The Marshall and Superman
Chapter 4 Fortune Cookie Anyone?
From the Mark Hopkins they walk downhill towards Chinatown. Before they reach Grant Street, Chinatown's main drag, they take a left turn. They navigate several streets, thoroughly confusing Lana. They turn into a narrow, dingy street called Ross Alley. Shortly they see a door on their right, opening into a small shop. Actually, a small factory; the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory!
Lana's eyes popped as her brain caught on; 'this is how he got those custom-made fortune cookies!' She made sure her mind reading abilities were finely focused as they entered the door. The interior was small and dimly lit. There were several Chinese ladies at various workstations, busily making product.
When they were noticed, all heads looked up and pandemonium ensued! All the ladies broke out into huge grins and started chattering and gesturing wildly. They gradually stopped the machinery so all could greet their visitors – obviously their friend and his guest. As Lana read their minds she got a massive amount of gibberish, it sounded joyful to her, but she knew no Chinese language so it was completely non-understandable.
Clark on the other hand was quite well versed in Mandarin, so as the ladies came to them one by one he greeted them and introduced Lana. AND made sure each lady saw the sparkling engagement ring; they all ogled the ring, of course.
Lana spoke into his ear, "Another story to tell me, yes?"
"Yes. Later."
Before they left the shop, one of the ladies offered them a small bag of fresh cookies. Lana gratefully accepted them and thanked them all as best as she could. A warm smile, handshake & kiss on the cheek translate into any language after all. Clark got out his phone and snapped a few pictures of Lana and various of her new friends. He promised the ladies to send them copies of the best pictures so they could decorate the rather drab walls if they wished. They could hear the chattering continue as they exited and continued down Ross Alley.
They turned east towards the bay and the Embarcadero; on the water front they found an empty bench and sat down. Lana opened the bag of cookies and gave herself and Clark one each.
"Lana, what does your fortune say?"
She looked down at the small piece of paper in her hand; a broad smile broke out on her face. "I don't know how he does this," she whispers.
"What?" he says.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME, EMBRACE IT
"I had nothing to do with that. Well, except for what's coming, that is. That's a random fortune cookie!"
She cocks her head, looking askance at him. "Really?"
"Really!"
"OK, let's see what your fortune is, Mister Kent!"
His hands noticeably tremble a bit as he cracks open his cookie. He looks at the paper and smiles softly.
YOU'VE FOUND HER, NEVER LET HER GO!
"A ha! A random fortune cookie my ass!" Lana explodes.
"Wait a minute. Think about it – "
"Think, hell! The evidence is compelling!"
"No way; 2 pieces of evidence don't make a trend!"
"This isn't algebra class Clark."
"Thank God! I almost failed that college class!"
"Too busy saving the world? Especially the cute co-eds?"
"Nah. Well, not really, er no, I don't remember exactly. That's a long time ago. Why don't we stick to the here and now & the future?"
"Good idea, and safest I presume. Maybe we should go back and talk to those ladies again?"
"No need," he blushes. "OK, there are little bags of cookies with fortunes on a specific topic. Love and romance for instance. We might, perchance, have been given one of those bags."
"Perchance?"
"Yeah, random you know?"
"Random?"
"Yeah, roll the dice, you know?"
"Roll the dice?"
"You know, a game of chance just like at the casino?"
"The casino, like Las Vegas?"
"Yeah. You can stop my rambling at any time, you know."
"Nah, it's cute!"
"Cute, as in you like it?"
"No, I LOVE it! 1-4-3!"
"You're toying with me!"
"Maybe."
"Maybe?" Clark cocks his head.
"Probably." Lana admits.
"1-4-3," Clark returns. "We better get on to our next stop. We'll have to find a secluded space to change into our flying gear." They do, and soon are off to mid-America.