the room in a soft, dim glow. Andre, Paul, and Fortin had come up with their five dollars, retrieved from hidden boxes or stashed pickle jars that held money saved from doing chores, from birthday gifts from grandparents, from allowances.

They each put their cash on the table.

“What’s in that big trunk?” Fortin asked.

“That?” Elena glanced at it. “Family secrets.”

“Like what?”

“If I told you,” Elena smiled, “they wouldn’t be secrets.”

“Come on, no really, what’s in there?”

“Old things that belonged to our relatives in Europe.”

In the near-dark, Fortin felt the eyes of Elena’s ancestors watching from their places on the wall.

“Now,” Elena looked at Andre, “you first.” She took his hands in hers, studying his palms closely by the light of the candle for several moments. “No problems here. You’ll live a long, happy life.”

“Really? That’s it? For five bucks I think you should tell me more.”

“That’s it. You should be glad there’s nothing bad for you.”

“How about you give me some money back?”

“How about you shut up before I put a curse on you?”

Andre fell silent, and Elena turned to Paul.

“Now you,” she took Paul’s hands and did the same. She concentrated hard as a few minutes passed. “I’m sorry because for you; it’s good and bad.”

“Good and bad? What’s that mean?”

“You’re going to be wealthy.”

“Great! I want new skates and a new stick!”

“But you’re not going to live as long as Andre.”

“Hey, that’s not right, that can’t be true.”