Wheat and Cow

"Cookiiiiieeee!!!"

 

He turned. A cookie in his mouth. Hair and uniform all messy. He jerked his head -asking what's the matter.

 

"Wait for me, Cookie!" She stood at her doorway. So very neat as usual.

 

"Then, hurry up! I'm not going to be late because of you."

 

"I haven't drink my milk, yet."

 

"So, drink it up."

 

"It's still hot."

 

He sighed. "Alright, I'm coming up."

 

Cookie and Milk were neighbours. Cookie's family rented the lower level while Milk's rented the upper level. Both parents worked around the clock to feed their family. Thus, they spend a lot of time in each other company. And they had agreed to go together at the first day of school. Well, actually Milk asked for it as she was nervous.

 

Cookie climbed the stairs and took the mug of hot milk from Milky -her nickname. He then went inside Milky's home and poured the milk into a small flask which he grabbed from under the kitchen counter. 

 

"There." He handed the flask to her.

 

"Thanks, Cookie!" Her eyes brightened up.

 

"Yeah, yeah...now c'mon. We're so gonna be late." He gentelly took her hand. Milky happily followed. Humming cheerfully along the way. Fifteen minutes after that, they arrived just in time for the school bell. 

 

Milky looked around. Everywhere she saw parents sending their kids to school. She silently lowered her head. Clutching tighter at Cookie's hand. He turned to her. His heart felt a slight pang of hurt seeing her so sad.

 

"You see, most of the parents send their kids only at the first day of school. And after that the kids got to go by themselves. Nothing to be so down about." He said matter-of-factly -keeping off any emotions from his voice. His eyes straying away -not wanting to look at her sad face.

 

Milky nodded weakly, "But at least, they didn't have to go to school alone for a day."

 

Her eyes began to mist. Jeez, not good...not good. Get a hold of yourself. Some people get way worser than you. She shook her head before looking up to Cookie -forcing a smile.

 

"Hahaha...Cookie, it's fine. I was just..." She tried to let go of his hand.

 

But, Cookie held her hand tighter. He looked at her straight in the eyes. Determination sketched all over his face. Milky's eyes got wider -confused and startled. She caught herself thinking, 'What got over Cookie now? Is he angry because I act such like a big baby?'

 

"You will never go to school alone. Not from the first day. Not ever. You got me. And I promise you that."

 

Milky smiled a little. And slowly it turned into a big grin. 

 

"You got me too, Cookie!"

 

Cookie grinned back. He patted her head.

 

"Yeah, sure, Milky."

 

She gave him a cheeky smile and started running. "Race you to class!"

 

Cookie was stunned for a minute before snapping back to his sense.

 

"Milkyyyy!!!"

 

And off he went after her. "Just you wait till I get you, Sneaky!"

 

Milky just laughed. Enjoying the wind brushing her face.

 

 

***

 

The class was a little bit crowded with all the parents squishing in -trying to comfort their little darling. Milky nudged Cookie and pointed at the teacher. Mrs Cucumber was not very cool at the moment. She was a complete mess trying to raise her voice over the sea of wailing and sobbing children. Milky and Cookie laughed secretly. Mrs Cucumber neat hair tied in a bun was now looking like a ball of knoted up string. Her glasses slipping constantly on her sweaty nose that was carefully powdered in the morning. Her hands flapping like a chicken desperate to fly. Tomato sauce can be seen on her white blouse -directly over her chest. What's the ketchup doing there on the first day of school is a great mystery.

 

"Looks like someone got murdered," Cookie can't help smiling.

 

"And turned into a zombie," Milky added. Giggling but not the girlish one.

 

The parents were not helping either with their negotiations with their children. It was like all the dealer in the world had come to make their deal. Or like a market where mothers bargained for the lowest price.

 

"A whole box of candy, then I won't force you to stay, dad."

 

"No, a big choc bar and that's my last deal."

 

"Mummy...the girl next to me gonna have a big choc bar...I wanna to..."

 

"Oh, this is so not happenning to me..."

 

"Alright, if you stay in school for a whole day, I'll get the bunny you want so much."

