The Coconut Be Careful What You Wish For

The book is about a woman who goes to a psychic reader and gets her cards read. She makes a wish. Now to make her wish come true, she will do a voodoo ritual with a very powerful spirit that she will awaken inside the coconut. Once awakened, the spirit does not like her. The spirit begins to do evil things to her.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The CoconutBe Careful What You Wish ForBy Lesley J. ClayAuthorHouseCopyright © 2017 Lesley J. ClayAll rights reserved.ISBN: 978-1-5246-9612-2CHAPTER 1It started on an early Saturday morning; I decided to get up, get dressed and grab a cup of coffee at Cole's coffee shop. So I grabbed my keys and handbag and headed out the door. As I walked down the stairs to my car, I thought to myself, it's a nice day to just walk to Cole's. It was only two blocks away, so I began to walk. When I arrived at Cole's coffee shop; I was glad to see that there was no one in line, so I walked to the counter and ordered my usual - a large cup of black coffee. After paying, I grabbed my cup and walked over to the table by the front door next to the big picture window. I sat down and grabbed four packs of sugar and two creamers from the containers on the table. As I opened the sugars, I couldn't help glancing out the coffee shop window at the big bright blinking sign across the street.Wow, that sign is bright, I said to myself while pouring my creamers into my coffee and stirring it. I just couldn't take my eyes off that big bright sign across the street: "Free psychic card reading with one free wish today only." I thought to myself while blowing and sipping my coffee. I've never been one to believe in that kind of stuff, but today that could all change. I guess it wouldn't hurt to go get my cards read for fun and make a wish. I have nothing to do today, and plus it's free; why not? So I finished my coffee and threw the cup in the trash. As I started crossing the street, I began to get light headed the closer I got to the psychic reader's shop. Wow, maybe I looked at the bright sign to long, I said to myself.Finally, as I stood in front of the big bright sign at the window of the psychic reader's shop, I placed my right hand on my head, still feeling a little dizzy, but thinking that I would be alright. All of a sudden I started getting the chills, anxiety and butterflies in my stomach from not knowing what I was about to get myself into. I said to myself, "aw, maybe it's the coffee? No. Could it be my mind, body and soul sending me signals to turn around and just forget about this whole psychic reading thing, yes! Let me just go home.As I started to go back across the street, I heard an old scratchy voice saying,"Excuse me lady, are you coming for a free psychic card reading with one free wish today only?" "Well are you?"I turned around and said, 'Uh yes, yes, I am good!'She quickly grabbed my right hand and started squeezing it tightly."Ouch, that hurts!" I said pulling my hand away from her quickly. I noticed her black fingernails and her rough hands."I am so sorry, but I must get your vibes first before the card reading," she said, as she looked directly into my eyes without one blink.She made me feel uncomfortable as she continued to look straight through the windows of my soul. I closed my eyes quickly and opened them slowly starring at her face. I couldn't believe it, her face looked so young, smooth and tight. It was like looking at a teenage girl, but wait! As I looked from her face down to her neck - aw, shit! She had the wrinkles of an 85 year old elderly woman playing bingo in a senior citizen home. Bingo, oh my god!Her hair was like cotton so fluffy, thin and the color was dirty blonde. She is so fucking creepy looking."Did you say something?" She asked, catching me off guard.I responded, "Huh, what, Oh no!""Good, because I must inform you that I don't just read the psychic cards, I am also a mind reader as well.""What!"With that said, I began to stop all my thoughts immediately!"Welcome" She said, "come in and have a seat; I must set things up for your card reading. I will be right back. Oh, here's a pencil and paper dear. Write your full name and birthday down for me. I will need it for the card reading." She said."Okay, I'll write it now," Name: Latrice Baldwin, D.O.B: May 10, 1969.After writing my name and birthday, I sat the pencil and paper down on the table. I then decided to take a look around seeing many different kinds of things, but it was the candles that caught my attention.What kind of candles are these? I said to myself as I got closer to the shelf. A red candle with a man and woman figure stuck together side by side in wedding clothes. They looked as if they were having a wedding ceremony, and I was invited. 'Til death do us part, I do' and 'You may kiss the bride, I whispered to myself. I picked the candle up and held it close to my face, that's crazy I said as I put the candle back on the shelf.Oh Shit! What in the hell is this? a big penis shaped candle! a big black one, and a big red penis shaped candle too! What the fuck! I don't even want to know what those candles are for -- Or do I? Ha, ha, ha. I laughed, maybe another time. This psychic reader is not only creepy; she is also freaky!Man, I don't know about this, I said to myself as I continued to look around. There were herbs, incense and different shaped beads, shells, and even human skulls. What the hell! I also saw statues and many different colors of oils in this big glass case with a lock on it. I could see all the oils had different labels on them. Like um, oh here's one: Bring your ex-lover back. What? Go away evil. Oh wow, that sounds crazy; oh wait, wait, oh Shit! Look at this one here: Make me wealthy. Oh yeah, now that is my kind of oil, anything about getting