once upon a time

a week or so ago

we read a famous old story

out loud

got very excited

to bake our own gingerbreads

imagined them to look like the pictures

everybody

worked so hard

and

finally

they were ready

and

the gingerbreads

were

really something special

even better

than we imagined

none of them

ran away

and

we all ate 

happily ever after.

—

there is a peculiar burning odor in the room,

like explosives. the kitchen fills with smoke

and the hot, sweet, ashy smell of scorched cookies.

the war has begun.

 – alison lurie

—

image credit: toriavery.com