Cookie

On the route between my house and my office, there is a construction site. They are building a new building for the Engineering school. Outside the walled construction site there are some low cement blocks. Either there is no room for them inside the site, or they have been left there on purpose so the workers have a place to sit during breaks. Either way, I notice that someone has left a cookie on one of the cement blocks.

I've walked past the cookie every day for the last three days, and it doesn't seem to have moved. On the other hand, it does not look discarded, as it is unwrapped and nicely set on its wrapper. It looks ready to eat.

Of course on the first day I saw it, I didn't take it. Someone had set it there and would be back for it. On the second day, I began to wonder. One shouldn't leave a cookie out like that. There is rain and there are ants. Not to mention that some dishonest person might make off with it. Perhaps no one claims the cookie. Perhaps I should eat it.

On the third day, I am at that critical moment of dilemma. I am not sure that no one will be coming for the cookie, but if I leave it much longer, it will no longer be suitable to eat. I employ a trick I saw on a James Bond movie once. I pull out a piece of hair and lay it on the cookie, half on and half off. If someone moves the cookie in my absence, the hair will be dislodged, and I know someone still has claims on the cookie. If no one has touched it by the time I come back after work, I'll take the cookie.

On my way home from work, I examine the cookie. My hair is still there. But I notice that there is another hair on the other side of the cookie. Another passerby has similar aims on the cookie. It is now or never, he has forced my hand. I pick up the cookie. Unfortunately, on picking it up, it is revealed that the weather has taken its toll on the cookie. It mostly crumbles from my hands.

What is salvageable is delicious though.