Look before you eat

I had a craving for something sweet. Normally the only sweet things in my kitchen pantry are desserts that no one over 12 would want to eat. This week, because I had actually remembered to bring my coupons when I went grocery shopping, we had a box of cookies thanks to a seventy-five cents-off coupon.

In order to prevent a cookie feeding frenzy with my kids, I had placed the bright yellow box on the very top shelf of the pantry. No one paid much attention to it up there. It sat undisturbed for an entire week, until my sweet tooth came knocking and there was no relieving the craving with the more reasonable answer of fruit. I wanted cookies.

 

Without paying much attention, I opened the box and the plastic bag inside. I reached into the box, pulled out a cookie and ate it. Then I decided to grab a couple more before closing the box.

As I ate the third cookie I noticed something odd. The edges of the cookie were very ragged and not smooth the way I recalled these cookies to be. I reopened the box and looked inside. Many of the cookies had ragged edges. I also noticed something else. The plastic bag had tiny holes in it – tiny holes that almost looked like bite marks. I then lifted the box up for further inspection and noticed a ragged, rather large sized hole at the bottom.

I’d like to say that I didn’t panic and didn’t immediately jump to any gross conclusions but that would be a lie. I don’t know about you but when I think I’ve eaten something that a mouse has also snacked on, vomiting comes fast and furious.

 

The box of cookies was immediately brought to the outside trash can. The next day my pantry was emptied out, thoroughly cleaned and every box, can and bag inspected.

Now, when I go down the cookie aisle of the supermarket, any cookies packaged in bright yellow boxes cause me to dry heave. Well, I guess that’s one way to control my sweet tooth.

 

 

 

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