Read Trance for Free Online

the case full of clothes and other items on a small table next to the window. “Weird.”
    “What did you expect?” said Thomas. “Those hypnotists, always trying to get into your head. They’ll make you crazy.”
    “Totally.”
    “Never mind, dear, “said my grandmother. “It wasn’t meant to be.”
    She looked tired. “You should go home,” I said. “Go and have a good sleep. You can’t be getting enough rest sleeping in that chair.” I pointed to the armchair that she had moved next to my grandfather’s bed.
    “Don’t be silly. I’m staying here with my husband until he leaves.”
    “Have they said when that’s going to be?” I handed the ukulele over to my grandfather whose eyes lit up. He strummed a few notes, closed his eyes and hummed a few bars of different songs like he was trying to decide what to play first.
    “Friday, probably.”
    “Another five days?”
    “It’s standard.”
    “Can you afford this? A week here can be pricey.”
    She looked quickly at my grandfather who stopped humming for a beat, and then back at me. “Insurance should cover it.”
    “Should?”
    “I told you not to worry about it.”
    “You are my family. My life. Of course I’m going to worry about you both.”
    “Well there is no need. Tell us about the interview. What was he like?”
    “Jason Green? I don’t know him. I really don’t. Besides I don’t want to think about him anymore.”
    “Why? Did he hypnotize you?”
    “Of course not. It was a job interview.”
    My grandfather began to sing as he strummed the ukulele. “There once was a girl who got put in a trance, she lost both her legs so she couldn’t quite dance, give me your money said the smooth charming voice, she crawled away fast, what else was her choice.”
    I grinned.
    “You should do your own show,” said my grandfather. “You know the tricks.”
    “No one would want to see a female magician.”
    “They’d see you.”
    I shook my head. “There’s a reason there are no famous female magicians.”
    “Oh really?” said my grandfather. “And what would that reason be?”
    “You can’t hide a rabbit in a sequin dress.”
     

FIVE
     
    Pete and Andy sat across the table from Lacey and me. Two waitresses with pens tucked behind their ears and hair piled high, bustled around the restaurant’s thirty tables, all but one of the tables filled with patrons. It’s busyness was the reason we were here on a Tuesday, rather than a Friday or Saturday night. Unless you were Gwyneth Paltrow, or booked two months in advance, getting a seat here was near impossible. Not that I expected Gwyneth to ever turn up in our town.
    Lacey reached across the table and touched Andy’s hand. “Tell me more about your band,” she purred.
    I looked across at Pete who was intent on studying the menu, then across at the tables nearest ours. The best way to order food was to see what other people had ordered. That way you never got dinner envy. What sounded good on a menu didn’t always look the same on the plate. Words were deceiving.
    Just up from us, someone was munching on a burger and fries. Not the fast food kind, but deluxe restaurant style. My mouth watered. I’ll have what she’s having.
    I looked back at Pete. “The steak burger.” I smiled at him.
    He scrunched his face up. “Have you been here before?”
    “No.”
    “Then don’t you want to look at what they have?” He held up the menu for me.
    I waved my hand at him. “Don’t need to. I know what I want.”
    “Right.”
    I exhaled. “Right.” This was going to be a long night.
    Lacey had convinced me to double date with her and in one of my weak moments, I said yes. Even so, I had always wanted to come here, this restaurant had a good reputation, it was stylish but not stuffy. Plus they usually had live entertainment, not piped music. The stage was set up, although no band had started yet. I looked forward to seeing who would perform, even if it did mean sitting across from Mr.