FORTUNE COOKIE

the girl was superstitious
that's all that need be said
zeke knew she had strange notions
that were rattling in her head

but yet he loved dear sheila
and he hoped she'd be his wife
so they could live quite happily
and share a wondrous life

he had a friend named elsie
he had known her quite a spell
she worked at hop sing's kitchen
mostly chinese clientele

he asked her for a favor
a cute trick to win his bride
a cookie made up just for her
a fortune tucked inside

proposing they should marry
was the message it would bring
her love of superstition
surely'd cause the odds to swing

she said she'd do it gladly
but her smile disguised her plan
because she had a secret
she wished zeke would be HER man

so when she wrote the fortune
she decided it'd be cute
to write "don't pick the nearest tree
whenever you want fruit"

but then she had misgivings
cause it really wasn't fair
and so she wrote the fortune
that he wanted stuffed in there

but she also saved the fortune
that she'd meant to give to her
its zeke who would receive it
and that thought then might occur

when zeke arrived with sheila
on that fateful friday night
they had a lovely dinner
that was lit by candlelight

when elsie brought the cookies
quite by chance there was a glitch
when jostled they got scattered
and she lost which one was which

she served them at two tables
helpless look upon her face
she dearly hoped the fortunes
ended up in the right place

the couple sitting near them
was a fellow and a gal
his heart was beating for her
but he feared they'd just be pals

but when she broke her cookie
it was just pure luck, i guess
she threw her arms around him
and she shouted out, "OH YES"

"i was hoping that you'd ask me
how romantic was your plan
to make this sweet proposal
oh i love you, darling man"

they left the restaurant, smiling
as applause broke all around
but zeke, who was quite puzzled
was too stunned to make a sound

he fiercely looked at elsie
who just frowned and sadly shrugged
then sheila snapped her cookie
and then on the fortune tugged

the message raised her eyebrows
for the meaning here was straight
she really should just take her time
and zeke might have to wait

she said she had a headache
and zeke said he'd drive her home
she said she'd grab a taxi
and then left him there alone

then zeke looked at her fortune
elsie saw his nostrils flare
he raised his head to look at her
with such an angry glare

then elsie spilled apologies
and told him of her gaffe
she thought he would start shouting
but then suddenly he laughed

"perhaps i might have rushed things
maybe she's not right for me
i guess one shouldn't eat the fruit
upon the nearest tree"

then both of them were laughing
and agreeing it was best
and then her eyes locked in on his
i guess you know the rest

you don't need fortune cookies
when the eyes begin to speak
his message ?...i love elsie
her message ?...i love zeke