The Boy with the Golden Yo-Yo: Who's Your Future Wife?
- Nick Ho
- Jan 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 7
[🎧 The audio version is available at the bottom of the page.] ⬇
(Scene: A Quiet Neighborhood Street, afternoon. YOU walk home from school with three classmates: DAISY, the school beauty; EMMA, a fat and unattractive girl; and TOM, a dull boy with thick glasses. You are all 14.)
(You all chat casually as you stroll down the street. Suddenly, the world freezes—)
(The wind stops mid-motion, a bird is suspended mid-flight, a car hangs motionless in the middle of the street, and your classmates freeze in place. You blink, looking around in confusion.)
You: What the—?
(A BOY, about 8 years old, dressed in ragged green clothes and a feathered cap like a character from a fairy tale, jumps down from a lamppost. He spins a Golden Yo-Yo casually as he walks toward you.)
Boy: Hey, Jerry. Nice day for a prophecy, don’t you think?
You: Who… who are you?
Boy: Oh, just someone who knows things. Big things. Important things. Many many things. Everything. And, uh, things about you.
(He winks and leans in with a mischievous grin.)
Boy: Wanna hear your future?
You: What? No! I don’t even know you!
Boy: You don’t need to know me. But trust me, I know you. And you’ll want to hear this. It’s juuuuuicy.
(The Boy flicks the yo-yo skillfully and gestures toward the frozen Emma.)
Boy: See her? That’s your future wife.
(You stare at him, dumbfounded. Then you burst into laughter.)
You: Emma? No way. You’re messing with me, right?
Boy: Nope. One day, you’ll get down on one knee and ask her the big question: “Will you marry me?” And guess what? She’ll say yes.
You: You’ve got it all wrong. I’m gonna marry Daisy.
Boy: Daisy? Oooh, that’s cute. But no, no. She’s not into you.
You: How do you know that?
Boy: Because I know everything, genius. Everything. And I’m telling you, Daisy’s got her eyes on someone else.
(The Boy points dramatically at Tom.)
Boy: Him.
You: Tom?! You’ve got to be kidding. Daisy would never go for a guy like Tom! He’s… well, he’s boring! All he talks about is stamps and taking pictures of buses.
Boy: Boring? I don’t know about that. But girls love surprises. And Tom? He’s full of them. They’ll date for years.
You: No way. This is all crap. You’re just making stuff up!
Boy: Come on, Jerry. Do I look like the type to lie? Look at my eyes.
You: Yes!
(The Boy chuckles, flipping the yo-yo and catching it mid-air.)
Boy: Fair. But this isn’t a lie, Jerry. It’s your fate. Emma’s your girl. You’ll put a ring on her finger, and she’ll be the one you’ll want to spend your life with.
You: No. I can’t! I’d never do that. Never!
Boy: You will. And you’ll mean it too. You’ll fall for her, big time.
(The Boy claps his hands and laughs.)
You: (tears welling up in your eyes) No! I don’t want to marry Emma. She’s fat and ugly. Everyone will laugh at me. I’ll have boring kids, and I’d rather not live that life. I’ll hate every second of it!
Boy: Whatever, Jerry. Fate’s fate. You’ll live a long life with her, all the way to the end.
You: Please, tell me how to change this!
Boy: Sorry, Jerry. I’m a fortune teller, not a fate changer.
(The Boy starts to fade, stepping backward into the frozen street.)
You: Wait! Where're you going? Please! I’ll do anything!
Boy: Don’t blame me, Jerry. I wasn't supposed to tell you, but I did. I was just so bored today. Oh, and—good luck. You’re gonna need it.
(The Boy flips his yo-yo for a quick trick.)
Boy: How’s that? New tricks!
(He snaps his fingers, and the world starts moving again.)
(You stand in the middle of the sidewalk, tears streaming down your face. Your classmates resume walking ahead. Emma turns around and notices you.)
Emma: Jerry? Are you okay?
You: (angrily) Just leave me alone.
(Emma hesitates, looking concerned. She takes out a small packet of tissues and holds one out to you.)
Emma: Here.
You: (pushing her away) I don’t need your help!
(Emma doesn’t react to your anger. She steps closer and gently presses the tissue into your hand.)
Emma: It’s okay to cry.
(You turn your back to her, clutching the tissue in your hand. Daisy and Tom finally turn back.)
Daisy: (rolling her eyes) What’s his problem?
Tom: Come on, Daisy. Don’t be so harsh. Jerry’s clearly upset.
Daisy: Whatever.
(Tom walks over, standing beside Emma. Daisy stays a few steps back, watching indifferently.)
Tom: Hey, Jerry. If you need to talk, we’re here.
(You glance at them. You wipe your face and nod slightly, overwhelmed by the weight of what you’ve just learned.)
(The four of you linger for a moment before continuing your walk home, you trailing behind, lost in thought.)
(Posted on 5.1.2025)
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