Minka Kelly

"Still job hunting?"

My actress roommate, Minka Kelly, was in the kitchen by the coffee maker.

"Yeah," I said. "But ten years as a hypnotist isn't really work experience."

She got an annoyed look on her face. We got along fine, but she always seemed to be against my career choice.

"Come on John," she said. "You graduated top of our class. You have a psychology degree. Is hypnosis really what you want to do with that?"

"Minka, hypnosis is my passion," I said.

"Bet it's not real!" she said.

"You're on."

I got my hypnosis gear as she sat on the couch, and I told her to put some headphones on.

"No swinging watch?" she said snarkily.

"We all have different methods," I said. "This is mine."

She rolled her eyes and put the headphones on. They were playing generic ocean sounds.

"Close your eyes," I instructed.

Minka did.

"Now, take the sounds you are hearing and put yourself there. At a beach. A nice, relaxing beach. Let the beach invade every bit of your mind. So much so that your conscious mind is actually on the beach."

Minka's head drooped slightly.

"Okay, I'm taking the headphones off," I said. "But you will still be on the beach."

I slipped the headphones off. Minka hardly stirred. A good sign she was under, but just to check...

"Minka, where are you?"

"A nice beach..."

"Okay. Now, your subconscious mind is in total control of your body while your conscious mind is at the beach. Open your eyes, and let your subconscious dictate your actions while at the beach."

Minka's eyes fluttered open, glazed and blank.

I couldn't believe it worked. But seeing my old friend and roommate here in front of me, under my control...it was just to tempting.