how to read the signs, not just be able to see them.”
“Oh.” She stopped bouncing and looked disappointed.
“You can’t rush into this, Elise,” I said, and then I had a realization. “Hold on, who are you trying to do a reading for?”
“Not me,” she said quickly. “I know you aren’t supposed to do one for yourself. But…”
I recognized the pining look on her face. That was a look that never changed, whether you were eleven or sixty-five.
“Is there… someone you like?” I asked.
“What?” She cackled and nearly dropped her divination crystal. “Oh, Kole. Don’t be silly. I’m not in love. You’re so silly.”
“Elise, if you have a crush, it’s not a good idea to use divination to try and influence things. Even if it’s trying to figure out if that person likes you back. It doesn't lead to anything good. That’s how you become obsessed.” The divination papers were reduced to ashes. I picked up the braziers and emptied them into the dumpster. “Let’s go back inside.”
I drew aside the embroidered curtain hiding a wall of cabinets and pulled out new cushions. Elise helped me place them around on the floor, and then she plopped herself onto one and let out a long and dreamy sigh.
“Kole, how do I get a boy to like me?”
I smiled to myself and pushed up my glasses. I knew it!
“What makes you think he doesn’t already like you?”
She rolled over onto her stomach and threw her arms and legs out straight. “I don’t think he knows who I am, first of all…”
“Oh.”
I thought about it for a moment, trying to come up with good advice. What could I tell her? I didn’t know the first thing about getting a crush to like you. All I knew how to do was read fortunes.
“Well, the first thing would be to become friends with him, right?”
“How do I do that? I don't think walking up and sticking a hand out and saying, ‘Hey, let’s be friends!’ would be the greatest idea.”
“Why not?”
“Kole, no! That would be so weird. I can’t do that.”
“You have to at least introduce yourself, otherwise how else will he get to know you?”
“You don’t get it. He’ll think I’m weird. Everyone already does.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being weird,” I said. “Trust me, I should know. Maybe if you gave him some kind of a present?”
“Like what?”
“What does he like?”
She mulled it over for a moment. “He plays diggerball and runs with the field pack after school. He exclusively drinks Vert Shift Fuel, but only the blue kind. He hates the red kind. But he also likes to read—Lupin reads two grades ahead.” She sighed happily.
“There! There you go. You could give him a book. If he likes reading, that will definitely get his attention.”
She lit up. “You’re right. A book! Yeah, I could do that. I knew you’d be able to help me. Just making sure, there aren’t any sort of love potions I could make?”
I gave her a look. “Elise, agents don’t do magic. Now, hold on just a minute. You’re not interested in learning reading and divination just because of this crush, do you?”
“No!” she said, sitting straight up. “No, this is the only thing I really like! I want to learn it, no matter what. It’s all I want to do.”
“Okay. Good. Because your dad—” There was a knock on the front door, which I’d locked. “Oh. Speaking of your dad, I think that’s him.”
She blinked. “Dad? Why is he here?”
“He wanted to ask some questions about divination. He knows you’re interested in pursuing it. And I’m glad to hear that you are dedicated. It takes a lifetime of dedication and hard, hard work to do it well. And even then, you may still fail.” I stood up. “Let’s let him in.”
“Kole, Kole,” she said, grabbing my shirt. “Don’t tell him about Lupin. The boy. Please?”
I nodded. “Our secret.”
“I thought you’d be here,” Markos said, seeing Elise when I opened the front door.
“I’m going home now,” she announced. “I’ll see you at home, Dad. Kole, please teach him something.”
Markos laughed. “You little runt.”
“See you next time,” I said, waving. My glasses slipped down my nose. “Please, come inside.”
“Your glasses seem a little loose,” Markos said. “Don’t they bother you, slipping down your face like that?”
I readjusted them and smiled. “I’ve gotten used to it. It doesn’t bother me. Why don’t we sit down in the divination chamber? I just replaced the cushions.”
“What happened to them?”
“My last customer threw up on