Fortune Cookie Fiction Swap #2

This is my fourth swap for the 'Write Now!' Group, so I wanted to make it easy, fun, and stimulating. I was looking through my booklist book (where every other page I glue ticket stubs or fortunes from fortune cookies) and that was when my idea struck me - I would use some of the fortunes I'd saved as starters/tiles for a short story here at Swap-Bot. Below I will list fortunes and you must choose one of them to write a short story in which you will QUOTE one of the fortune cookie fortunes listed below, then when you are finished, mail to three e-mail partners. There's no postage fees! So it will only cost you some creativity and time (I provide time, you provide the creativity). Here are the fortunes:

01) "Now is the time to try something new."

02) "A well fed romance nourishes the soul."

03) "Be prepared to modify your plans."

04) "Minutes are worth more than money. Spend them wisely."

05) "Buy things because you need them, not because they are on sale."

06) "Do not display your treasures or people will become envious."

07) "Do you want to be a power in the world? Then be yourself."

08) "Digital circuits are made from analog parts."

09) "Blessed is the man who has found his work."

10) " Diligence and modesty can raise your social status."

Now your short story can be fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, suspense or horror. It has to have one of the above fortune cookies QUOTED in your story. I want you to have as much creative leeway as possible. Please note it is a short story (between 3-7 typed pages). Going on a little longer or a little shorter is fine, but not just a couple paragraphs & no novellas. I am giving you 6 weeks to write something from the day this swap is assigned. Newbies are welcome (with well filled out profiles) and Swap-Bot members must at least have a 4.75 (with no recent unexplained ones). Also, you must rate, as people will be putting a lot of time & effort into their work, and also because manners really do matter. If you're known to be a non-rater, I WILL exclude you. IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT OUT YOUR FORTUNE COOKIE #1 E-MAIL SWAPS BY THE TIME THIS SWAP SIGN UP DEADLINE, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SWAP.

I always "angel" my own swaps (which means I will be writing a second short story) just in case. If you have any questions, please PM me as you will get a much faster response. Let's get writing!