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ROME REFRAMED
ROME REFRAMED

become my job since we started traveling. I didn’t mind too
much, but today I needed to work.
Robby scowled but grabbed Trevor by the belt loop before
he toppled over the edge into the water. Not bad.
I left them sitting on the steps and wandered along the edge

of the fountain, studying it again to find a less boring shot. Coins
covered the basin of the fountain, wavering beneath the water,
mostly euro coins, but there were plenty of quarters in there,

too. Dumb. Throwing away perfectly good money had never
made sense to me.
“Why don’t you make a wish?” The voice at my shoulder
made me fumble my phone, and I nearly dropped it in the water.
An old woman stood next to me, smiling. She didn’t look like

your typical old lady. She had short, spiky white hair streaked
with green on one side. Tattoos of hearts marched down one
arm. Her tie-dyed dress was so bright it could burn eyes, and

a sign hanging around her neck said, “Palm readings: anytime,
anyplace!”
“I can’t make a wish. I don’t have any coins.” My hand auto-
matically checked for my wallet in its secure jacket pocket. I’d
been warned about pickpockets a thousand times, and a palm

reader could definitely fit the bill. She had a thick Italian accent,
but her English was clear.
I shook my head. Crook or not, no way would I be throwing

away even a small coin. It was only one euro for a scoop of gelato
at the shop in our B&B. My brothers ate a lot of gelato.
She smiled.

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