 

"Noooo...boohoo...I don't wanna the bunny...."

 

"Then, what do you want???" Clearly at the edge of blowing up.

 

"I want youuuu...booohooo...daddyyyy..." Eyes so big that puppy's eyes can't even beat. Small delicate hands stretched out for his beloved daddy.

 

The father was suddenly chocking back tears. He hugged his daughter tight. Comforting her. "Ok, ok...I'm here, I'm here...don't worry, sweetie..." What was I thinking, sending my little one to the cruel world.

 

"Daddy...???"

 

"Yeah, sweetie?"

 

"Can I have a bunny?"

 

The father became speechless. What the...?!

 

Such annoying kids -so ungrateful. Cookie made a boring face to the-drama-bunny besides him. Just then, he spied a couple of empty seats besides the window at the last row. 

 

"Hey, Milky. Let's sit there..." He grabbed Milky's hand and started dragging her.

 

Then, he sat down and sighed. It's only 8.15 am but he felt worn out already. He turned to Milky. "Wake me up when..." Suddenly he froze. The girl also froze. 

 

"WHAT ARE YOU??? WHERE'S MILKY???"

 

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DRAGGED ME HERE!!! UGHH...YOU'RE HANDS DIRTY!!! YOU SHOULD WASH MORE!!! BOYS ARE SUCH DISGUSTING CREATURE!!! THEY SHOULD NOT..."

 

Cookie ignored her. He shoot up like a rocket and looked around frantically for Milky. Dang, she must be frightened out of her wits by now. How could he be so careless. He started pushing his way through the crowds of kids and parents. 

 

"MILKYYYYY!!!! WHERE ARE YOUUUUU???" He pictured her all alone and oh, so very lost. Sobbing and crying out his name. He held his aching heart. Oh, poor poor Milky.

 

"Cookie!"

 

 He turned his head quickly it nearly snapped. "MILKYYY!"

 

 She waved cheerfully at him."Hey, Cookie! I'm right here!"

 

Heh, so much for my-innonce-Milky. He wiped his face clear of any emotions. Man, I'm so good at that, ain't I. Then, he walked calmly to Milky and took her hand. "C'mon."

 

"Ummm...where we're going?"

 

"To our seats. Duuh..."

 

"Oh...but, Cookie...I..."

 

"You what???" Cookie asked impatiently.

 

"I...I...I already got a seat."

 

Cookie was flabbergasted for a moment. Then, he let go of her hand. Be cool, man. Why do you feel embarassed??? There's nothing embarassing happening, right?

 

"Alright, let me see who you are sitting with. If that person is a gangsta, you will..." Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Cool as a cucumber but not as Mrs Cucumber though. He was somewhat impressed by the authority of his voice.

 

Suddenly, the-previous-girl popped her face in front of him, "YOU WILL WHAT, SIR?!"

 

Cookie tried to remain cool but failed miserably. He made a disgusted face and shrieked, "EEEEKKKK.....ARE YOU SITTING WITH HER, MILKY??? SHE IS NOT TO BE TRUS..."

 

Milky put her small hand on Cookie mouth. And he stopped right that minute. Paying full attention to her. Milky smiled sweetly and shook her head, "No, I'm not sitting with Donut, Cookie. I'm sitting with S'more."

 

"Oh, is that so. Then, that's ok." He sighed in relief. But in Cookie's head he was shouting loudly that he is not ok with it but since he couldn't find a reason for it, he didn't voice it out. S'more, their friend from the kindergrateen who is expressionless, waved at Cookie. He waved back. Well, better her than that's physcho girl. Donut.

 

"Well, then I'll see you both at recess, I guess," He made a move to go back to his seat when Milky grabbed his hand. He turned around and raised his right eyebrow a little.

 

"Here, let me clean you up first. You're all messy with that cookie you ate. It's all over you even in your hair." She reached out and brushed the cookie's crumbs from his uniform and hair. Cookie was touched by her action and smiled a little.

 

"You should be more neat and less messy, Cookie," she added with a concerned look as she flicked off the last crumbs from his hair.

 

"Yeah, yeah...if you sit with me, then maybe I can be as neat as you," he said -trying to make it sound like he doesn't care. But...yeah, he does really hope that Milky will take the hint.

