The Assorted Cookie Basket

Cheryl Robinson, the fifth daughter of Mr Samuel Robinson was a sweet little girl of ten years, very cheerful and proactive.She used to play with the boys of her street throughout the day, sometimes even by bunking school. She feared none and had lots of adventures in her account which irritated Mrs Robinson. She was fed up with her daring attitude and sometimes cursed herself for giving birth to such a tomboyish girl. She often used to tell her husband

Mrs Robinson: Why is this girl so different from my other daughters? One day this girl will lead us to a huge problem.

Mr Robinson was a clerk in a multinational company. He had a big family to support so he hardly had any time or interest to indulge himself in these petty affairs but he knew that Mrs Robinson’s concern was absolutely correct so he supported her. Meanwhile, Cheryl continued with her innovative ideas of adventure every day, sometimes climbing the hilltop early morning to collect wild berries or diving into the deepest part of the lake and swim to and fro or even tieing Samson, the caretaker of Mr Brown’s strawberry garden to the pine tree; blindfolding him and stealing strawberries for fun. People used to flock in front of Robinson’s house to complain about her mischievous most of the days. One day Mrs Robinson was so irritated that she shouted at her and said

Mrs Robinson: Get out of the house, you naughty girl. Enough with your naughtiness...I am not going to let you stay in the house.

Cheryl was very sad but as she was adamant in nature, she thought that she will not apologise for her behaviour, instead will step out of the house and go in the direction where her fate takes her. She started walking like a vagabond without even knowing where she was going. After walking for several hours she landed in a forest. Cheryl was walking since the morning, she was immensely tired and hungry. It was dark so she sat under a tree thinking that she will move out of the forest area before it gets too dark. As she was very tired, she closed her eyes and without her knowledge, she fell asleep. Cheryl was in deep sleep, suddenly she heard some strange sounds, she opened her eyes and found two strange-looking dwarfs standing in front of her and talking to each other in a strange language

Dwarf 1: Ees elttil lrig…..os teews

Dwarf2: Sey sey...os teews

Cheryl was afraid of them but without revealing to them that she was scared, she said

Cheryl: I am Cheryl Robinson, who are you? 

The dwarfs looked at her and said

Dwarf1: Little girl, I am Gigi and he is Migi, we are dwarfs.

Cheryl: So you can speak my language, then why were you speaking some funny language

The dwarfs laughed and said

Dwarf2: We were speaking in our code language….ha ha ha ….we sometimes upside your language….ha ha ha

Cheryl couldn't understand that the dwarfs simply spelt every word from the back so it became a new and different language for her. She said

Cheryl: Can you give me something to eat, I am very hungry

Gigi: Why not, follow us to the cookie station. You can eat cookies there.

Cheryl thought

Cheryl: Cookie station???? What is that? Is that a cookie factory? How can a cookie factory be in the jungle?

She had lots of thoughts in her mind but she was extremely hungry so without speaking anything she followed the dwarfs into the deep forest. After walking for some time, she could see a place lighted brightly. As they came near she was surprised to see an open area where many dwarfs were working together to make cookies.The entire place was filled with a very sweet aroma. Cheryl didn't eat anything from the morning, she was very hungry, she could not resist herself so she ran to the place where baskets of cookies were kept. As she was about to pick the cookie, the baskets of cookies disappeared. Cheryl was shocked. The dwarfs did not utter a single word, they were silent. Cheryl turned to the dwarfs who brought her there and asked

Cheryl: Why did the basket of cookies disappear? I just wanted to have some. I am very hungry. You both told me that I can eat cookies here.

Gigi: Yes, little girl you can eat them as much as you want but you have to pay the price of the cookies first.

Migi: Everything in the world has its own prize, isn’t it...no one will give you anything for free.

Cheryl: Yes you are right, I know shopkeeper uncles also take money for everything we need...only our parents do not take money for the things we take from them.

Gigi: Yes, but we are not your parents, we can give you cookies if you pay the price

Cheryl: I do not have any money with me now, but if you tell me the price, I will pay you. Please let me have some cookies, I am very hungry.

Gigi: No darling. Cookie Station does not permit you to take the cookies without paying the price..so we can not consider your proposal.

Cheryl: Then??? I can not eat the cookies...I do not have a single penny with me

She turns to move out of the cookie station. As she was about to walk the other dwarf said

Migi: You can earn as many cookies as you want if you do a job for us...will you do that?

Cheryl: Really, then quickly tell me the work.

Gigi: Ok, listen we make four varieties of cookies here in four corners of the cookie station. You have to pack a basket of assorted cookies taking an equal number of cookies from the four corners. There are many baskets lying near the western side of the Station. Choose a basket you want and make an assorted basket.

Cheryl: This is such an easy job, I will do it quickly.

The dwarfs wanted to say something more but before they could say something Cheryl ran to the western side of the Cookie station. There were many baskets of different shapes and sizes. Cheryl chose a small basket as she thought that her job would be done quickly and she could eat as many cookies as she wanted. Then she ran to the middle of the station to search for the four corners. She saw a red corner and ran towards it. At the entrance of the corner, it was written Empathic Strawberry Cookies. Cheryl didn't understand what is empathic, She actually did not hear this word before. Moreover, she did not have time to ponder over it so she ran inside. Dwarfs in red attire were working there very slowly, taking care of everything right from the ingredients to the machinery to everything present there. They even took great care of each other and continued working in silence. Cheryl saw a huge box of red cookies kept. Cheryl thought

Cheryl: This basket can contain twenty cookies at the most. I will take 5 cookies from here 5 multiplied by 4 equals 20. 

