My Name Is Evil Read Free Page B

astonishment. “Do you believe this? She’s right about everything!”
    â€œI know! It’s so cool!” Jilly exclaimed. She swept back her blond hair with a toss of her head. She kept bouncing up and down. She seemed too excited to stand still.
    The fortune-teller spent a few more minutes with Judy. She told Judy that she would have a long, successful life. She said Judy would have a big family someday.
    â€œOf kids? Of animals?” Judy asked.
    Miss Elizabeth didn’t answer.
    Next came Jackie’s turn. Once again Miss Elizabeth was right on-target with everything she said. “Wow,” Jackie kept muttering. “Wow.”
    Finally I found myself in the chair across from the fortune-teller. Suddenly I felt nervous again. My mouth was dry. My legs were shaking.
    Miss Elizabeth looked older from close up. When she smiled at me, the thick makeup on her face cracked. Tiny drops of sweat glistened at her hairline.
    â€œWhat is your name?” she asked in a whisper.
    â€œMaggie,” I told her.
    She nodded solemnly and took my hand. She raised my palm close to her face and squinted down at it in the gray light.
    I held my breath. And waited. What would she see?
    She squeezed my hand. Brought it closer to her face.
    And then … then … her eyes bulged wide. She let out a loud gasp.
    With a violent jerk she tossed my hand away.
    And jumped to her feet. Her chair fell behind her, clattering to the tent floor.
    She stared at me—stared in open-mouthed horror.
    And then she screamed:
    â€œGet OUT! Get AWAY from here!!”
    â€œHuh? Wait—” I choked out.
    â€œGet OUT! You bring EVIL! You bring EVIL with you! Get OUT of here!”

I stumbled out of the tent, my heart pounding.
    The air felt cool on my face. I sucked in several deep breaths.
    My three friends tumbled out after me. Jackie was the only one laughing. Judy and Jilly were shaking their heads.
    I started to jog along the path between the rides. I wanted to get as far away from that crazy woman as I could!
    Screams from the roller coaster rang in my ears. And over that shrill sound, the fortune-teller’s frantic shrieks repeated in my mind.
    â€œGet OUT! You bring EVIL! You bring EVIL with you! Get OUT of here!”
    I stopped running and pressed my back against a tall wooden fence at the edge of the pier. The Three J’s hurried up to me. “Wh-why did she say that?” I gasped.
    Judy and Jilly both shrugged.
    â€œIt was … crazy!” Judy whispered.
    â€œBut why did she say that about me?” I repeated breathlessly.
    Jackie laughed and gave me a playful shove. “Because you’re a witch!” she cried.
    â€œBut—but—” I stammered.
    Jackie imitated the fortune-teller’s scratchy voice: “You’re evil, Maggie. Get out of here! You’re so evil, you’re scaring Walter!”
    Jackie sounded so much like Miss Elizabeth, I had to laugh.
    â€œLet me see your hand.” Jackie grabbed my hand and pulled my palm up to her face. “Yuck! You are evil!” she cried. “That’s the most evil hand I ever saw!”
    They started laughing all over again. But this time I didn’t join in.
    â€œShe seemed so serious,” I said, picturing the whole scene again. “And then when she looked at my hand, she really did look terrified. As if—”
    â€œIt was all an act,” Jackie said. “I’m sure she does that all the time. To give people something to talk about and tell their friends.”
    â€œMaybe she wanted more money,” Judy suggested. “You know. To tell us what the evil was.”
    â€œBut why did she pick me?” I cried. “Why didn’t she tell Jilly she was evil? Or Judy?”
    â€œBecause it’s your birthday!” Jackie teased.
    And then I had a thought. “You set this up—didn’t you!” I cried. “You went to the fortune-teller earlier and