Reluctant Protagonist
The Palace’s Reluctant Lucky Charm
On my first day in the palace, I told my own fortune.
A west wind slipped along the foot of the wall, lifting three dead leaves.
Two fell into the gutter; one landed on my shoe.
I studied that leaf for a long while and reached a conclusion: Don’t compete.
Stay alive.
Excellent.
I decided on the spot that, from that day forward, I would be a layabout with principles.