She went near the basket but as she was about to pick up a cookie, a small cookie says

Small cookie: I am feeling dry, need a butter bath, can you please put me in the butter tub, please. 

Cheryl saw a pot of butter near the cookie box but she did not care. The little cookie continued to request. Cheryl shouted

Cheryl: Listen I do not have any time to cater for your needs. I will do my work and eat cookies, that's it

 She quickly picked up 5 cookies, put them into the box and ran out of the corner. She heard the little cookie calling her but she just ignored it and ran out.

Then she saw a blue corner and entered there. In the entrance, it was written “ Charismatic blueberry cookies”. Dwarfs in blue attires were working there. They greeted Cheryl with a smile but Cheryl appeared ignorant to them. She did not even look at them. A baby dwarf came to her and said

Baby Dwarf: Hello, miss what is your name?

Cheryl avoided her. He went behind her and asked the same question again and again. Chery got irritated and shouted at her

Cheryl: Stop questioning and get lost

The baby dwarf started crying and ran to his mother. Cheryl picked the cookies, put them in the basket and ran out of the corner. This time Cheryl felt that she should go back and say sorry to the baby dwarf. She turned to go back but she was so hungry that she thought that she should complete her work first.

She then saw a yellow corner and ran towards it. In the entrance it was written “ Generous Mango Cookies” She enters the corner and sees dwarfs in yellow attire working there. As she enters, a dwarf runs to her and says

Yellow Dwarf: Yes miss, what brings you here

Cheryl: I want cookies

Yellow Dwarf: Please follow me. I will take you there

Cheryl followed him and as she reached the cookie box she quickly picked 5 cookies and put them in the basket. Meanwhile, some dwarfs were bringing a tray of cookies to drop them in the cookie box. But one dwarf hit his leg into a pot of sugar kept on the way. He tumbled and the dwarfs also lost their balance. They shouted for help Cheryl was there but she was not eager to help them. She walked past them but suddenly she felt someone from within pushed her to help the dwarfs. She did. The dwarfs thanked her for her generosity. She felt good at heart 

Now Cheryl had to collect the last set of cookies. She turned here and there but couldn't see any corner. She searched for Gigi and Migi but they were also not there. Cheryl walked here and there. Suddenly she saw a corner with a board written “ Bake your mind, create your cookies” She went inside and found some dwarfs sitting in a corner. She went to them and asked

Cheryl: Where are the cookies? I need to take 5

Dwarf: Miss you have to bake your cookies, we will help you. List your ingredients, we will place them before you.

Cheryl: But I can not bake cookies, I have never done before.

Dwarf: No problem Miss. You can if you try. 

Cheryl did not want to bake the cookies but she had to do or she would not get the assorted basket so she thought that she would bake. She ate chocolate cookies which her mom makes at home. She tried to remember what ingredients her mom used. When she was brainstorming, she remembered the tired face of her mom who used to work for the entire day. She remembered how mom catered to the needs of her children. She remembered Mom pleading for help but she refused bluntly. She gave her list to the dwarf. He arranged for the ingredients. Cheryl mixed them one by one and during mixing, her tears rolled down her cheek and dropped into the mixing jar. Anyway, the cookies were baked. Though they were not professionally made still they were good. The dwarf said

Dwarf: miss, name your cookies

Cheryl: Annie Robinson’s cookies

Dwarf: Is that your name miss?

Cheryl: No my mom’s name. I did not know how to make cookies. It is she who helped me to bake even though she was not with me. 

She picked up 5 cookies, placed them with care in her basket, thanked the dwarf and stepped out. Gigi and Migi were waiting for her. 

Gigi: Miss, so you have collected the cookies

Cheryl: Yes, I just have to place them properly.

Migi: Ok, miss taking your time, 

Cheryl placed the basket on the ground and opened the lid to arrange the cookies. To her surprise she found the strawberry cookies completely broken,the blueberry cookies broke, some of the mango cookies also broken but Annie Robinson cookies intact. Their shapes were beautiful. Cheryl was surprised

Cheryl: How did it happen? I took the cookies and kept them in the basket properly

Cheryl was always a tomboy, she never showed her emotions ...but somehow she started to cry. 

Migi: Miss don't cry. I know you are hungry, I will arrange some food for you

Cheryl: Migi, I am not crying because I am hungry, I am really feeling sad about the cookies. The dwarfs have taken so much pain in creating them but see I am so unfortunate that I could not take care of them. Cheryl was really sorry and she continued to cry.

Migi: don’t cry miss look at your basket

Cheryl looked at her basket, all the cookies were in their shapes beautifully arranged. Cheryl felt happy.

Cheryl: The cookies again came to their form. I am so happy. But Gigi is it magic? Did you do magic?

Gigi: You did the magic miss

Cheryl: Me!!!! Oh no. I do not know magic

Gigi: Your tears were filled with all the emotions which we use to bake the cookies. As the drops of tears touched the broken cookies they again regained their form.

Cheryl was given the assorted basket as a gift by the Dwarfs. She came home and told her mom and dad everything. 

Cheryl is a different girl now. She is very caring, empathetic, generous. Her parents are very happy. After a few months, they went to the forest to meet the dwarfs but the dwarfs and cookie station were not there. But every Christmas Cheryl gets a basket of assorted cookies with a note “ From Gigi and Migi with love”