 

But she doesn't seem to notice it. "It's ok, Cookie. You're sitting with Mrs Cucumber's niece. She's neat too." 

 

"Oh, is that so. Yeah, maybe." He sighed miserably. I don't care even if it's Queen Elizabeth's niece.

 

"Don't look so down, Cookie. You already know her and she came to talk to you just now."

 

"I don't remember someone came to..." He scratched his hair.

 

"She's Donut." Milky patted his shoulder and shake it a little in hope it will jog some of his memory.

 

"Oh, yeah, yeah..." he muttered absently.

 

"I'm glad you remembered now." She smiled to cheer him up. He was about to return her smile when...

 

"WAIT A MINUTE!!! YOU MEAN THAT PHSYCHO GIRL??? DONUT??? NOOOOO.....!!!"

 

 

***

 

Cookie rubbed his swelling cheek and sighed. Man, that's really hurt. He sat on a hill slope overlooking the school field. Some students were playing football. A breezy wind brushing his messy hair. 

 

"Cookie, don't touch it. That'll make it worser." Milky sat beside him and gentelly removed his hand from his swelling cheek. Cookie just let her. Then, she produced a large plastic bag full of ice.

 

"Wa..wai..wait! What's that for?" His face turned green with dread.

 

"This will ease the pain a little. Come here," she said trying to put the ice on his cheek. He quickly backed off and grabbed her hand just in time before the ice pack touched him. His face greener than ever. 

 

"I..I...I don't want that, Milky..." he pleaded.

 

"Co...Cookie?" Milky face turned red. The ice pack slipped from her hand.

 

"Ye..yeah...?" he stammered. Is that blushing?

 

"You're hurting me...ouw..." Her eyes at the edge of tears.

 

"Oh, Milky! I'm so so sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you..." He let go of her hand and tried massage it but she yelped a little. And shook her head while pulling her hand away from Cookie's grasp.

 

"It's ok, Cookie. Now let me tend to that red cheek." Milky smiled reassuringly. My my...he's so strong. She picked up the ice pack from the grass. Holding his other cheek so he will face her.

 

"Errr...no, no...I'm fine. Really." He made an attempt to stand up when suddenly he was pushed back to the ground by a pair of strong hands. Donut's. He looked up in time to see her smirking before S'more put the ice pack on his swelling cheek. And S'more accidentally pressed it a little hard than necessary.

 

"WAAARRGGGHHHH!!! THAT'S HURT!!! BOTH OF YOU, GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!!!" 

 

Donut held him tighter and S'more pressed harder. So, Cookie had no choice but to shout louder, "WAAAAARRRGGHHH!!!" The players on the school field stopped playing to gave them a puzzled look. Milky waved to them embrassingly. They nodded their heads in return and continued playing.

 

Milky turned to them back. "Plea...please...stop. Cookie's hurting."

 

A boy came up from behind. Put one hand on Cookie's hair and freed him from the girls' grasp.

 

"WAAAARRRGGGHHH!!! DON'T PULL MY HAIR LIKE THAT!!!"

 

The boy let go of his Cookie's hair. "Sorry. You're just to noisy," he said flatly.

 

"WHA..WHAT DID YOU SAID???" Cookie shouted. Showing a fist at him.

 

Donut shoved the ice pack into Cookie's mouth. "Shhh..."

 

"Oh, Marsh. It's you. You spoiled the fun, " S'more emotionlessly said to her twin brother, Marshmallow. He just shrugged before replying emotionlessly too, "Well, it's his first day. And he already got a swollen cheek."

 

Cookie took out ice pack from his mouth and threw it on the grass. "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING??? IT'S YOUR FIRST DAY TOO!!! AND I WOULDN'T HAVE THIS SWOLLEN CHEEK IF DONUT DIDN'T PUNCHED ME!!!"

 

Donut kicked his leg. "I WOULDN'T PUNCH YOU IF YOU HADN'T CALL ME A PHYSCHO GIRL, JERK!!!"