money or having money. I swear, I would get butt naked and pour that make me wealthy all over my naked ass! Ha ha ha, let me go sit my crazy ass down before that creepy ass psychic reader comes back.As I began walking back to my seat, I noticed a statue placed on the floor near the front door. Now instead of me going back to my seat, I had to be nosey, so I walked towards the statue on the floor and as I got closer, the image I saw looked unreal. This mutha fuckin statute had no body parts, just a big ass head with a straw hat on it. I squatted down in front of it to get a closer look. The face of it was so black, it had eyes a nose and a mouth made of small seashells. The statue was placed on a bright red circle shaped tray with a couple of things set around it; like a chocolate cupcake with sprinkles, a couple of suckers, a toy car and a big cigar half smoked. What the hell does this mean, this is some weird shit! I said.Still, looking at this ugly ass statue, it is so ugly I just have to say it again. Damn, you're ugly and so fuckin black! What the fuck are you? a man or a woman? Where are your limbs? Why is there a cupcake and some candy on that tray for you, and you don't even have a stomach? Answer me! Yeah right, what am I saying? this ugly mutha fucka can't talk and it can't hear me. It's just a fucked up looking statue.After I said all that shit, I swear that statue looked like it could understand every fucking word I was saying to it and it wouldn't stop looking at me! Naw, maybe I'm just paranoid, it's just a stupid statue. Let me touch it and see, go ahead touch it Latrice, I said to myself. So as I reached out to touch the statue my hair began to stand up from my scalp."Hey" "Latrice Baldwin!"What the fuck and who said that? I was startled by that loud cracky voice."Never, ever touch! Understand. Now come have a seat, Okay?""Okay, I'm coming." So I stood up from squatting down by the statue and I began to walk over to the table. I pulled the chair out and sat down right across from this creepy ass psychic reader."So Latrice Baldwin, born May 10, 1969, place your right hand on this deck of cards on the table. Do it now!" she yelled while pushing my right hand down on top of the deck of cards. Then she took her hand off of mine quickly."Now concentrate, make your wish and take the one deck of cards and separate them into three sets. Do it now!" She said."Damn, Okay!" I said."Now, this first set of cards will tell of your past. The second set will be all about your present. And the last set will reveal your future. You have any questions?""No," I said."Then let's get started." She said.As she reached for the first set of cards, I sat quietly watching her spread my past across the table in front of me. I really didn't want to hear about all the things that I had been through already. This is why I love that saying "leave the past in the past." She began to tell me things from my past that only I knew about. Damn! this is some crazy shit! I said, shh."Listen," she said, "I see so much sadness!"As she continued to talk about things that happened in my past that I couldn't change. I begin to get teary eyed."You lived a very hard life back then."With that said, it brought a lot of thoughts and more thoughts that weren't so good from my past. I swear, I couldn't take listening to anymore of my past! I just wanted to cover my ears and sing lalala lalala, until she was done talking about it. She watched the emotional struggle I was having with myself at the table. I just couldn't sit still as she continued to say more and more about my past!"Oh, God!" I yelled!"Okay, okay enough of your past!" She shouted."Thank God," I said under my breath while wiping the tears from my eyes and exhaling."Now let's talk about your present, the card show you're doing a lot better now than you were in your past, very good!" She said. "I see you have a new job, and an old lover from your past.""Wait!" "What, what do you mean an old lover from my past?" I said."Just wait, not right now." She said. "You will see, now let me move on to your future. Oh! Wow! She said. "The future card is showing me that you are supposed to become rich, very rich. I feel that the wish you made has a lot to do with this card. Your wish was to become very rich, right?" She asked."Yes, I did wish to be rich!" I said."So, Latrice Baldwin, this one card I read shows you will need a little help from the Coco.""The Coco, what is that?" I asked."The Coco is a very powerful spirit that can help you with your wish to become rich.""Are you for real?" I asked."Yes, I am!" "This spirit, the Coco, has helped a lot of people for example; that famous actor / singer that is really big right now. Ah, ah what is his name?""Is it Tyrone?" I said."Yes, yes, Tyrone!" She said. "Look at him!" She yelled. "He is still one of the best actors and a great singer, right?""Well yes," I said."That is because of the Coco. The Coco worked very hard for him and now Tyrone comes by and pays his respect to the coco every month. There are even more and more people that have worked with the coco and requested help from the coco. So what do you think? Do you want to be another one of those people as well?" She asked."Yes, I do.""Okay great." She said. "Now listen to me, Latrice Baldwin, in order for the Coco to help you. You must first believe in the Coco, never ever doubt the coco or you will be very sorry. Understand?""I guess", I said."Is that a yes?" She asked."Um, yes okay.""Now, I'm going to give you a list of things you will need to do and things you will have to get and bring to me this Wednesday. You must have every single thing on the list and do what it tells you to do on the list before Wednesday.""Why, Wednesday?" I asked."Well, because Wednesday is the day of the high winds and the night of the full