THE FORTUNE TELLER

One morning Mrs. Chong asked her husband to accompany her to the fortune teller.
“You go alone,” Mr. Chong said. “I don’t believe in fortune tellers. They’re a waste of time and money.”
“Oh, but this new man is very good. Please come with me,” his wife pleaded. “Just this once.”
“Very well, then. But just this once,” Mr. Chong said. “I’m not going to make a habit of it.”
When they arrived at the fortune teller’s, Mrs. Chong went in first while her husband waited outside. After the fortune teller had told her fortune, Mrs. Chong said, “My husband will come in to see you now. Please be careful what you say to him. He doesn’t believe in fortune tellers.”
“I will soon make him change his mind,” the fortune teller said.
“Ah, but he is a very stubborn man. And he gets angry very easily,” Mrs. Chong said.
“So much the better,” the fortune teller replied. “Leave everything to me. There is only one thing. You must not tell your husband the fortune I have given you today.”
Mrs. Chong was surprised. “Why not?” she asked. “There is nothing bad in it.”
“I cannot explain,” the fortune teller said, “but it is in your stars. Whatever your husband says or does, you must not tell him your fortune. There will be disaster for you if you do.”
“Very well,” Mrs. Chong said, and went out.
Her husband went in immediately, and said, “Now be quick. I haven’t all day to listen to your nonsense. I’ve only come here to please my wife.”
“In that case, I will not tell you your full fortune,” the fortune teller said. “Instead I will give you only a serious warning. Do not ask your wife about her fortune. If you do you will have great unhappiness.”
Mr. Chong laughed at this, and walked out.
That evening as he was sitting at home with his wife, Mrs. Chong said to her, “What did the fortune teller say to you?”
“Oh, nothing much,” his wife said quickly.
“I am sure it wasn’t,” Mr. Chong said, “but tell me anyway.”
“Really, it was nothing,” his wife said, and tried to change the subject.
“I demand to know!” Mr. Chong exclaimed, getting angry.
But Mrs. Chong remembering the fortune teller’s words, refused to tell her husband. Within minutes, they were quarraelling fiercely.
‘If you don’t tell me,” Mr. Chong shouted, “ I shall leave this house and never return.”
“I can’t tell you,” his wife cried. “Something terrible will happen if I do.”
“Something terrible will happen if you don’t!, he roared.
But she refused to tell him and he walked out of the house. He went straight to the fortune teller’s.
“You were right,” he said. “I asked my wife about her fortune and it has bought me great unhappiness. Now please tell me the rest of my fortune. I shall believe whatever you say.”
The fortune teller smile to himself and studied Mr. Chong fortune in his astrological charts.

(Understanding Modern English)