 

"STOP HURTING ME!!! THIS IS WHY I DON'T WANNA SIT WITH YOU!!!" Cookie glared at Donut. Gripping his fist. About to get up.

 

Suddenly, he felt a hand turning his head gentelly and something blissfully cold touching his burning swollen cheek. "Calm down, Cookie. You're exhausting yourself," Milky patted his shoulder while her other hand was nursing his swollen cheek. He unknowingly relaxed his fist and closed his eyes a little. A smile forming at the corner of his mouth. The atmosphere suddenly got peaceful.

 

But not for long...

 

"NOW I SEE WHY ARE YOU SO NOISY. YOU GOT SPOILED BY HER!" Donut laughed mockingly at him.

 

"SHUT UP! WE'RE NEIGHBOURS. NEIGHBOURS LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER!" 

 

"Cookie, don't shout at a girl. It's not nice, " Marsh spoke with no emotion, as always.

 

"SHE'S SHOUTING AT ME FIRST, POKER FACE!"

 

"I NEVER SHOUT AT YOU. MY VOICE IS VERY LOUD NATURALLY!" Donut shoot back.

 

"And I'm not a poker face. It's my face naturally too," Marsh added tonelessly.

 

"Cookie, if you're messing with Marsh, you're messing with me too, " S'more said with no emotion at all on her face and her voice. But she was cracking her knuckles loudly.

 

"This is really not fair. I'm not going to get hit again today." Cookie sighed and lied down on the grass hill slope -choosing to ignore them and enjoy Milky's nursing instead. It felt like a long day even though it was only recess time now. Marsh also rolled down and lied down beside him. S'more then choose to lied down too and rested her head on her twin's stomach. As for Donut, she sighed loudly and leaned her back onto Milky's back. They watched the clear blue sky together until Mrs Cucumber called them in after recess.

 

 

***

 

 

The sun was slowly going down. The sky a bright orange. A flock of birds can be seen flying home. The shop keepers were busy switching  on lights in their small shops. And people are getting ready for their dinners and night routines. But two seven years old were just going home. They walk side by side. As it was a country, they can walk in the middle of the gravel road without worrying about the possibilities of getting run over. And there were hardly any human's construction along the way. Thus, they can see stretches and stretches of green meadows and some faraway moutains in the background.

 

"I wonder if they will start worrying about us. It's pretty late now." Milky turned her face a little to Cookie.

 

"No, they won't. They will not even been home yet to know we're not there," Cookie said back. Both of his hands were laced at the back of his head. He looked straight ahead in front of him. 

 

Milky nodded a little before sighing just a tiny bit with her head down. Yeah, what am I expecting anyway. It has always been like this. Just minus the babysitter now that we're out of kindergrateen. First day of school still won't change that fact. She bit her lower lip. I've been trying to drill that in my head since this morning. Get a grip of yourself, Milky.

 

Cookie noticed the change in her mood. And again he felt that slight pang of hurt. He can't understand why he felt it. Well, not yet at least. Right then, he just want the hurt to go away. He walked with her in silence a few minutes to let the hurt fade away. When it didn't, he took a big breath before letting it out again. Summoning up his courage.

 

Milky noticed it. She turned to Cookie but he kept on walking. So, she looked back down to her shoes. They weren't brand new like other kids'. Her father had found it in a charity shop with a big crocodile mouth on one of it. Cookie then had glued it together and secured it with some sellotape. Cookie had smiled so proudly that Milky can't stop herself from giving him a big hug.

 

She smiled a little at the memories. Suddenly, Cookie hand grabbed her. Her heart missed a beat in surprise. She then looked quizzically at Cookie. However, Cookie ignored her. But silently he was thankful that the aching hurt in his chest had went away the moment his hand touched Milky's. So, Milky seeing that Cookie will not give any response, turned her eyesight back at the road. A little later, she curled her fingers around Cookie's hand.

 

And together they walked into the sunset.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flour and Milking

Donut opened the cafeteria door and looked around. She then closed it back when she didn't find what she's searching for. She walked aimlessly through the school corridor. A lunch box in her hand.

