Horton Tarot Card

The Washerwoman

“I want you,” said Andy, kissing her passionately. “You can’t have me,” she said, kissing him back. “Oh, come on, am I that bad looking?” “No, you are actually very handsome.” “So, what is it?” “You are not clean.” “How do you know I am not clean?” “Unless you have washed in the last five …

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Horton Tarot Card

Very Bad

Jerry believed this about himself: he would always be in debt to the powers-that-be but in credit with the opposite sex. He was indeed a good-looking fellow, and not only that, he had whiff of rakish class about him. The devil-may-care smile, the mop of unruly but not untidy hair, the loafers and the tailor-made …

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Horton Tarot Card

Laziness

Picture the scene in a Parisian boudoir. A gentleman sits in an attitude of appraisal, hand resting on silver knob of ash plant, while a young lady takes off her dress. She rolls down her stockings and lies back against the sunburst headboard of the bed with her legs akimbo, like two pale chevrons… “Now …

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Horton Tarot Card

The Hand’s Search for Meaning

For a Thai boy of nineteen years, Nakharin had what many would consider a prize job. He was a masseur at one of the few five-star hotels on the beach. He could have easily been a masseur at a four-star hotel but the five-star clientele were nicer to him and gave such excellent tips. Nakharin …

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Horton Tarot Card

The Dark Room

The room was in darkness; she couldn’t even see his shadow. “Where are you, Ray?” she said. “Over here, Christine.” Christine moved towards his voice. “Are you okay?” “I think so… What are you doing?” “Relax, it’s just my hand…” “You’re wearing blue jeans…” “Actually, they’re a bit faded.” “There’s a hole here,” said Ray. …

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Horton Tarot Card

Myrtle and the Dentist

Myrtle knew that she did not have a life to launch a thousand ships. However, when she looked in the window and saw herself, she was happy within herself. Myrtle was fun at heart but somehow always seemed to end up on the social fringe. Whenever she tried to keep up with her friends, they …

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Horton Tarot Card

Smooth Talker

Arnie was depressed. He had just been made redundant from his job. He had liked it there and, although the payout was good, now he had to find a new job. His gloom was lifted when his friends invited him for a leisurely fortnight in their holiday villa in Croatia. He wasn’t mad about them, …

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Horton Tarot Card

Shuttlecock

Nadine and Charles used to play a game of mixed doubles with Samantha and James every Saturday afternoon. The game was always competitive in a healthy way. James and Charles both worked for the same city firm. Just recently James had received a bonus for a deal cut in the teeth of the 2008 crisis. …

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Horton Tarot Card

The Passenger

Emilie was on her way back to the hotel in Juan Les Pins where she was staying for the duration of the festival. When she boarded the train at Cannes, she went upstairs and found a seat by the window. Plugging in her earphones, she sat back to scroll down the list of songs when …

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Horton Tarot Card

Privates!

Anouk and Hans had a little secret. They both loved to go wild swimming. It had to remain a secret because if it wasn’t, all their secret places would be invaded by others seeking the thrill of escape that made wild swimming such fun. Their rules were very simple. They never returned to the same …

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