Fortune Cookes: It's all in the interpretation

You may recall that I collect the messages from fortune cookies.

So, the other evening, we were eating take-out Chinese. At the end of the meal, Child #4 (11 year-old daughter) cracks open her fortune cookie and reads it to herself.

(The following conversation is paraphrased. My memory just isn't that good!)

Child #4: I got a horrible fortune.

Me: What does it say?

Child #4: "Never quit."

Child #2: That's not a horrible fortune. That's a good fortune. That just means you shouldn't give up. It's to encourage you.

Me: I agree with Child #2. It's really a very positive fortune.

Child #4: Oh, yeah? What if I'm a smoker?

COLLEGE COUNTDOWN: 8 DAYS UNTIL CHILD #2 LEAVES.