 

She sighed. Where will they be at a time like this, she wondered. Then, she noticed from the corner of her eyes someone waving enthuastically at her from out of the window. Oh, it's Milky! She waved back with a big smile on her face. Opened the window and jumped right through it! She didn't even care when some students jeered at her. Yeah, she was that sort of person. What can you do about that.

 

She walked to the small group on the hill slope beside the school field with a little skip to her steps. When she reached them, she greeted them all, "HI, EVERYONE! I WOULDN'T HAVE GUESS YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE HERE!!!" She then sat heavily on the grass. Still with that big smile plastered to her face.

 

"Why can't have you guessed? We've been eating here at recess since the first day? It's already a month now, Donut," Marsh commented without putting any emotion into his voice. He then proceeded to munched on his bun.

 

"I JUST THOUGHT TODAY WE WILL BE EATING INDOORS SINCE IT'S GETTING A LITTLE CHILLER OUTSIDE, RIGHT, GUYS?" She beamed around at them. 

 

Marsh and S'more shrugged simultaneously. Milky just smiled. Cookie wasn't even listening. He was busy dipping his cookie into Milky's milk. And trying to be neat about it because he knew Milky was a very neat person. But that was a hard thing for someone messy.

 

While he was lost in his focus, Donut threw her lunch box to his head. BUK!

 

"WAAARRRGGHHH! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO DO THAT???" Cookie turned his head to Donut. The cookie in his hand already crushed to bits. Due to the surprise attack, he accidentally gripped the cookie. And the crumbs have fallen into the milk. Making it turned into the color light choc.

 

"WELL, YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION WHENEVER SOMEONE IS TALKING TO YOU!" Donut stuck out her tongue to Cookie.

 

"AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE THROWING THINGS AT PEOPLE!" Cookie shoot back as he grabbed the lunch box and threw it back to Donut. She shrieked a little and closed her eyes. Waiting for the impact but Marsh caught it just in time before it hit Donut's head. Then, he gave it to her, "Here."

 

Donut hesitated a moment before taking it. She couldn't quite believe her luck just then. Cookie glared at Marsh. "Why do you have to caught that?"

 

"Impulsive. I can't help it," he answered flatly. 

 

"THEN WHY DON'T YOU CATCH IT WHEN SHE THREW AT ME?" 

 

"Impulsive."

 

"WHAT KIND OF IMPULSIVE IS THAT??"

 

"The I-want-to-see-what-happen-to-Cookie's-head kind of impulsive." 

 

"You're so gonna beat up, Marsh," Cookie hissed with a murderous smile. He balled up his fist. 

 

"Emmmm...Cookie, this is good," Milky chirped in. Cookie, suddenly vanished of all his malicious intent, turned his head to her and jerked it up a little -the wassup gesture. Milky smiled at him and pulled him closer to her by the collar.

 

"Eeehh...what are you doing?" Cookie face blushed the tiniest bit.

 

"Come here. Have a taste of this milk plus cookie's crumbs." She shake the flask.

 

"Oh..." 

 

"Open your mouth...aaa..." She put the flask of milk to his lip. And slowly he sipped some. Yeah, that was pretty good. So he took the flask from Milky's hand and drank it up. 

 

"Aaaahhh...thanks, Milky. You should have some more too." He handed the flask back to her with a big grin. She took it and looked inside the flask. "But...but you finished it." Her eyes growing big and shiny. Lips trembling. Clearly at the verge of tears.

 

"Erk...?! Did I?!" 

 

"You are a bad neighbour, Cookie," S'more said flatly.

 

"And you said neighbours look after each other. Hipocrite, " Marsh added. Then the twin shook thier heads.

 

"YOU TWO STOP THAT NONSENSE!!!" he shouted to them. Then he turned to Milky, who had already lowered her head, and patted her head. "Errr...I'm sorry...yyy...ye..yeah...mm..myy..my fault...hhh..here, you can have all of mine too." He took her hand and put his cookies into it.

 

"Ouuhh..please don't cry," he said soothingly and lifted her head gently so he could wipe her tears if there is any. But to his surprise he was met by Milky's cheeky smile.

