OUR FORTUNE

Ginge was surprised to see a man standing on the doormat with a smile that would knock you over. Large white even teeth and sparkling dark eyes the colour of polished slate. He was dressed in an unusual array of clothes. A red bandana around his neck tied in a flamboyant knot under his wrinkled chin, and a waistcoat of gold and red silk with pearly buttons down the front. His trousers were black and baggy, his leather shoes were scuffed and worn. His black bushy eyebrows seemed to have a life of their own.

“Hello, you are a sight for sore eyes. How can I help you?” said Ginge smiling.

He took Ginge’s hands in his own quietly, and said in a warm comfortable voice, “Pass my hand with silver and I will tell you three wonderful things that will happen to you and your family.”

Ginge, being amazed and a little startled said,” I have only got a couple of pounds.  Will that do?”

“Yes” he said and smiled again. “My name is Ramon, and I am from a gypsy family, and I have been born with the gift of sight.”

Not being fazed at all, Ginge shook his hand and said,” I will just get some money for you.  Can you wait a moment please?”

His whole family was out, and he had to scrabble around to find some silver for the gypsy. His wife and five children had gone to the local swimming pool for the day and eventually he found some in an ashtray besides his bed. He gathered it up and went back to the front door. He had found a few half-crown coins, a sixpence and some shillings. “Here you are Ramon, I hope this is enough.  I can’t find anymore as my wife is out and she usually has the money?”

Ramon nodded and held out his very large brown calloused hands to take the silver and asked, “What’s your name please?”

“Ginge, short for Ginger. As you can see, I have the red hair to go with the name.”  Laughing he said, “I expect my name will change to Sandy in time”.

Ramon moved closer to Ginge, and looked him in the eyes, and said “There are three things – good things, that will happen to you and your family. It may not be today or tomorrow, but when they happen you will remember the conversation we have had today.”

Taking a deep breath, the Gypsy’s eyes glazed over and he said

“The first thing is that you will get a new car.

The second is that you will live overseas.

The third is that one of your daughters will have twins.”

Ginge smiled broadly and said “Thank you Ramon. That sounds amazing and it would be wonderful if this should happen.  Thank you again, I will never forget you”.

With that Ramon bowed deeply, shook Ginge’s hand, turned and walked down the path to the road.

 

When the family got home from the local swimming pool, Ginge told them all what had happened that afternoon.  They laughed and asked more questions. Ginge said” Other than the three things the Gypsy had told me, I couldn’t really add any more, other than to say that the Gypsy was a nice man and even if it doesn’t come true – it was worth the money just for the experience.”

Over time, the three older children moved out as they finished their education and went to live with their friends in flats in London, as they did in the sixties. Then the family became involved with weddings of their three eldest children in the next couple of years and in time the Gypsy’s predictions faded into the past.

One day Ginge rang the three elder children in London and said “Guess what, your mum, myself and the kids are going to live in Wildenrath in Germany and we are due to leave in a month or so. My posting will be for a couple of years, and you will have to save your money and come and stay with us in the holidays.”

It wasn’t until they bought a new car in Germany – tax free – that a bell sounded in his memory about the gypsy’s predictions.

Ginge turned to his wife and said “Do you really believe in coincidence?”

Sheila said “I am not sure – maybe you are just looking for one. Who knows?  With a laugh she said “But thinking about it we have been living overseas for a while – wasn’t that one of Ramon’s predictions as well? Let’s just have a G & T and toast our own family Gypsy.’’

Not long after this their eldest daughter became pregnant with her first baby and that’s when the family chatter really started.  More for the fun of it, rather than the prediction Pam and her husband Peter decided to take out insurance cover. Pam said. “It won’t cost very much but it would cover the cost of buying two of everything wouldn’t it?”

Over the next few years more pregnancies were announced followed by the same discussion – but no twins appeared.

The pressure was then on the third daughter Penny who became pregnant and she took out insurance. No twins again. By the time Penny became pregnant a couple of years later she said  ”This is a load of poppy-cock and it is a bit expensive and Mark and I have decided not to do it”.

Of course – the twins arrived.  A little boy and a little girl.

Ginge said”, If I ever have the chance to meet Ramon – our Gypsy – again I would buy him a few pints for the fun and laughter he had given our family.

 

© Pat Hunt                                                                 September 2024