Title: The Cookie

The cookie had proved his undoing. Barry had been out since dawn, searching the picnic area for food scraps left by a family the previous day. The family had stayed until late, enjoying the long summer evening, but making a foray for food scraps impractical for the Little People. Life was hazardous enough during the day, at night everything became even more dangerous. Wanting to get a jump on the day and feeling that they all needed a boost, Barry woke early, put Chipper on the lead and took off for the picnic area. He knew the Captain would be cross, but Barry figured if he turned up with breakfast, his transgression would be overlooked.....maybe.

The morning was clear and bright, the dew burning off quickly leaving the trail dry and firm. Jogging along Barry kept up a steady litany in his head to keep his mind off his empty stomach. Even Chipper kept his barks to himself as he loped alongside his master.

Reaching the edge of the scrubby bushes, Barry peered out and checked that the are was clear. It was unlikely that any Giants would be around this early but Barry was ever cautious, a year of dodging huge feet and dogs that considered you a snack, made one very cautious.

Seeing the picnic area completely empty, Barry edged his way over to where the family had been seated, the grass flattened and bent over from the wool rug and numerous feet. Potato chips were scattered around and Barry gathered them up and hid them under a broad leaf. Birds were already starting to gather in the branches above the area and Barry knew he had to move fast or what little was left would be gone.

A large clump of grass obscured his view of a patch of ground, so Barry let Chipper off the lead and made his way over to the uncrushed grass. Rounding the stalks, he stopped dead, his mouth coming open in an ooooh of delight. In front of him, still intact, was the most wonderful, cream filled, round cookie. The ants hadn't found it as yet and Barry walked around the enormous treat, his agile mind already trying and discarding various ways to haul the treat back to camp.

" The Captain won't be mad at me when he sees this,"

His attention so completely focused on the morsel, Barry didn't notice the girl Giant approaching, then kneeling down, her attention riveted on the tiny boy.

" Oh my goodness, you sure are small," boomed the girl, her voice making Barry jump around in alarm. Barry stumbled backwards, his foot catching on a blade of grass, then he turned and started to scramble away from the young girl looking down at him.

Melissa stared as the tiny boy gathered up the scrap of a dog in his arms and sprinted away across the grass, heading for the weeds.

" Don't go, please, I need you to help me find something," she called, getting to her feet and starting after the fleeing figure of Barry and Chipper.

Reaching the relative safety of the taller weeds, Barry halted and turned to watch the Giant girl, who was now back on her knees and using her hands to gently part the plants, obviously looking for him.

" Please come back, I won't harm you, I've got to find my locket. I was here yesterday with my family and it came undone, now I have to find it," pleaded Melissa, her eyes trying to spot the miniature boy and his dog.

Barry looked around, trying to spot a safer hiding place. Instead he spotted something glinting in a clump of prickly leaves, not far from where he crouched. Edging his way over towards where the light had picked up the glint, Barry found the end of a silver chain. Tugging at is he managed to pull the chain further out, enough to reveal the locket wedged firmly in the crook of the weed. Further tugging only wedged the locket more tightly so Barry stopped. The girl had moved a little way away, sitting back on her haunches, her eyes still scanning the foliage for any sign of Barry or Chipper.

Making a decision, Barry moved over to the edge of the weeds and stepped out, immediately the girl lay down on her stomach and brought her face close to where Barry stood.

" Thank you for coming out, I've heard about you Little People, but you're the first I've seen,"

"I think I may have found your locket, did it have a silver chain ?" Barry asked.

" Yes, yes it did...where is it, can you show me ?" Melissa asked, her mouth curving in a sweet smile. Barry nodded and turned to go back into the weeds.

" Its just over there, follow me."

Barry led the girl to the clump of prickly weeds and held up the length of chain he'd managed to pull free. Melissa grasped the end and pulled, the locket coming free easily for her. A cry of delight greeted the appearance of the treasured item.

" Oh thank you so much, I don't know how I would have found it without you,"

" You're welcome, I was happy to help," said Barry.

" Is there anything I can do to help you, I saw you eyeing that cookie, do you need some help carrying it, or something ?" said Melissa, eagerly.

" Do you have a handkerchief I could wrap it in and drag back to my camp ?" asked Barry, more in hope that anything.

Melissa frowned in concentration, then her face cleared and one hand dived into her dress pocket, producing a fine, embroidered, pink hanky.

" Will this do ?" she asked, placing the material at Barry's feet.

" Its fine, I can wrap it around the food and drag it behind me,"

" I have to go now, my parents are waiting for me to return, so I'll have to leave. I won't tell them I saw you, promise," Melissa crossed herself in a manner familiar to the Earth boy.

" I have to go to, my friends will be looking for me by now," said Barry, gathering up Chipper in his arms.

" Okay then, goodbye,"

Barry watched as the girl got to her feet and ran away across the picnic area, quickly disappearing in the trees. Giving a quick sigh, Barry folded the cloth and dragged it over to the biscuit, then dragged that over to where the potato chips were stashed. After a quick look round, Barry started to pull the load of food back along the trail towards the Spindrift and home.

The End.