The Thirteenth Cookie
The 13th Cookie
By Mark Lewis
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I stopped on the steps of the Bakery shop,
On my way home from school Mom said, “Pick up some bread.”
It had been a rough day. I was cold. I was hungry.
I sat down and I sighed and I hung down my head.
“What’s wrong?" came a voice from just up above me.
I looked up and right into the baker’s nice face.
“Oh it’s nothing." I fibbed and he smiled at me knowing,
'Cause I looked like I just came in last in a race.
“Come inside, my young friend.” He said, “Tell me your story.
Here, nosh this bagel. Sit down. Rest your bones.
‘Mama?’ Bring some schmere, please. What no? Good enough then.
What makes you look like a poor dog with no home?”
I said, “Most kids are lucky –they know what they’re good at.
But me – I do lots – I don’t fit in one group.
I do sports, I do math, I can sing and I draw too.
I feel weird - like a noodle left out of the soup.”
“I hear you.” he smiled. And he patted my shoulder.
He thought for a moment while I wiped my nose.
“Mama shall we show him? Good. Come to the kitchen,
What I have to show you will like, I suppose.”
“I know what you are - you’re the thirteenth cookie.
The very last one of the bunch for the day.
I looked real confused and he smiled. “Oh, don’t worry,
Come back to the kitchen. I’ll show you – this way.
It’s time to bake cookies – the kind that my bubbe -
As you’d say ‘my grandmother’ called ‘Gingerbread’.
They look just like people – see? Here is the cutter,
A body, 2 arms and two legs and a head.
I roll out the dough ‘till it’s just the right thickness,
Then I fit in the cutter and cut them "just so".
A dozen, plus one - I line them up nicely,
And get them all ready in the oven to go
But before they go in, I must decorate them.
I put on some icing – it’s good – have a lick.
But they need something more to have them look tasty …
What to do? Ah, the answer – this will do just the trick.
I have bowls filled with sprinkles like the hues of the rainbow,
I keep them all separate right here on the shelf.
I’ve blues and I’ve greens - I’ve got yellows and oranges,
And reds whites and purples, come see for yourself!”
I put on twelve colors - one sprinkle per cookie.
Then I tap off the extra down into this tray.
Here’s a mixed-up collection of twelve different sprinkles,
A ‘color-kaleidoscope’ someone might say.
Now, the very last cookie – my piece de résistance,
The one that I save for the end of the day.
The thirteenth I dip in the all-color sprinkles,
It is different - unique in its own special way.
Now, The Baker above in the Heavenly Kitchen.
Makes up a big batch of the sweet, people-dough.
And rolls it out nicely to just the right thickness,
Then sprinkles some flour and cuts them "just so".
Then its time up above to begin decorating,
And His sprinkles come out in their bowls in a row.
The blues are for artists; the greens are musicians;
The yellows are actors; the orange - mathematicians;
The reds study science and the purple are singers.
There’s a different color for each, don’t you know.
Now you - you’re the last one who came from The Kitchen.
The “Thirteenth” to bake at the end of the day.
The Baker dipped you in the multi-hue sprinkles,
And a bit of all stuck on to you from the tray.
So, come by tomorrow I’ll have a surprise here.
Just a small something – you’ll like it - or won’t.
So take home this bread so you momma won’t worry.
I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodbye, Sei Gesund.”
All day the next day, I kept thinking of sprinkles,
I just couldn’t wait for the school stuff to stop.
When the bell finally rang I ran straight down to Main Street,
And directly into the Bakery Shop.
There it was - by itself - in the very front showcase.
Above all the twelve on the very top shelf.
A person-shaped cookie with all color sprinkles,
I knew in my heart that this was myself!
He smiled when he saw me and handed it to me,
Wrapped up in a paper to make it look neat.
I reached in my pocket – He said “Not to Worry,
Put your money away, Mazel tov! - It’s my treat!”
“Thank you!” I said and went out to the sidewalk.
I looked at my cookie and now understood.
I am special and more … I like being different!
And I finally knew, (crunch…crunch…crunch) I am Good!