I hate fortune cookies. Not the disgusting junk that is the actual cookie (which, as you can tell I’m not much of a fan of either), but the fortune is my real issue. No one ever thinks that, hey maybe this might actually happen to someone, maybe we shouldn’t make all of these fortunes about terrible things. I mean it’s downright inconsiderate.
“Come on!” Amber says, jarring me from my thoughts.
“Open it!” Hazel follows with her lackluster encouragements. Compared to the peppy little thing that is Amber, Hazel looks bored beyond belief.
“How much harm can one little cookie do?”
My two best friends and use their words of encouragement, pushing me to give the tasteless wafer a chance. I’ve already told them though, of my predicament. You see any fortune that I receive, comes true. My usually average life is trashed for a short time, and replaced with an undecided, undefined, and unruly roller coaster. The worst part?-I can’t do anything to change it, at least not until the fortune completes itself.
On few and rare occasions, the fortunes have a positive outcome. For example, a fortune helped me settle an argument with Amber, one of my best friends. Other times, most times actually, the fortunes cause nothing but trouble. My examples for those less rare, uncommon times; a dead uncle, an almost lost best friend, and some poor dolphin that got stuck on the beach. So maybe you get my jest, this silly little cookie, could be a blessing or more likely, a curse.
“Come on Jewels. Just open the dang cookie! It won’t hurt you, I promise.” She’s joking right?
I began my retaliation, “I already told you Amber –“but I stopped short when I saw the look Hazel was giving me. Her eyes were hard, her lips tight, her body tense and posture annoyed. She looked like that teacher that just seems to hate kids, yet still, she decided to become a teacher.
“You’re being paranoid, just open the cookie and read the fortune.” Hazel’s voice was cold. On the other hand she had just forgiven me for what happened last time I had read a fortune. I accidently stole her boyfriend, well actually I never dated him, but he broke up with her for me. Heartbroken, she didn’t speak to me for days. We put that behind us, but she doesn’t seem as relaxed around me anymore.
“Okay. Fine, I’ll open it.” I slowly unwrapped the cookie from its plastic protection. I took a deep breath. This could ruin my life, or save it. Only one way to find out, though.
One more deep breath then, CRACK! The cookie easily tore into two. I brushed away some crumbs before I smoothed the stark white strip of paper. One more deep breath.
“You will soon discover an unexpected betrayal beyond all others.” At this point, I couldn’t control my nerves. My hands started to shake and I began to tap my foot at a rapid pace.
“What does that mean?” Amber wondered aloud. Wait, did they just glance at each other?
“It means that Jewels got all worked up for nothing but another stupid little fortune from another stupid little cookie! Now, let’s go home.” Hazel sounded bored and – nervous.
‘You know what? I think we should call it a night.” Did Amber just say we should go home? This is bad, this is really bad! Amber is the party animal she does not, ever, suggest we go in. What could they be hiding?
“Yeah I agree. Long day, I need my bed.” Hazel was now agreeing that we should all go home. What did they do?
“You mind dropping us off Jewels?” Amber sounded worried. Does she think I know?
“No, not at all.” As we made our way to the front of the restaurant I noticed how tense both, Amber and Hazel, seemed.
The ride home wasn’t filled with our usual chatter. Instead the only noise came from the radio. I dropped off Hazel first, her house being the farthest from mine. And as I drove in silence I glanced back and noticed Amber, with a look of pure guilt on her face.
“Everything alright?” At this point I was genuinely worried about her. She really didn’t seem okay.
She burst into tears. I pulled the car over and turned around to face her. “Amber, what’s wrong?”
“I can’t tell you.” She explained in between sobs.
“Well this truck isn’t moving until you do so I suggest you spill.” I snapped at her. This secret her and Hazel were keeping was not going to remain a secret any longer.
“Hazel…” She sniffed “Hazel… I can’t Jewels, sorry.”
“Well maybe Hazel can.” I pulled out my phone and had it ringing in seconds.
“Hello?”
“Hazel, what is this big secret you won’t tell me?” I was fuming, and I think she could hear that. She took in a long sigh, sounding as though she dreaded telling me whatever she did.
“I…” The line went dead. She hung up on me!