“That’s a nice way to put it,” I say. “I think the tests were coming along nicely. You know, in case you ever wanted to really put fate to the test.”
She scrunches her face. “I’ve lost track of what the tests were. That’s not really how my mind thinks. I’m a little more abstract, some would say.”
“Okay, here.” I pat my jacket for something to write on. Sure enough, I still have a folded-up Chinese menu from the conference. At least it’s good for something today.
“What are you—is that a menu for a different restaurant?” Rooney’s eyes widen as she looks around the restaurant. “Jack, that’sthe competition. Do you make it a habit of carrying around Chinese take-out menus in your pocket?”
I smooth the paper menu out on the table. “You never know when the craving for lo mein will hit.”
Rooney laughs.
“May I borrow your pen again?” I ask.
She reaches into her bag and holds up our lantern pen and her new floaty pen. “Take your pick.”
“Ooh. The one that holds all the power. The Discipline Pen.” I make dramatic grabby hands at it, which makes her laugh extra hard. I really like making her laugh.
I pop off the cap and at the top of the menu write: Red String Theory. It merges Rooney’s belief and my science background. And a little bit of Red String Girl’s installation.
Rooney peers over to see what I’m up to. “Wow. Am I really about to witness operationalizing in real time? I feel like once you write out whatever it is you’re trying to capture, the earth’s axis might shift. The construct of time as we know it will be altered forever.”
“I’m doing this for you,” I say, locking eyes with her. “So maybe the first test is… Times Square? Saying yes to something you normally wouldn’t.” I turn the menu sideways and write this down in the empty column between offerings of egg rolls and sesame chicken.
“Right. The second was… the lantern party. So… show up early or late to somewhere you’re supposed to be!” she says excitedly.
I write this down next to Fate Test 1.
Rooney plays with the end of her scarf draped over the chair. “Was there a third? What about the floaty pen story? Returning something.”
I flip the pen between my fingers. “I appreciate that you’re getting into this,” I say. “Even if it’s just for fun. This helps me better understand.” And I do. I want to understand something so important toher. “But of course, I hope you get to experience fate and find your stringmate in the way you always envisioned it.”
Rooney’s eyes search my face. “Right. Of course.”
“So the third is returning a lost object. I’m still not sure how measurable these all are, but it’s a start.” These tests definitely wouldn’t fly at NASA. But like I told Rooney, this is just for fun.
Rooney taps her finger on the table. “That’s it? Just three?”
“Where else do people interact? Online?”
“Like online dating?”
“Sure. I’ve never done it but that seems to be successful for people,” I say.
Rooney twists her lips to one side. “Is that really fate, though?”
I think through the scenarios in my mind. “Sure, why not? You have the timing of when people sign up, whether or not they’re in the same city as you. The fact that they aren’t too far along into a conversation with someone else.”
“You make compelling points,” Rooney says. “There’s a timing element at play. What about social media? People slide into DMs, right?”
“What does that mean?” I ask, the neon light in the window catching my attention. It briefly flickers.
“Maybe it’s better you don’t know,” Rooney tells me.
I nod. “Chat rooms? Do those still exist?”
Rooney’s face lights up. “Probably? So Fate Test 4 can be interacting with someone online. Keep it vague.”
The waitress places our table dumplings between us. After Rooney picks out her first dumpling, I lift one with my chopsticks, dip it in soy sauce, and bite it in half. I close my eyes, letting the savory flavors and crispy exterior warm me from the inside out.
