Cookies or Jail: Use Your Words

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.

At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I'm using: jail ~ disapprove ~ pass ~ milk ~ alert
They were submitted by Shannon of Simply Shannon.

                          
One of the things I love about this challenge is that my post is dictated by the direction in which my assigned words send me. Silly or serious, thoughtful or comical, I let the prompts choose the path. Today's words sent me into the world of fiction. Well, semi-fiction. Although this didn't happen as told, it's really also semi-biographical. In fact, I bet we've all been there . . .

I was going to jail. That was the thought that was going through my head in a loop. Over and over and over again. As I looked around I could see that the prosecutor disapproved of me. Worse though, I could see that the judge did as well. This was not going well. Maybe I should have rethought representing myself. But I really never thought it would come to this. I mean how could this possibly rise to the level of a federal case?

Nothing really to do but throw myself on the mercy of the court. Plead my case, hope to appeal to the good graces of the judge.

This is it. It's all in my hands. Deep breath.

"I did it", I began, looking back and forth from the judge to the prosecutor. "I admit it. But I always did. I never denied it, took responsibility from the moment it happened. I spilled your milk", looking the judge straight in the eyes now. "But it was an accident, I swear. I cleaned it up, didn't even ask for help. I poured you more milk, even gave you a fresh cup. Yes, you had to wait a few minutes while I mopped the floor. I will even concede that you may have even waited up to 5 minutes. And you were not happy, you made that perfectly clear as I scrambled to save the wood floors. But surely you see that no harm was done, really."

Silence. Crickets. I was losing them. Crap. These two could make my life miserable for a very, very long time.

Cinnamon Toffee Carrot Cookies

Desperate, ready to literally cry over spilled milk, I made an offer "I baked. Cinnamon Toffee Carrot Cookies. To make up for what was clearly an extreme level of trauma you suffered by having to wait for your milk, just this once you can even have them before dinner."

" Pass", said the prosecutor, glaring at me with all of the wrath his 7 years on this earth has enabled him to incur. Although . . . I swear I could see a crack in that stoic face.

All my senses were on alert. Maybe, just maybe I could get out of this.

"OK, firm and final offer and you know how very much this goes against my better judgement. Cookies FOR dinner."

The prosecutor looked at the judge. The judge actually briefly smiled at the prosecutor before getting his emotions back under control. 

It was the judge who, in his infinite wisdom (as infinite as wisdom can be at the age of 6) declared "I can see that this defendant is remorseful. The plea deal is accepted. Court is adjourned."

"And Mom, bring on the cookies."

Here are links to all the other Use Your Words posts:

Spatulas on Parade
The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver  
Sparkly Poetic Weirdo
On the Border 
Bookworm in the Kitchen 
 The Bergham Chronicles
Simply Shannon
Southern Belle Charm
The Angrivated Mom  
Climaxed
Not That Sarah Michelle 

Cinnamon Toffee Carrot Cookies

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 stick butter, softened
1 stick margarine, softened
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup shredded carrots
1/3 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup cinnamon baking chips
1/2 cup toffee chips

Directions:
*Cream butter, margarine and sugars until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
*Starting on the lowest speed until incorporated, beat in the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
*Mix in the shredded carrots and coconut, then finaly the cinnamon chips and toffee chips. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or up to a day.
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper.
*Roll dough into approximately 1 inch balls. Place on prepared baking sheets.
*Bake for 9 - 12 minutes or until they start to brown. Leave on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before removing them to cool completely.