Morning all. Its a frosty one today but none of the snow predicted last night. I’m guessing it hit higher elevations and we just weren’t in range. It is nice seeing the white tipped mountains though. Especially when sitting inside. So while sitting inside, lets see what comes out of today’s prompt.
I feel like I was just starting to get into a story when the timer went off. I might spend a few more minutes on this before I let it go for the day.
Tuesday, December 19th: She took a bite.
She took a bite. ‘Better,’ she thought. ‘But still not quite there.’ She set her cookie off to the side and placed the rest on a disposable tray. While she still hadn’t found the recipe she was looking for, she knew that these were good enough to be appreciated. She smiled. It was good to have a handy disposal for her failures.
‘Well not exactly failures,’ she corrected. The cookies were still good. They weren’t complete failures. Those she wouldn’t pass on to anyone. They just weren’t up to award winning status yet.
This year, Lisa was bound and determined to take a prize in the competition. Each year for the past five she came in fourth. Each year she got better and even though she didn’t get a chance to taste her competition’s entries she was told that it was a close call. Lisa sighed. Each year by the time she got over to the trays, the cookies for the others were gone. It didn’t matter how high the plate was piled first or how quickly she moved. Lisa was always too late to get any cookies.
She finished off the one she was trying as she went to get some plastic wrap to go over the tray.
She used Tahitian vanilla this time and she could taste the subtle difference it made. ‘Almost there,’ she thought. ‘It is still missing something to be perfection though.’
Lisa finished her cookie and wrapped the tray. As she picked it up and grabbed her keys, Lisa replayed the ingredients list over and over trying to get it right. She locked her door and took the tray down hall. Her neighbors George and Alice worked with the local community center and were happy to bring her excess cookies for the center to enjoy. She slipped her keys into her pocket, well aware that she was one of the few people that locked her door even just for a quick run down the hall.
It was an old habit and one she never felt comfortable breaking.
She knocked on the door and George answered. He smiled and let his eyes drop to the platter. His smile faltered slightly before looking back at her and flashing brightly. Lisa wilted inside.
“I’ve made too many and the center is tired of them,” Lisa guessed.
“Oh no,” George said. “They love them, its just.” He sighed. “Well you had better come in.”
“Okay,” Lisa said. She stepped over the threshold and George closed the door behind her. Alice was waiting and smiled sadly at her. “Look if you don’t want…” Lisa began.
“Its not that,” Alice said. She took the tray. “They are lovely and will be appreciated as always. It’s about the competition.”
“You can’t win,” George said. Alice looked at him. He shrugged. “There is no nice way to put that.”
“I’m sure if I,” Lisa began.
“No,” Alice said. “George is right. You won’t win. You will never be allowed to win. Even if you are the best. We thought it was time someone told you and explained it.”
Ten til Midnight 