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The Day John Henry Got Caught in the Cookie Jar
Oh, look at that poor boy! His clothes! His knee shows, and there’s something red in his hand. He has red cheeks.
I was thinking: Oh that lucky boy!
His name is John Henry. He’s eating one of the cookies. He has chocolate on it and on his face and on the edge of his hand. His finger is in his mouth.
There are all different colored-cookies in there – brown ones and yellow ones and white ones and red icing. They’re not all cookie-colored. I count 11 cookies in the jar. I made brownie kind of cookies instead of form cookies because I had five kids and they couldn’t wait.
He’s looking at the dog and saying, “You can’t have any!” The dog’s name is Trouble. Trouble’s tongue is hanging out. He would like to be right there with John Henry, but he doesn’t dare.
No, John Henry isn’t looking at Trouble. Trouble’s looking at him and coming through the door. And John Henry’s not saying anything – his mouth’s full of cookies. That’s right!
John Henry took the lid off the cookie jar, and it’s all his, if he wants it.
I know what he’s NOT going to do next: He’s not going to wash his face.
John Henry is getting in trouble with somebody who’s looking down on him. God knows how many cookies he’s eaten. But he’s not going to eat any more.
Trouble is panting and hoping for some cookies. He’s about to get in the cookie jar. He knows that John Henry won’t hurt him as long as they’re playing by themselves.
--Created 8-14-14
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