Chocolate Chip Cookies And A Special Ingredient.

"Ok, so I've got my dough ready. Now where's my chocolate chips..." I ask myself, drumming my fingers on the table top. When I finally recall, I hurry to the cabinet and extract a large packet of it out. Snipping it open with my scissors, I pour it into a bowl before mixing it into my cookie dough.

Soon, the cookies are ready. Hands protected by baking gloves, I carefully take my tray of freshly baked cookies out of the oven and place it on the table. "This has to work, my baking contest is coming in a week," I mumble in frustration, taking off my gloves and hanging them on a "S" hook. Picking up a cookie with uncertainty, I take a bite. Then I drop it. Urgh, why can't I just do it right! It's just a little cookie. How am I supposed to win with this kind of standard?! I frown, pushing my cookies to the side. I guess it's time to redo it all over again.

Just then, my mother walks into the kitchen, clad in her yellow-striped T-shirt and shorts. "Sorry for interrupting, but those smell really good," Ma says with a grin, pointing at my failed cookies.

'Seriously Ma, these suck. They don't even taste like an award-winning cookie," I complain, feeling dejected. She replies by back and replies on her signature chirpy voice," Why don't we do it together this time? Would you mind?" I shake my head and hand her an extra apron from one of the cabinets, which she then ties around her waist. Handing over my recipe, I silently hope that Ma will tell me what to improve on. However, she just pins it into the fridge with a round little magnet and says," Let's begin!"

I smile and before I realise, I'm having a whale of a time. There's clouds of flour everywhere, and I even catch Ma eating the cookie dough when I wasn't looking! We spend the next hour or so laughing our heads off and having fun, not even for a second did our smile fade.

"Ding!" The oven calls out. "Ma, the cookies are ready!!!" I exclaim while packing the leftover chocolate chips into a plastic container. After keeping them away, I walk towards Ma, who's putting on her gloves. "Let's do a taste test," Ma suggests while taking out the tray, instantly filling the room with an inviting aroma. Nodding my head, I reach my hand out to grab a cookie, eager to have a bite. Sinking my teeth into the soft dough, my eyes widens. I'm pleasantly surprised by how good this thing is, and subsequently gobble the whole thing down in a split second.

Setting the tray on that table, Ma asks," Satisfied this time sweetie?" Reaching out for another one, I reply," Yea, did you add anything to my recipe?" Busy munching, Ma cocks her head towards the fridge before leaving to wash her hands.

Intrigued, I stride towards the fridge, where my recipe is attached to. Taking one good look, I notice the difference right away. Written in bold at the bottom of the paper is the word

"Enjoyment".