I returned the next day, without the overnight bag. And the day after that, and the one after that. I had packed only one change of clothes, and I needed a laundromat very badly. But I couldn’t take the time.
Finally, on the fifth day, I found it. I couldn’t believe it at first–I had to read the title at least three or four times to make sure. But this was definitely the book. The dust was spotted with fingerprints, my own and those of whoever had misshelved it.
My hands were trembling. I opened the book and read the headings at the top of the pages. Phrases for health, love, money, beauty, knowledge. All these things would have interested me once but I rifled past them, looking for the section I wanted, hoping it would be there.
It was. “And the following words will bring good fortune forever, and are proof against all words of ill fortune,” I read. “Tay, tay, tray. Tiralanta, tiralall. All, call, lall. Tiralanta, tiralall.”
So. Those are the words–the bad luck you had begun to fear will not strike, and maybe even something truly wonderful is about to happen to you. Maybe the phone is ringing right now, maybe it’s good news. I won’t tell you what happened to me after I read these words–it’s outside the scope of this story, and anyway I think I’ve already done enough for you. I will say that I was sick and bitter for a long time but that now I’m better, though I’ll never be entirely free of these awful feelings. And that the change in my fortune did not start when I read the book the second time, but when Jessie reached out her hand to me and started to pull me toward health. It’s because of her friendship, and my father’s love, that I can pass along these words to you. It’s still difficult for me, but I give you–I give you all–my blessing.