Fortune Cookie

A song I didn't recognise echoed through the shop.

The lyrics were lost on me.

They couldn't pierce my bubble.

Except for the words “fortune cookie”.

And my thoughts immediately took me on a journey.

Because aren't fortune cookies the Kinder Surprise of adults?

With a vague life lesson as a toy at their core.

A surprise on an adult-child scale.

Because what do you need more as an adult

Than a little encouragement every now and then?

And reassurance, a little confirmation.

Vague enough to fit just about any human life.

Yet tangible enough to be sure not to miss its mark.

A tad addictive because of the illusion of unpredictability.

And just like the sugar in the biscuit itself

Soon after the energy peak

Comes the need for another shot

A confronting truth, or perhaps advice

Also available in the horoscope section of every magazine

The slightly more inspiring influencers

Or a poem,

Written after sunset.