It was their regular habit to eat at the Chinese restaurant on a Friday night after work.
Several girls from the office would check the numbers and book a table. Most times they would order a banquet and wine to go with it. With the banquet they always got fortune cookies. She had found them remarkably accurate in their predictions, like the time it had said she would receive a windfall and won the lottery the following week. Admittedly, not a great amount, but a win nevertheless. Tonight, she hoped to have something special in her cookie because she had applied for another job. None of the girls knew. She was OK with that. The two interviews had gone well and she felt her chances were good. She’d probably hear something Monday. The work was similar to her present position in the finance section of the building supplies firm, only the company was a lot bigger, and so was the pay. It was in the head office of one of the largest frozen food companies in the country that just happened to be located in the same town.
She was feeling in high spirits, partly because of the wine and partly the fortune cookie. When the evening ended, the work crowd said their goodbyes, with one of them offering her a lift. She’d said no thanks as it was only a few minutes’ walk and she would appreciate getting some air. The real reason she had turned this down was so she could read the slip of paper again to make sure she had not just imagined it. After a minute or two she stopped by a well-lit shop front and took out the slip. She read it again, very carefully. It read: ‘An event with great impact will change your life.’ She felt the same thrill she felt when reading it the first time in the poor light and held on her lap. She was giddy with excitement, not too steady on her feet and very tired. She was really looking forward to getting home and getting into bed.
By chance, the driver of the large, refrigerated truck was feeling the same way, just before he lost control and mounted the pavement.