The Fortune Cookie

Ancient Chinese Wisdom

They were midway through a Chinese supper when Cameron filled up his water glass. His Kung Pow chicken was spicy and hot. He needed more water to cool his tongue. The conversation about the current state of the Russia-Ukraine war was getting a little heated too. All his energy was focused on cooling his mouth and his emotions.

With the last bite of rice in his mouth, he opened the package for the fortune cookie. Finally, something not spicy or hot.

When his dad lamented sending the Ukrainians another several billion, Cameron lost it. He popped the fortune cookie in his mouth and began his rant about European sovereignty and imperialism.

Cameron’s dad merely looked at his wife with a smirk.

“What’s so funny? Why the snark?” Cameron asked between chews and a swallow.

“What’s your fortune, son, you know, from the fortune cookie?”

Cameron thought about the change of subject and looked around his place for that white piece of paper full of wisdom near the plastic wrapping.

“I didn’t get one,” he said. “On second thought, that cookie did taste kind of papery.”

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