Magical Spiced Cookies

Untitled Part 1

Magical Spiced Cookies

Becky busied herself unpacking the ton of boxes delivered to her and her new husband Ted's first apartment together. A knock at the door interrupted her. Without hesitation she opened to find a young woman holding a covered plate.

"Hi, my name is Mindy and I'm your neighbor. These are for you. Michelle in 310 makes them and they are out of this world. I don't know how she does it, but they make you feel so good, you won't believe it."

"Come in, the place is a mess, but I found the coffee pot."

"Oh no, I've been there. I don't want to interrupt unless I can be of some help?"

"Right now, no one can help. It seems endless, but thanks. How about we have coffee tomorrow morning around eight after my husband leaves for work?"

"That would be great. I don't have to be at the hospital until eleven and I do enjoy a good cup of coffee. But don't wait to try the cookies, you won't be sorry."

After Mindy left, Becky put on the coffee pot and sat down for a break. Cookies were something she didn't care for. She didn't want to hurt her new neighbor's feelings and felt that she would have to try one of the cookies to be polite.

She worked feverishly for the rest of the afternoon until it was time for Ted to arrive home. He promised to bring dinner. The first couple months together as man and wife were bumpy. Ted was a good husband, but they got married after a short courtship and she was finding that not only was he not romantic, he wasn't a talker, to her dismay. They were both in their late twenties and university educated so she felt they could work it out.

After a congenial dinner Becky offered Ted the plate of cookies but he refused. They each read for a while and Becky explained that with one more day she would be finished with the unpacking and would start her job search.

Ted retired early and Becky found herself alone in the living room. She wanted to call her mother but she was a little depressed and she knew her mother would pick up on it right away and quiz her. She went to the kitchen to make a cup of chamomile tea. The plate of cookies sat on the counter inviting her. On impulse she poured herself a glass of milk, took a cookie from the plate and went back into the living room. Once nestled in the overstuffed armchair she sat the glass down and picked up a cookie.

She brought the cookie up and sniffed spices that sent her thoughts spinning to old world spice markets. She visioned camels, women in long flowing robes and open markets. The spices were strange, but her first bite brought a smile to her face. By the time she finished the last bite, a feeling of euphoria was complete .

Becky had the urge to call her mother and tell her she loved her. She dialed her number and started the conversation with a song:

"I just called to say 'I Love You'".

"Becky, are you all right?"

"Mother, I am just marvelous. In fact I feel better than I ever have. Life is great." They talked for over an hour when her mother said it was getting late and past her bedtime.

Becky hung up and headed towards the bedroom.

The next morning Mindy arrived as planned and Becky's coffee was already on the table.

"Did you try the cookies?"

"Yes. They were wonderful. What's in them? It was like I took a happy pill after I ate one."

"Michelle won't tell me. She told me the ingredients, but there is something she's not telling me. I work in the lab at the hospital and I had a tech analyze one and he gave me the same list and there is nothing mysterious there. So I don't have an answer. I can only tell you, that after you eat one, it's like you are in heaven, nothing can go wrong. They don't work on men, because my husband thought I lost my mind. It didn't do a thing for him, but we made love for well over an hour the first night I ate one and I happened again last night."

"Does she sell them?'

"No. That's the strange part. She gives them to you if she likes you. She's a lovely woman, but very strange. Her last name is O'Rocke and she is here on some sort of a visa from Ireland.

"Last night it was the same for me. I woke my husband and literally seduced him. That's not like me. I'm not complaining. We both enjoyed it."

"I have some time right now, do you want to meet Michelle."

"Sure. I'm just looking at these still unpacked boxes."

Michelle was home and greeted them warmly. They each left with a plate of her cookies. She still claimed there was nothing special about them.

Two days later, Mindy knocked on Becky's door

"She's gone"

"What do you mean?"

"Michelle. The landlord said she moved in the middle of the night and as far as he knows, she went back to Ireland.

I always found her nice but strange, but I wasn't expecting this. I don't believe in witches but I would entertain the possibility of a spell on those cookies."

"I would have to concur. Does the landlord have a forwarding address for he? I would pay dearly for a pipeline to those cookies."

"Unfortunately for us, no. She paid in advance and let owing nothing."