"A Second Chance at Fortune"

I crack the cookie with excitement. My 12 year old fingers frantically flying to find the fortune. We have just finished our meal at House of Wong and it is now my favourite part, the fortune cookies!

I extract the paper from the cookie careful not to rip or tear the fortune for I am sure that would be bad luck.

"The fortune you seek is in another cookie."

What? I try to wrap my brain around that fortune. What does this mean? I feel a let down coming on. I scan the table of sweet and sour stains, chow mein and orange beef splotches.

I see another cookie! It lays in front of my Dad. My Dad isn't big into fortune cookies. He eschews astrology, games of chance and anything else that is impractical. I know that my fortune must lie in that cookie.

"Dad can I have your fortune cookie?"

He is in deep conversation with Uncle Lonnie about the economy. My question falls on deaf ears. I gentle nudge his arm and ask again, this time throwing in a please.

Sadly the economy talk is more stimulating than any discussion of fortune cookies. I am undeterred. My cookie said the fortune I seek is in another cookie. It must be true.

I scan the table again and out of the corner of my eye a cookie lays unclaimed in the centre of the table. It is wedged between the half eaten Moo-Goo-Gai-Pan and the Soy Sauce bottle. I play it cool as my younger sister is also undoubtedly also on the hunt.

I move with some stealth and push the dish out of the way. I snatch the cookie just before my sisters hand grabs it.

I calmly cradle the cookie in my hand. A look of triumph on my face. My sister doesn't look pleased. Which makes my win even sweeter.

"Here you go Steve." My Dad casually tosses his cookie to me.

Suddenly a choice looms on my horizon.

I weigh the cookies in each hand. Trying to discern which one has the fortune I seek. I peek in the folds of the cookie to verify that the paper is inside. I am a fortune cookie pro that has been burned by a dud before.

Both have the paper, both feel the same. I am torn!

Which one has the fortune I seek? Which one do I choose, my destiny depends on the choice.

"Steve, give one to your sister!" My Mom is now intruding on my decision making process. Ugh now I have to decide quickly. My sister is quick to snap at my two cookies. I move my hands away still unsure which cookie is going to be cracked.

Why did the first cookie send me on this quest?

I reluctantly begin to hand my sister the cookie from my left hand. As it extends I hear myself saying "You are left handed keep that one!". I pull back the hand and begin to extend the right hand.

Now I hear "Mom, he isn't giving me one!!!" If only my sister knew how important this was.

"I am giving you one, give me a second." I extend my right hand further, this time my sister snatches it and immediately begins to smash it.

I find her methods too brash and I can only imagine how crushed the fortune will be.

I begin to carefully consider the cookie that lays before me. I crack the cookie with some tenderness. I examine the contents.

I extract the paper.

"A thrilling time is in your future. Right after you finish your homework."

I'm suddenly excited to get home and finish my math homework. After all a fortune awaits!

"Can we go now?!?!? I have homework to finish." My astonished parents have mouth agape as their son has uttered words not usually heard on a Saturday evening.

I chuckle, how little do they know that a thrilling time awaits me once I conquer my Math equations.