My Short Short for the Day

The smell of cookies filled the room.  Ellie, Sam, and Meg were eagerly preparing their workspace.  A piece of parchment paper, a bowl of frosting with a popsicle stick for spreading, tiny bowls of sprinkles, sparkles, and other toppings.  The oven dinged.  Mom put on her oven mitts and carefully opened the oven door.  The kids stood nearby with rosy cheeks and big smiles. 

After the cookies had cooled, Mom placed one in front of each kid.  “Ok, ready, set, go!”

The race was on.  Who would create the most amazing cookie ever!

Ellie and Sam were smearing a thick layer of frosting followed by a dash of sparkles, a pinch of sprinkles, a couple mini marshmallows, some rainbow-colored nerds, and a dusting of powdered sugar.  With a flourish, Ellie threw her hands up in the air and stepped away from her cookie.  Close behind, Sam set his popsicle stick down, gave his cookie a quick once over and then put his hands in the air.

Meanwhile, Meg had carefully spread a thin layer of green frosting over her cookie.  She made sure to keep the frosting on the cookie with none of it touching the edge.  She smoothed the frosting down so there were no ripples or bumps to be seen.  Then she picked up a mini marshmallow and picked a small piece off it and carefully placed it on the cookie.  She repeated this gesture over and over until there was no more marshmallow.  She studied her cookie for a moment then picked up some blue sparkles and sprinkled them over the cookie.  After another moment of studying it, she smiled and put her hands in the air.

“Ok Bakers, place your cookies on the plate and we will get the judges reaction.”  Mom held the plate out to the kids and each one carefully placed their masterpiece on it.  Mom walked out into the living room where Grandpa was sitting in his favorite chair.  The leather was worn and faded but it suited Grandpa. 

“Now, it is time for the judging.  Bakers, please be seated.”  Carefully placed the plate of cookies on the tv tray in front of Grandpa.

“Well, let’s see here.  Hmm?”  Grandpa looked very serious as he studied each cookie.  “I’d say they all look quite interesting.  The tree is elegantly decorated on the first cookie.  The snowman is very tough looking on the second cookie.  And the heart on the third cookie is very lovely.  But I can’t decide based on looks alone.  Now, I must taste them.”

Grandpa took a big bite of the first cookie and made several “Mmms” and “Hmms”.  Then he took a big bite of the second cookie and made several “Umms” and “Ohhs”. And finally, he took a big bite of the third cookie and made several “Ahhs” and “Uhhuhs”.  The children watched excitedly as Grandpa carefully finished off each cookie, wiped his mouth clean and set the napkin on the crumb covered plate.  “Well, I have made my decision.” 

Grandpa sat up straight in his chair and looked fondly at each child who was beaming back at him.  “My decision is…I need more cookies to test before I can decide!”

“Grandpa!”  The children laughed and tackled him.