For seven long days I waited to use the crystal ball that I bought – at great expense I might add – from Sally at the “5 & 10 (& Secret Occult) Shop.”
As I mentioned earlier (see The Object of It All.), getting the crystal ball was out of my comfort zone, but what’s astonishing is what happened after I obtained my desired object.
“Martha, this unusual crystal ball will give you the answer,” Sally promised when she handed it to me.
“I certainly don’t need a crystal ball to tell me my past – I’ve lived it. I’m proud of my professional life as a bio-scientist, but I’m not thrilled with my personal life.”
I didn’t share with Sally that I’ve pined over three men in my life: Professor Jenkins at Oxford, who used me up like an old laptop and then flung me away with a new batch of freshman lovelies; Donte J—, the divorced state senator who swore he loved me and then married his office manager; and lastly, my best friend’s husband’s boss, a brilliant physicist, who two years into our romance turned celibate and became a monk.
Sally pushed me out the door. “Trust what she shows you.”
“She?” I asked, stunned. “The crystal ball has a name?”
“Of course. Her name is Stella.”
I carried the ball like it was a gold-encrusted egg. My time was running out, yet look at me! I’m not bad looking; my body hasn’t started to sag too much, and I offer wit and wisdom and a healthy sex drive. I can’t seem to pick ‘em on my own, but that is what the crystal ball promises to do.
So, I closed all of my drapes, smoothed my hands over Stella, and asked sweetly and simply: Show me my true love.
When he appeared, crystal clear through the rounded glass, I gasped.
Ronnie, the café barista I’ve greeted these past three years with nary a glance or a concern. Ronnie stood in my ball with a beam of promise. He had to be ten years younger than me, levels below my intelligence with little ambition, but he wore the sweetest smile this side of heaven.
So, I spread on some lipstick and a bit of mascara – God knows he’s already seen me at my worse most mornings at 6 a.m. – and raced out to order a Grande Latte extra foam.
Lo and behold, Stella the crystal ball showed me my future, as bright as hope and love.
CONGRATS to the winner! First, kudos to all of the inventive, playful, creative guesses of what I’d learn from the crystal ball. Speculations included the secret to eternal youth; an alien lover; my life’s purpose; a star dust discovery; the way to woo a lover (in five easy steps); financial advice; the scientist trying to steal my research; the ability to travel to any destination I choose; and many more.
But the first reader who guessed correctly was Joanne Sisco (My Life Lived Full – If you aren’t living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space) who noted: “My guess would be that the crystal ball shows your true love.”
As important as star dust, success, and eternal youth may be, I learned that LOVE is the object of it all. Joanne will receive my friend Pamela Wight’s lighthearted flash memoir, FLASHES OF LIFE.
A great sequel
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks – the final answer. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
A great story, Pam. Ronnie sounds like a great love interest. I often think it’s a good thing my hubby is so smart or I’d run rings around him 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ying and Yang makes so much sense in love. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent conclusion, Pam. I love that the crystal ball is named Stella.
(And picturing them yelling her name. 🤣)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I did the same, Merril! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
😀
LikeLike
S T E LLLLLL A ! ! ! ! 🙂 xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! 🤣
(You might remember that my daughter and son-in-law met when they were both cast in Streetcar. She was Blanche, and he was Stanley.)
LikeLike
Great story, Pam!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jill! Love does win in the end, as you know….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!
LikeLike
Oh I love the ending and that Joanne guesses it correctly! YAY! Good one Pam. Now I’ll go and order me a kindle copy of your book so I can still get to read it 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m excited for you to read my Flashes, perhaps in your upcoming Airbnb.. ;-0 Can’t wait to hear what you think. xo
LikeLike
yay, I love the ending! and I’ll have a latte, double whipped cream )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yum, except mine is an Earl Gray TEA latte, double foam. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was lovely and, hey, ten years her junior sounds just about right 😉
Besides, she has no idea what he is all about – yet.
Excellent conclusion! Now… where’s MY Stella?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Visit your nearest occult store, Dale, and ask the manager what she has hidden behind the counter. Your crystal ball Stella may be sitting there, waiting for you to find her. She’s a terrific matchmaker…. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll have to do that 😉
xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay!! I can’t believe I won. I never win anything. Woohoo!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
You WON. YOU WON, and all fair and square and so WRITE ON. I left you my e-mail address on your latest blog post. Let me know when you e-mail me so I can send either the e-book or softback – your choice!
