Rain streaked the windows on a shockingly basic September day. The blinds were open just enough to see out. A small hand gripped the window sill. Jason pulled himself up to see out. He was short for his age. Many kids have big dreams, Jason’s dream was to be big. Like every time he looked out that window, he saw the same thing: an adventure. Of course here he was stuck inside. He could have found an infinite amount of trouble if only his aunt would let him.
He pushed on the window. It was more of an impulse than a thought. His aunt had learned that she would never have downtime when he was around. Punishing this kid had an interesting effect. He almost wanted attention more than anything. She was learning how to best control a wild child like him; give him something to do.
“How long has it been since we last made cookies?” she asked with a huge smile on her face. That was another thing. This kid mirrored your emotion. If you wanted to put him in a good mood just be in a good mood yourself. Smiles are more contagious then people give them credit for.
“Too long!” exclaimed a now very excited seven year old. He was immature for his age, but really that just made him even more lovable. He jumped away from the window sill and ran to the kitchen.
“What type of cookies do you want to make?”
“Chocolate chip, chocolate fudge, chocolate frosted!!!”
“I know enough to have chocolate chip cookies with you around.” she smiled again and playfully poked at him. Jason giggled a loud carefree giggle that only someone very young can. In a room full of children his age the giggle would have been contagious.
“You have helped me make cookies before so try to take out everything from the drawers you think we will need.” She motioned toward the drawers.
For how young he was he got everything out of the drawers you need to make cookies as well as a few more.
His aunt chuckled at the ice cream scoop and egg beater that he had also taken out. He took out Christmas cookie cutters as well. His aunt did not put those back. If he wanted to have shaped cookies that was his choice she would not argue with him. She would reinforce his good decisions.
“You have frosting too right?” asked a very concerned seven year old.
A mischievous smile spread across his aunt’s face. The same one he has. “I only have one color of frosting. I know how to make it into any color you want!”
“What? how would that work?”
“Well do you believe these will be the best cookies ever?”
“well duh, even if they are not good we will just shove more chocolate in them until they are: Kinda like a s’more” That made them laugh good and hard.
His aunt pulled out food coloring from the highest cabinet. He had used dye in the past for Easter eggs so she was not too concerned about teaching him about dye. Him reaching the dye was still a concern, but that was a battle for another day.
The basics of making cookies are the same. They measured, stirred, and licked the spoons. Without realizing it Jason was proving that he can do things that he puts his mind to. Getting him to focus is the key.
About twenty minutes later they opened the oven. Jason gasped happily to see cookies. His aunts gasp was that of despair. The left half of the tray was clearly distorted. The figures arms and legs were all burned. They must have let it in too long. She felt bad telling him that the cookies would be stale. She took a deep long breath and wondered how Jason would react to the news.
“These look great!” A happy smiling boy exclaimed. He reached for the frosting mix.
“They have to cool for awhile or the frosting just runs off the cookies: too hot. Lets just go watch your tablet for a bit.”
Jason never noticed the cookies were burned. He decorated them with green and purple frosting. He made them talk and gave them names. Jason had more fun playing with those cookies then his aunt could have ever imagined. To a seven year old it is simple: All cookies are created equal.
Never give up on life. Never give up on love.
That’s it; That’s all:
-Nathan Hall