“Here is a toy I used to play with, Katya. It’s a magic fortune ball. First, ask a question. Let’s try: Rain today?”
Grandma turned the black sphere over. “Without a doubt” slowly appeared.
“Oooo,” breathed Katya excitedly.
“Go practice. Remember, only a yes or no.”
In a few minutes, Katya returned looking troubled.
“I asked: Will the war end soon? It answered: ‘Cannot predict now.’ So, I tried: Will my papa come home soon? Then it broke. Only one answer came up over and over.”
Grandma drew in her breath. “And it was –”
“Better not tell you now.”
Grandma turned the black sphere over. “Without a doubt” slowly appeared.
“Oooo,” breathed Katya excitedly.
“Go practice. Remember, only a yes or no.”
In a few minutes, Katya returned looking troubled.
“I asked: Will the war end soon? It answered: ‘Cannot predict now.’ So, I tried: Will my papa come home soon? Then it broke. Only one answer came up over and over.”
Grandma drew in her breath. “And it was –”
“Better not tell you now.”