 

"Aha, gotcha!" She laughed. Her laugh was merry and not anything like the big guffaw that was coming from Donut. And of course the twin's laugh didn't resemble anything like...emm...laughter. Well, that's because they were covering their mouths and looking the other way. Whilst there was no sound coming out you can see their shaking body in an effort to susutain the laughter. They had always laughed like that. Nobody knows why. Genetics, perhaps.

 

"First round winner, Milky," S'more announced tonelessly. Donut cheered loudly. Pumping her fist into the air. Marsh joined her too. Minus the enthuastic expression.

 

"Hey, who said we had a competiton here?" Cookie made a face at them. Donut made a face back at him. And the twin...well...with the twin you can never tell.

 

"Sneaky." He said pinching Milky's cheek. Trying to hide his smile. She made a peace sign at him and grinning wide. That was when he lose it and grinned back. Then, he winked at her and ruffled her hair. Her eyes grew wide.

 

"No, Cookie! My hair! Don't mess it!" she wailed.

 

"You're too neat, Milky. You should be messy a little bit." He ruffled her hair some more. Still grinning.

 

"Well, maybe if I sit next to you, then I can be messy just a tiny bit," she pouted because her hair is now a toatal mess. Cookie stopped messing her hair and looked at her. Eehh...what did she said just now?

 

He felt the corner of his mouth began to lift a little when suddenly, Donut stood up. Anger in her face. 

 

"NO! YOU CAN'T SIT WITH HIM! I'M SITTING WITH HIM! MEEE!!!!" Then, she turned around and ran away. Her red curly hair flying wildly behind her.

 

Everyone was stunned. Milky was the first one to recover. She got up and started chasing after Donut.

 

"Waiiiit! Donuuuut!"

 

Cookie also started running after Milky but then he heard Milky said, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean that!" It was like having a heart attack to him. He nearly stumbled but he stabled himself in time. And he just stood there like a dumb. The pain. The aching pain has came back after a month. 

 

He hung his head weakly and slowly walked to the classroom. Marsh followed his every move. S'more was busy picking up everyone's lunch box and flask. She was about to pick Donut's unopened lunch box when Marsh grabbed it first. S'more looked up to her brother who was now standing. He ignored her eyes and turned around to the classroom.

 

"I'm giving this back to her." Flat. But to S'more ears it wasn't flat. It contained an emotion she never heard her brother used before. She smirked but to the rest of the world it was just an expressionless face. Only her brother can see it. If only he had turned around to her.

 

***

 

The rest of the day, Cookie just sat slumped at the back of the classroom. Staring blankly at the window. Sometimes he would unconciously held his aching heart. Donut, beside him, sit at the edge of her table. Far away from him. She propped her head with one hand. Acting as a shield so she wouldn't see any sight of him even from the corner of her eyes.

 

Milky at the second row was looking down at the table. Her face a bit pale. Not from the previous running. But from the shock. S'more was holding her hand under the table. Trying to soothe her. Sometimes, Milky will rubbed her sore cheek a bit. The one that was slapped by Donut just this recess. She was hurt and confused.

 

Why? What have I done wrong?

 

Marsh just fixed his eyes on the whiteboard. Under his table was Donut's lunch box. Waiting for the ringing bell, before he gave it to her. Well, that was the plan.

 

But as soon as the bell rang, Donut shoot up from her chair like it was on fire. Grabbed her bag and went out through the door in a flash. Cookie didn't turn his head. Why would he. He didn't even hear the bell ringing. Marsh glanced sideways at Donut that was now gone. He picked up the lunch box and put it in his bag. Then, he moved to the door and beckoned for S'more.

 

S'more nodded at him. She then patted Milky's hand.

 

"I will be going now. You will be ok, Milky?" Just flat.

 

Milky nodded once. Giving her a feeble smile. 

 

"Take care then. See ya." And a smile oblivious to the rest of the world.

 

S'more walked to her brother and then, they were gone. Milky sighed a little. Today wouldn't have been a bad day if I haven't spoke so carelessly. I should have known better.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Texte: alice haze
Bildmaterialien: to their right owner
Lektorat: alice haze
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 25.12.2014

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For cookies and milk lovers out there!!!