Part 1:
“Every day is an oasis in the desert of life.”
“What?” Genevieve’s eyes narrowed. “That’s it? Seriously?”
“Every day is an oasis in the desert of life,” Rick read from the tiny paper. “That's what it says.”
“But what’s it supposed to mean?” Dale asked.
“Yeah,” I added, “that’s not even a fortune. It’s … just a saying.”
“What were you expecting? Secrets of the universe? Lucky lotto numbers?”
“The quality of fortune cookies has gone way down,” Genevieve concluded.
Our food – and fortunes – had come from nearby Happy Seasons.
“What?” Genevieve’s eyes narrowed. “That’s it? Seriously?”
“Every day is an oasis in the desert of life,” Rick read from the tiny paper. “That's what it says.”
“But what’s it supposed to mean?” Dale asked.
“Yeah,” I added, “that’s not even a fortune. It’s … just a saying.”
“What were you expecting? Secrets of the universe? Lucky lotto numbers?”
“The quality of fortune cookies has gone way down,” Genevieve concluded.
Our food – and fortunes – had come from nearby Happy Seasons.
“Do you have it right?” Dale asked. “Maybe it’s dessert. ‘In the dessert of life.’ Check the bag, maybe we got free pudding!”
“What? There's no pudding. It says what it’s supposed to say.”
“Then I agree. Not very good. Do mine, I wanna know.”
“OK, here goes: He who walks on all fours, has half the legs of an octopus, fewer suckers … and much brisker whiskers.”
The lion rocked back thunderstruck.
“It says that? Brisker whiskers?!”
“Let’s guess ‘no’ there,” I smiled. “Seemed quite specific."
“Darn it."
“Well, at least we know the food will be good.”
Kung Pao chicken, Szechuan chicken, and fried pork dumplings filled the table, plus cookies of dubious insights.
“What? There's no pudding. It says what it’s supposed to say.”
“Then I agree. Not very good. Do mine, I wanna know.”
“OK, here goes: He who walks on all fours, has half the legs of an octopus, fewer suckers … and much brisker whiskers.”
The lion rocked back thunderstruck.
“It says that? Brisker whiskers?!”
“Let’s guess ‘no’ there,” I smiled. “Seemed quite specific."
“Darn it."
“Well, at least we know the food will be good.”
Kung Pao chicken, Szechuan chicken, and fried pork dumplings filled the table, plus cookies of dubious insights.
“Hey, where’s your boy Colin tonight?” Gen asked, realizing our new border wasn’t at home.
“I got him a job in the carpet store’s warehouse. Evening shift. Everybody likes him.”
“Do they know he’s really the Semi-Colon?”
“Sure, I had him put it as work experience. He listed Ampersand as a reference,” Rick added, as Dale barked out a laugh.
“Hey, how do I know? Maybe you brag that you’re friends with a punctuation mark.”
“To the rest of the world he’s merely Colin Smith. You’re the only one privy to our secrets.”
“Talk about a dubious honor. Not even your parents know?”
“Dad’s old school. Mom not as much. But yeah, they don’t even know about Dale.”
“So he stopped being a symbol to work in a warehouse? Kind of a steep drop, isn’t it?”
“He sees it as part of the adventure. Everything is new, everything is novel.”
“I get it. A stranger in a strange land. A vacation, a sabbatical.”
“Might be more than that. I don’t think he’ll ever go back.”
“Really? Wow. Then that is a big-time career change.”
“Funny you should mention it. Career change, I mean.”
The look on my brother’s face was weird; curiosity was instantly piqued.
“I got him a job in the carpet store’s warehouse. Evening shift. Everybody likes him.”
“Do they know he’s really the Semi-Colon?”
“Sure, I had him put it as work experience. He listed Ampersand as a reference,” Rick added, as Dale barked out a laugh.
“Hey, how do I know? Maybe you brag that you’re friends with a punctuation mark.”
“To the rest of the world he’s merely Colin Smith. You’re the only one privy to our secrets.”
“Talk about a dubious honor. Not even your parents know?”
“Dad’s old school. Mom not as much. But yeah, they don’t even know about Dale.”
“So he stopped being a symbol to work in a warehouse? Kind of a steep drop, isn’t it?”
“He sees it as part of the adventure. Everything is new, everything is novel.”
“I get it. A stranger in a strange land. A vacation, a sabbatical.”
“Might be more than that. I don’t think he’ll ever go back.”
“Really? Wow. Then that is a big-time career change.”
“Funny you should mention it. Career change, I mean.”
The look on my brother’s face was weird; curiosity was instantly piqued.
“Do you have breaking news? Dale, is he up to something?”
“He didn’t say anything to me.”
“Don’t take it personally,” Rick said, scruffling his mane.
“What are you planning?”
“I’ve been at the store since I was sixteen. And it’s been good, sure. But maybe it’s time for something else. A new venture.”
We all sat rapt, ready to hear.
Even so … it took courage to speak his dreams out loud.
“I’ve got my BA in Business Admin. I’m versatile. Why can’t I make a go at something new?”
“What are you saying, Hatcher?”
“I’m thinking about starting my own business.”
The words hung in the air, until Dale spoke first.
“That’s awesome! Any biz of yours is a biz of mine.” His face flashed joy. “Count me in.”
“Good for you, bro,” I told him. “You got this.”
“Investigations? Into the paranormal!” Gen said. “That makes sense. You’re already doing this stuff, so get paid for it.”
“No, something more mundane. This stuff is fun, but as a career? Weirdness is best on the side.”
“Weirdness will always/Go where it wants/Rick Hatcher-Hyung,” sang a choir of heavenly voices.
The words rang loud and clear, echoing like gentle gongs.
The room seemed to flicker with lyrical sparkles.
Yet there was nobody else to be seen.
“He didn’t say anything to me.”
“Don’t take it personally,” Rick said, scruffling his mane.
“What are you planning?”
“I’ve been at the store since I was sixteen. And it’s been good, sure. But maybe it’s time for something else. A new venture.”
We all sat rapt, ready to hear.
Even so … it took courage to speak his dreams out loud.
“I’ve got my BA in Business Admin. I’m versatile. Why can’t I make a go at something new?”
“What are you saying, Hatcher?”
“I’m thinking about starting my own business.”
The words hung in the air, until Dale spoke first.
“That’s awesome! Any biz of yours is a biz of mine.” His face flashed joy. “Count me in.”
“Good for you, bro,” I told him. “You got this.”
“Investigations? Into the paranormal!” Gen said. “That makes sense. You’re already doing this stuff, so get paid for it.”
“No, something more mundane. This stuff is fun, but as a career? Weirdness is best on the side.”
“Weirdness will always/Go where it wants/Rick Hatcher-Hyung,” sang a choir of heavenly voices.
The words rang loud and clear, echoing like gentle gongs.
The room seemed to flicker with lyrical sparkles.
Yet there was nobody else to be seen.