A Sudden Superpower

The topic:  Write a story centralized around the phrase "the second hand."  Limit your story to 300-350 words.  (Thanks to Alie Medina-Fetterman for this topic!)


Cal grabbed the crumpled advertisement.  Its withered state reminded him of the ever-increasing passage of time.  In Cal's seventeen-year-old mind, the next four years of his life (maybe even the rest of his life!) hinged on heeding its words: "Visit Clairvoyant Eva Matrusca! Forewarned = forearmed."

Though he narrowed his college choices to two--his only two acceptances--how could he possibly make this decision himself?  As time closed in, it looked like Madame Matrusca could decide for him.

So, on Saturday morning, instead of his usual visit to his ailing grandfather, Cal visited Madame Matrusca.  Any guilt he felt about this disappeared when a woman's booming voice greeted him.

"Ah!  Come in, young man!" The enthusiasm of Madame Matrusca took Cal aback, as did her gray, wiry hair, her multicolored moo-moo dress, and her swooping hands.  What had he gotten himself into?

"Let's not waste time!  Eva can see by your flustered state that the future scares you.  Right hand! Now!"

Cal reluctantly turned over his sweaty palm.  The moment of truth inched closer.

"Good news!  You will live a long, healthy life.  Oh... but... wait... it looks like someone else close to you will pass soon."

Cal's stomach sank.  His grandfather.  How could he have selfishly skipped seeing him?

"Tell me, young man, why did you come to see Eva today?  To foretell details of your love life?"

"No, Ma'am," Cal squeaked. "I need to know what college I should attend."

"But, of course!" Madame Matrusca billowed with another swoop of her hands, nearly striking Cal on the cheek.  "The road you should choose!  For that, I will need to see the second hand.  Life's outcomes always depend upon the second hand."

As Cal relinquished his second hand, an image of his grandfather, helpless on the kitchen floor, flashed in his mind.  Cal raced away from the table and drove furiously to his grandfather's home.

"Help... please," a feeble voice begged as Cal stormed through the front door.

There, Cal found his grandfather, followed the words of Madame Matrusca, and pulled his grandfather up with his second hand.