LikeLike
Email sent 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, it kind of was the secret of eternal youth, which as we all know, is marrying a man much younger than you!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hahahaha. Well, if I’d thought of it THAT way, you’d be a winner too. But of course you are a writer/winner in so many ways, Darlene. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😘
LikeLike
Nice ending to the story Pam. Love is always the answer, but I expected something more unique. May I borrow Stella to help find my love? 😍
LikeLiked by 2 people
I know, I’m sorry!! I can only write the ending that the character tells me to write, and Martha was insistent about her barista. ;-0 But she’s teaching us a lesson – no machinations or complexities to finding love. Sometimes love is right in front of you. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll try to keep my eyes and heart open. 😍
LikeLike
Congratulations to Joanne. Super ending. At least Martha will always have a great Latte. I also liked the rundown of Martha’s past love life. Thanks for the fun, Pamela
LikeLiked by 2 people
When Martha whispered to me her failed love affairs I flinched. OUCH. But all’s well that ends well, with a bit of crystal ball help. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed
LikeLike
Wonderful conclusion! Stella is a great match maker!
Congratulations to Joanne!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think Stella has now given crystal balls a new respect. Fergett about predictions – just give us LOVE!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like Martha’s unluckiness in love has come to a great end. I’m loving Flashes of Life, and enjoying it in small pieces because that way the joy lasts longer. ❤ I'm sure Joanne will love it!
And I'll join you with that Earl Grey latte, double foam.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Flashes of Life and Flashes of Love (and crystal balls). What could be better? 🙂 SO glad you’re enjoying my book. Now, make sure you add just a pssst (as my barista calls it) of vanilla to the Earl Grey tea latte. Perfection!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful, Pam. True love is behind so many facets in life. Your stories read and flow incredibly easy! Congrats to Joanne! Enjoy the read!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I just “write ’em” as my characters “tell em,” Liesbet. 🙂 I certainly learn a lot about life and love from my characters, like Martha. My prediction (without Stella even) is that Martha will be happily in love for a long time. I’m so happy that Joanne is so happy that she won! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
“…wit…wisdom…a healthy sex drive…” you are a catch, Pam! (I mean, ‘your character’) And, “…the sweetest smile this side of heaven” a good indicator of genuine kindness and character. Joanne has always been a wise woman. I suspect she owns at least one crystal ball, a secret to her success 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
AHA! Perhaps Joanne should come clean if she “cheated” on the answer and used her own crystal ball!! I’ll make sure to ask her when I send her Flashes of Life – her winning copy. 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am truly happy for Joanne. I had the pleasure of meeting her in real life, a woman of integrity, no cheating, wisdom ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha. You’re so lucky to have met her “in person”!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay for her happily ever after!
LikeLiked by 2 people
There you go – I couldn’t have said it better. Yay indeed. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
An expensive crystal ball from a 5 & 10 shop? Well, I never!
I also had my suspicious about your previous picking abilities: “my best friend’s husband’s boss, a brilliant physicist, who two years into our romance turned celibate and became a monk.”
If you are looking for a complement to your raving intelligence, I guess Ronnie will be an excellent consolation prize. Yes, for sure. Ha Ha!
Somehow, your mention of Stella reminded me of “Stella by Starlight,” an oldie but goodie. Remember?
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a GORGEOUS song by the one and only Ella. I must admit, I didn’t know this one. Now I’ve been playing the song on my computer over and over. Martha asks me to assure you that Ronnie is THE ONE, unlike those other wrong choices. 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dag! Right answer, too late! LOL. I didn’t look at any other answers lest I be influenced, but isn’t it interesting that we romantics are still out here – so encouraging! Congrats to Joanne, and how nice of you, Pam, to pose a mystery and offer one of your books.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am SO encouraged by the number of romantic answers I received (besides the “star dust, alien lover, and your own reflection in the ball” guesses. 🙂 Yes, we romantics are out there, and we know that Martha is right. Love is the OBJECT OF IT ALL. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweet!! If that’s what she delivered, I think waiting 8 months was well worth it. After all, many of us have waited much longer.
What a fun read! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Martha experienced a few “bad apples” as the old expression goes before she used the crystal ball that helped her find true love. For the rest of us, yes, it can take a much longer time without the help of Stella. 🙂 xo Thanks so much for reading, enjoying, and commenting here.
LikeLike
Pam, I love a funny storyline and a. happy ending. You delivered on both counts. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Perhaps the ending would have been even happier if Ronnie was a CHEF instead of a barista, but Stella knows all, so Ronnie the barista it is. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats to Joanne! Hope things work out for Martha! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think Martha is going to stay well-caffeinated from now on. 🙂 xo
LikeLike
Yay Joanne! A good ending to you story, too. I didn’t see that coming at all. I’m too literal I guess.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh good. I don’t want my endings to be too predictable. That would be too boring! Here’s to a happy ending with a sunset each day of our lives. (Sorry, that’s the romantic in me…)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Super ending!!! Your stories really are magical…I so enjoy reading them! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Linda. The Part I post received so many unique guesses that I was afraid Stella’s answer would disappoint some. But it’s all about the RIGHT guy for Martha, and Stella delivered. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it! ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Because we love LOVE, don’t we Bette! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
💞❣
LikeLike
Yay for Joanne. . . .my Mom always said “simple is best” as anything too convoluted makes Life too complicated. So I was right–your ending was great AND your solution and Joanne’s answer was simple–true love wins 🙂 Great flash, Pam!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Phew. Yes, “too complicated” is too much, considering that life sends us curve balls all the time. Here’s hoping Ronnie and Martha touch all the bases and hit a home run in their lives’ together. 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely “no curve balls” in their lives! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Joanne is one lucky lady. I’m sure she will love the book as much as I did. I’m looking forward to a sequel. You know what they say about younger men and older women. More sexually compatible. Add to that someone who brings you coffee and it’s a match made in a crystal ball. Great story.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha. I LOVE your attitude.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pam, this made me smile.
