[rothko]

a decent idea, but not very well-written, which shouldn't be so obvious in something this short.

basically, it all needs to be rewritten. here are a few pointers to start with:

the cookie isn't "concealed" by the wrapper

"hardened batter" is pointless substitution, technically inelegant variation

"Chinese food" is lame, use a specific dish

"toy John Deere tractor" awkward specificity, nix John Deere

change what the fortune says, unless his wife is a promiscuous girl

options in parentheses, neither

punctuation throughout

second paragraph is useless