"Diana, for God's sake, where did you get that necklace?"
"Oh, Heather, it's a birthday present from Tim. It's supposed to ward off jealous feelings from others. What's the matter? Don't you like it?"
"I'm sorry, dear, but it gives me the creeps. All those little round beads looking like eyeballs staring at me."
"Oh come on, Heather. Don't tell me you're superstitious. It's just a necklace. I think it's very pretty..."
"And very disconcerting, at least for me."
"Heather, I can't very well take it off in a public place."

Diana continued her lunch without the slightest concern. So what if the necklace, with its many multicolored beads suspended from a gold chain, gives Heather the willies.

"Heather, if it's that disturbing for you, I won't wear it anymore in your presence."
"Honey, I didn't suggest..."
"But you did. And I value our friendship too much to make you uncomfortable."

The two friends finished their lunch then spent the remainder of the afternoon shopping. They passed a jewelry shop on the way back to the car. In a flash, Heather noticed a similar necklace in the store window. She could swear the "eyes" followed her every move.

"Diana, they're everywhere. Let's get the car – Quick!"
Diana laughed at her friend's crazy superstitious nonsense. "Honestly, Heather. You're taking this way too seriously. I've never known you to be like this. It's just a piece of jewelry."

On the way home, Heather, in the passenger seat said nothing and watched the usual parade of traffic. As they sat out the light, her gaze traveled to the stoplight. The glowing red "eye" seemed to stare at Heather with sinister intent. The letters on street signs appeared to transform into eyeballs, making Heather even more uncomfortable.

"Heather, why so silent? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, dear. Just a little queasy from th lunch. I think the dessert was a little too rich for me."
"Well, we'll be home soon. Why don't you turn on the radio. Music always relaxes me."

In a flash, Heather switched to some soothing music, but to her surprise, all the songs were about eyes!

Private Eyes
Looking Through the Eyes of Love
These Eyes
In Your Eyes

The playlist went on and on and on...

She couldn't take it anymore. As soon as Diana wheeled the car into the driveway, Heather reached over and snatched the necklace from her friend's throat.

"Heather! What the hell...!"
"Here's what I think of your 'harmless' jewelry! You planned this all along, didn't you? You and Tim want me to go insane. I knew it!"

She didn't even say "thank you" for the lunch. She just stormed out of the car, necklace in hand. She waited at her front door long enough to see a bewildered Diana back out of the driveway and resume the journey home.

Thanks to God I took that necklace. I'll have to call John. Something is going on with those two. I swear, if Tim and Diana are trying to gaslight me...

John was sitting in the den when Heather breathlessly dashed through the house.

"Heather? Did you have a nice lunch, honey?"
"Y-Yes, John. Uh, honey, why are you home so early?"
"Oh, I took off to do some shopping. Happy Birthday!"
"Oh, John, you're so sweet."

She opened the little box. She gasped.

"What's the matter, dear? Don't you like it?"
"Uh, why...oh..."
"It's a whole set: necklace, earrings, the whole bit. Supposed to be a talisman based on the 'evil eye'. It's supposed..."
"To ward off jealousy."

A few months later, John divorced Heather, put the house up for sale, and moved to another city. He soon remarried, to his high school sweetheart of all people. Tim and Diana attended that wedding and happily toasted the newlyweds. And what happened to Heather?

In a psychiatric clinic, a woman sits, babbling on and on about, "Eyes, eyes, eyes! Everywhere eyes are watching me! All I see are eyes!"

Diana and Tim celebrate another successful job and move on to their next.

COPYRIGHT©2003 BY P.R.PARKER