Congrats to Joanne. I didn’t realize she was back in the blogosphere. I’ll have to be sure and visit. I’m sure she will love this book as much as I do.
Hugs to you both!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, Joanne is back in the blogosphere. Perfect timing on her part. 🙂 Hugs on a wing back (ha – sorry -used your line). 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good ending.
Best Regards,
Nancy
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Nancy. 🙂
LikeLike
Ouch to turning someone celibate and into a monk.😎 You never know about those baristas.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You noticed that one, huh? 🙂 I have a feeling Martha will have a lot better luck with her barista than with the new monk. Thanks for enjoying. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an awesome ending, and a very fun game.
Congratulations, Joanne!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Phew. So glad you enjoyed “the end of the story” for Martha, and the beginning of the rest of her LOVE chapters. 🙂
LikeLike
The world needs many more Stellas.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, don’t we wish!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats to Joanne . . . and to you for a successful conclusion to your tale.
May they live happily ever after and NEVER have to use Stella again.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hopefully, they’ll “gift” Stella to a man or woman who is looking for love. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol – congratulations!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awwww. I’ll bet that barista is a wonderful guy. I’m so glad I guessed right even though I wasn’t the first to do it. Joanne is going to love the book, Pam. It’s wonderful. This was a fun promotion. Have a lovely day, my friend. ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
When I wrote the story I hadn’t thought of doing it as a promotion but I’m so glad I did. It’s so wonderful when readers have as much fun with it as the writer does. By the way, I am in the middle of your Sea Witch fantasy and absolutely mesmerized. I think it is your best book yet! 💙🤩
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it, Pam. Can’t wait to hear what you think. Hugs and more hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations, Joanne! Perfect guess. Fun story, Pamela!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for reading along Patricia. I’m thrilled that Joanne won. A long-time blogger and great addition to the blogosphere. 👍🔮
LikeLike
Stella and her crystal ball were useful. Without her, the protagonist never would have recognized her true love. Now I’m wondering if it will all work out for them.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Since I’m a romantic at heart, my guess is that YES, Stella knows how to send “true” lovers to each other. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Nonfiction and Poetry Picks from Ellie Presner and Pamela Wight | Luanne Castle's Writer Site
Great follow up sequel to Stella the crystal ball. I hope they had a great time, lol ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think they had a “ball.” 😏❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
If only it were that easy! My daughter pines for a cerebral companion and that–like your character–doesn’t seem to work out well for her.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I wish I could send her a “Stella.” ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweet lil story, Pam! And you just inspired me to write a post about my (short-lived) dabble in the occult! Stay tuned!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I look forward to reading your “occult” story, Ellie! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh!!! How did I miss this post? A thoughtful conclusion and congratulations to the winner but the real winner is Martha. 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Martha and Ronnie the barista win thanks to Stella! 🙂 Glad you found the conclusion to Martha’s object, Balroop. ❤
LikeLike
I came to this late, but so enjoyed reading the comments on part one! My guess would have been love as well. But you have brought this story to a sweet conclusion.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Never too late to join in the fictional fun. 🙂 Love does seem to be the final answer, doesn’t it? ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Pam I’ve been inspired by your work very much you are 💯% perfect. I dream of being couched by you in blog writing ..
Please please please please follow my page and have a taste of my work and drop that comment and advice I’ll highly appreciate it🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. I’ve been blogging for 8 years so I learn by doing and reading the blogs of others. Join in the fun!
LikeLike
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
what a great piece Pam and congrats to the winners!!! Sounds like there were a few that guessed. it💖👏👏👏👏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Cindy. Several bloggers “know me too well” and guessed a romantic ending. 🙂 The winner (who lives in Canada) just got her winning copy. I’m excited that so many played “the guessing game.” ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
great creative writing and sounds like your regulars got to speculate on the outcome … great way to engage! Not posted lately, are you ok?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love offering these “guessing games,” because commenters seem to have such a good time – guessing fervently (or sometimes with wicked humor). 🙂 I’m well, thank you. Because of eye issues, I’m posting every other Friday instead of once a week. But I’m definitely reading lots of blogs in between. Happy mid-October! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
good for you, less posting can allow more time to read 🙂
LikeLike
I love that.
LikeLiked by 2 people