Three fortune cookies.
Theodore jabbed a fork into a final lump of orange chicken.
Frank removed his fortune cookie from its plastic wrapping and turned it over. “Great gimmick,” he said. “Random clichés that predict your future.”
Ernie looked up. “I heard this guy had a heart attack after reading his fortune cookie. You know what it said? Live Each Day Like It’s Your Last.”
Frank guffawed. “There are a million fortune cookies that say that. And there are a million more that say An Exciting Opportunity Lies Ahead Of You. People are gullible.” Frank broke his cookie in two, jammed both halves into his mouth and crumpled the small strip of paper without reading it. “What’s your destiny? Let’s hear it.”
Ernie pushed his fortune cookie away. “No thank you.”
“Why not?”
“What about that guy who had a heart attack?” Ernie replied. “What if it actually does foretell my future? I don’t want to know.”
Frank rolled his eyes.
Two fortunes, unread.
Smiling at Frank and Ernie, Theodore wiped orange chicken from his lips with the cheap paper napkin. He picked up his fortune cookie. He unwrapped it, cracked it and plucked out the words.
He read Today You Will Have A Good Laugh.
Theodore laughed.
Short Stories by Richard 