The Story
The childhood delight of oven baked cookies, warm, and aromatic. As if you could taste the melted sugar in the air that would soon be dipped in milk. Breath in those cookies and taste them, imagine your childhood home, and close your eyes. Now imagine…
Crawling down the four steps from my bedroom, I peak around the corner and lay flat across the wall. I don’t see mom. Looking around, to my left, then to my right. I still don’t see her. Quickly, I slide across the tile floor under a table. I feel like a spy; my mission, to sneak two cookies.
Making my way out from under the table, for I had not heard any foot-steps, I start to tip-toe. But, I hear her singing not far away. Mom, was not far away. She is the enemy, the one preventing me from my cookies. I want them, badly. Sliding back under the table, I wait out her singing, for her routine is the same; sing for a little while, so that the cookies cool down, then she will nibble on one while sitting on the couch in the living room. While she is in the living room, that will be my chance, so I wait.
Swoosh. She drops into the couch, the time is now. I crawl out from under the table and quickly peak around the corner, she is reading a book with her cookie on the side table. Yes, my plan is working, these cookies are mine. Quietly, I round the corner and step into the dining room. I am only one room away. If I make a false movement now, I am done for. Holding in a giggle, I reach for a cookie atop the table. They smell so sweet, but I don’t have any milk. Shoot, I need some milk!
Hmmm, the kitchen opens directly towards the kitchen, that was be a suicide mission, so I must be clever. Grabbing two cookies, I smash them into my pocket and retreat to my room. Across the hall and up the stairs, sliding back into my room. Once there, the temptation is almost too great, I want shovel the cookies into my mouth, but I can’t without milk. But, I have a plan.
I consulted with Sargent Teddy Bear and they agreed, the time was now. It was my duty to my belly, so I must go. Off I went, running down the stairs, almost falling over with excitement, “Mom! Mom! Can I have a cookie?” I asked her on the couch, interrupting her from her book.
“Nope.”
“Mom! UGH! Why not?”
“They are for desert tonight.”
“Fine,” I pout and cross my arms, “can I have a glass of milk then?”
“Go ahead honey.”
The plan is working perfectly. I pour my glass of milk and head upstairs. Not a peep from comes from the couch. I devour the cookies and lay on my bed victorious. Excited for round two after dinner.
“Okay everyone, guess what’s for dessert?” My mom asks the family, as if we all didn’t already know.
“COOKIES!” I shout. “I am excited!” Thrilled for round two.
“Not so fast honey. Everyone but my little spy gets a cookie, for you almost got me earlier today when you grabbed your milk. You’ve already had two, haven’t you?” She questions with a smirk.
“Busted!” My brother laughs as he dunks his cookies in his milk.
“At least mine were still warm.” I respond as I sit back in my chair, cover blown, but my belly is happy.
…allow those childhood memories to flood back. Allow yourself to be a kid once more, as if you are sneaking two cookies from the cookie jar. You are innocent, you play games and have an imagination, you strategize with stuffed animals, you laugh, you are fun! Being a kid is fun, being you right now is fun. You still play, it just looks different. You still laugh, just at different jokes. You still have an imagination, you still play with toys, you still strategize in life, it’s all just a little bit different. And the best part of all, you still get your milk and cookies!
About the Story
This is a fiction piece that I came up with as I sat in my van, enjoying milk and cookies with my van door wide open. I am a lover of cookies, chocolate chip and oreos to be specific. If I can dip them in a cold glass of whole milk, I am in heaven. While enjoying the California sunset, I played through and imagined myself, as a little kid, sneaking a cookie. At first, this was just a find idea that made me laugh. I had no plan to write it down, but for some reason I couldn’t resist. Laughing to myself at the thought, I penned this piece.
Being a creative has its pros and cons, but often I forget that I can do whatever I would like and share whatever I would like. Identifying as a photographer first and a writer second, I find I often skip over the writing portion for the sake of time and fear of judgement (mostly for myself for writing and sharing something silly). Yes, I do have walls up and, yes, I do get insecure. A trait of mine I am working to overcome.
Something I noticed: Reading this flash fiction story is alright, but if you can have somebody read the story aloud to you, it is even better.
In the end, I did try to connect the dots and apply some meaning to the story. The take away is simple, but hard to do. Hell, often my friends and family tell me that I am too serious. For the most part, I am a single-tasker, only capable of focusing on one task at a time, so when somebody catches me working, they feel a little put off by my reaction if they interrupt me. An area of growth for myself, no doubt.
Journal Questions:
Where are you overly serious in your daily life?
When was the last time you had a good belly laugh? How did it happen?
Who brings out the “fun” you in your life?