moon! The ritual is done very fast on this day.""Oh, okay" I said."Do you have any more questions?" She asked."Yes, how much will it cost me to get help from this Coco and how long will it take for this Coco to make me rich?""Well it will cost you $500 cash and the Coco's work will take up to 90 days once the Coco has been awakened. Now the Coco works at it's on pace and you will get results guaranteed. So I will see you Wednesday; with everything on the list and $500 cash right?" Latrice Baldwin, you do want to become rich now don't you?" She asked."Yes I do!""Okay then, here's the list."I grabbed the list and said, "I will be back Wednesday with everything." I opened the list briefly and looked it over. "Shit, this is a lot of things." I said to her.She started laughing "Ha! Ha! Ha! See you Wednesday Latrice Baldwin.""Okay" I said, while folding the list in half and placing it into my handbag."So Wednesday it is!" We both shouted as I began walking out her shop."Oh wait, wait, Latrice Baldwin!" She yelled. "Before you go, I would like to introduce you to the Coco.""Oh okay" I said.As she pointed her nasty looking finger to the floor by the front door, I looked down by the door, and the Coco was that ugly ass, black, big head statue with the straw hat sitting on that bright red circle tray.Holy shit! I said to myself. Is she serious, this must be some kind of joke, right? Yeah, okay, I'll just play along."Hey coco it's nice to meet you." I said with a big smirk on my face. "So I will see the both of you Wednesday. Oh, oh and Ms., I never got your name.""Well, you never asked." She said. "It's Kwana - Kwana, the psychic card reader!""It's been a pleasure, Kwana.""Likewise Latrice Baldwin, we will meet again Wednesday." She said.As I walked out the psychic reading shop I headed home. While walking home, I decided to stop and take another look at that list; I wanted to read it so bad, but I was too excited! So I put the list back in my handbag. I'll read it when I get home.As I began to walk home, my mind started racing with thoughts of becoming rich. I just couldn't shake those wealthy thoughts out of my head."Is this real" I yelled out loud, "the money, the mansions, the cars, clothes, champagne, caviar and the men?" The men, my god, the men! Looking and smelling so yummy, the money! Let me stop. I must respect the success. Oh yes, this shit better be real because I am so ready to take this world by storm. I can't wait.I started to sing and dance the rest of the way home. I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be, I'm going to be rich. Watch out world, I'mma a be a rich girl.I finally arrived in front of my apartment building and immediately stopped singing and dancing. Damn, reality just slapped me in the face. Smack, Ouch! So I grabbed my keys out of my handbag, opened the security gate and headed up the stairs to my apartment. I unlocked the door. Finally, I'm home and now it's time to relax. I took my shoes off set my hand bag on the coffee table.Oh, the list, I said. So I took the list out of my handbag and sat down on the couch. Ok, things I need for the Coco, let me see now. Hmmm, okay 5 shot bottles of Bacardi, one bag of assorted gumdrops, Damn, is this mutha fucka human? Shit, I swear this better be real; got my ass paying $500. I could use that money to pay off my bills or just take a chance with lottery tickets and scratchers. I would probably have a better chance at becoming rich! Oh well, let me not complain. Besides, I'm curious to see the outcome with me and this whole psychic reading spiritual thing, plus who wouldn't want to find an easy way to get rich.Let me finish checking out this list some more. Okay. One fresh coconut with the top removed and replaced. Don't throw the top to the coconut away, it is very important that you keep it for the main part of the ritual. The juice inside the coconut must be drained and then dried out, one picture of your face the size of the picture on your state identification card, 1 parchment paper the size of a US postal stamp. You will need to write your full name and birthday on one side, and your one free wish on the other side. Short and simple in pencil! Ok. I guess this isn't too much I have to get and do. Well let me get some sleep and pick up everything tomorrow morning. Wow! I can't wait! I can pick up everything from One Stop Shop it's only five blocks away from here.The Next day."Excuse me where are your coconuts?" I asked the store clerk."There on aisle number 3" answered the store clerk."Okay, thank you""You're welcome."The coconuts, okay aisle, here they are, got one. Now, let me go to the candy aisle. I see, aisle number 4, 5. Here it is, aisle number 6. Here's some licorice, oh an assorted bag of gumdrops, got them. Now let me get in the checkout line so I can ask the cashier to get me the 5 shot bottles of Bacardi and I'll pay for everything at the counter."Here's your 5 shot bottles of Bacardi""Thank You.""You're welcome Ma'am, here's your receipt; have a nice day and thank you for shopping One Stop Shop."Thanks. Now let me grab my bag. Where's my cell phone? Oh, here it is, let me call Kwana. Ring! Ring!"Hello Kwana""Yes.""This is Latrice Baldwin.""I know!""Oh, okay I'm leaving the supermarket and I picked up everything.""Good!" She said."I will have my picture Tuesday.""Excellent!" She said. "The bag of gum drops is assorted right?""Yes.""Very Good, because the Coco don't like the solid color gum drops at all.""Oh really." I said."Yes really, assorted only, okay""Okay!""I picked up the assorted bag, hum, I really did. Now where can I get the parchment paper?" (Continues...)Excerpted from The Coconut by Lesley J. Clay. Copyright © 2017 Lesley J. Clay. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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