Transcript for the Piece Audio version of Healing in the Cards

Healing on Vermont Ave. Script

ANCHOR INTRO

Botanica San Andres, like many new small businesses, is struggling. Most days just a few customers frequent the shop. But the owner is confident his fortune telling services are needed in the Los Angeles Hispanic and black community. David Kates checks out his future with a card reading.

G: "You have to pick one card."

I'VE NEVER BEEN TO A FORTUNE TELLER BEFORE. THE CARDS ARE TATTERED AND FADED.

G: "You're concerned about money."

D: "I'm very concerned about money."

G: "OK. You have to pick five more."

GEORGE MATEO, THE OWNER, IS A SHORT MAN WITH A SHAVED HEAD. WE'RE IN THE CORNER OF THE SPARSE SHOP. TWO SHELVES WITH CANDLES, HERBS AND A LIVE DOVE LINE THE OPPOSITE WALL.

G: "You got a girlfriend right now? No, right?"

D: "No. I'm very single."

GEORGE, NOW IN HIS TWENTIES, MOVED TO THE U.S. FROM OAXACA [WAHACA], MEXICO. HE OPENED THE SHOP NINE MONTHS AGO. BUSINESS WAS VERY SLOW AT FIRST.

G: "In May, we had trouble because we didn't have any money. We had to ask our friends to borrow some money."

LAST MONTH WAS MORE SUCCESSFUL.

GEORGE THINKS A WOMAN WILL BE ATTRACTED TO ME FOR THE WRONG REASONS.

G: "Actually, this girl is going to think that you've got a lot of money. She going to be for interest in you. I don't know how to say that."

D: She's going to think I'm a sugar daddy.

G: Yeah, she's going to think that. Be very careful. She kind of the gold digger, you know?

LINO EUSTAQUIO [ESTAKEO] IS THE SHOP'S MAIN SPIRITUAL HEALER. HE CAN READ A CLIENT'S MIND JUST BY LOOKING INTO HER PUPILS. LINO'S ALSO FROM OAXACA [WAHACA].

L: I learned from the friends of my grandfather.

CUSTOMERS COME TO RELIEVE HEADACHES AND NIGHTMARES AND TO STOP PEOPLE FROM SPREADING RUMORS ABOUT THEM.

GEORGE SAYS I'LL NEED TO PUSH AWAY THIS MONEY-GRUBBING WOMAN. I ASK HIM IF I'LL FIND SOMEONE GOOD IN THE NEXT YEAR.

G: Actually nothing this year. You have to wait a little bit.

D: Nothing this year?

G: Nothing.

D: That's quite a dry spell.

APPARENTLY OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE MY PROBLEM. THERE'S A COUPLE IN A TIGHT EMBRACE STENCILED ON THE FRONT DOOR.

G: That's why we put that sign right there. We help people find love or find peace or something like that.

D: Yeah, when I first saw it I thought I was going to find something else actually.

GEORGE RECOMMENDS I CLEAN MY AURA WITH BUBBLE BATH. IT'S MADE OUT OF HERBS HE ORDERS FROM FAMILY IN MEXICO.

HE PREDICTS PEOPLE IN NEED OF HEALING -- LIKE ME -- WILL KEEP COMING.

D: Do you feel like you're doing OK right now?

G: Probably in the next year, we're going to do better.

D: Well, I hope so.

G: I hope so too.

THIS IS DAVID KATES FOR ANNENBERG RADIO NEWS FROM VERMONT AVENUE.

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