Lesson 108- There’s no point crying over spilled milk.

The next day I get up early and I have a plan. Since I’ve been off for a few days, I’m over being in bed, I want to be up and about. I’m working tonight, although Torin has insisted that I only work a half shift to make sure I’m really up to it. I’m sure I’ll be fine. But since today is the first day I’ve been up, I’m determined to do something I’ve been considering for a few days now, and that’s to make a gift for Jane. I debated my options for a while and settled on baking cookies. I don’t know if Jane particularly likes cookies more than any of the other random things she eats. I mean she likes eating glass, and chairs… And people. But I figure it’s the thought that counts right? So, I set my alarm to wake me up early, then lay there for another twenty minutes because Crash was sitting on my chest and it’s basically illegal to get up if a cat is sitting on you. But THEN I finally got up and marched myself straight into the kitchen where I pulled out the ingredients to make cookies. Thankfully, Kyle keeps the place well stocked with the basics, and cookies aren’t all that complicated. I’m sure I can remember how to make them. I mean, they’re pretty easy right? I’ve made them before. Usually I would use a recipe, but there’s no one here right now so I don’t have the tablet or any internet access. So I plan to try and make these cookies from memory. How badly can it possibly go?

Two hours later I’m practically sobbing over a tray of what I can only describe as blackened disks of cookie mush. Somehow they look both burnt and undercooked at the same time. Like, they’re all soft and fall apart when I try to pick them up, but they’re also blackened. I have no idea what I did wrong! Frustrated, I toss the tray roughly onto the counter.
“Damn it!” I hiss out, irritated.
“Woah, what’s wrong?” Torin comments from behind me. He startles me and causes me to jump and knock that same tray off the bench and onto the floor.
“Shit!” I yell again. Then, for some ridiculous reason, I burst into tears. Over cookies. Torin’s eyes go wide in alarm.
“What’s wrong? What did I do?” He panics. I shake my head.
“It’s not you, it’s these stupid cookies. I just wanted to make cookies and nothing has gone right!” I’m basically bawling. This is so embarrassing. Why am I crying about cookies? Maybe it’s just because this is the first time I’ve ever really tried to use this kitchen to make something. Maybe it’s just because I’ve done nothing in days and this was the first thing I’ve actually tried. Or maybe it’s just because I’m a perfectionist and it’s frustrating that I can’t even make a tray of stupid cookies! Torin awkwardly puts an arm around my shoulder.
“I’m sorry about the cookies?” He says, sounding confused. I don’t blame him. It doesn’t really make sense to me either. I turn and hide my face against his chest and a moment later he wraps his arms around me properly in a real hug.
“It’s alright, we can figure it out.” Torin rumbles reassuringly. I sniffle against his chest for a moment before pulling back.
“Sorry, I just… I really wanted to make cookies, and it all just went wrong. I thought I could do it without looking up a recipe and I failed completely.” I sigh and rub at my wet eyes. Torin thinks for a minute, then a look of determination crosses his face and he nods.
“Well, alright then. If you want to make cookies, then we’re just going to have to try again.”

So it turns out that Torin might even be worse at trying to make cookies than I am. Forty minutes later we’re both covered in flour and leaning over the tablet, reading a recipe I looked up and trying to work out why our cookie dough is more liquid than solid.
“I still think we were supposed to add more flour.” I point out. Torin shakes his head stubbornly.
“No, the recipe very clearly says two cups. We used two and a half already!” He insists.
“Then why is it all so… Wet? We’re meant to roll it into little balls and we can’t even pick it up!” I argue. Torin shrugs and goes back to trying to read the recipe.

“What the hell is happening in here?” Kyle demands, striding into the kitchen, a look of absolute horror on his face. He must be really bothered by it because for once, he didn’t even stop to worry that he’s demanding answers from Torin, something he normally wouldn’t do.
“Uh… We’re baking cookies? Well… Trying to bake cookies.” I grimace. Kyle comes closer and peers into the bowl then frowns.
“Failing you mean.” He says gruffly and I sigh.
“Yeah, failing.” I reluctantly agree.
“What are we doing wrong?” Torin asks softly. Kyle holds out his hand for the tablet. He reads over our recipe and then picks up a wooden spoon and pokes at the mix in the bowl.
“Well.. It says to use butter. How did you use it?” He asks. I tilt my head sideways.
“Huh? What do you mean? We just mixed it in with everything else.” I answer. Not sure what he’s asking. Kyle sighs and I can practically see him praying for patience.
“Just… Walk me through what you did with the butter.” He clarifies.
“Well, we measured out the amount the recipe wanted. Then we realised it was hard as a rock from being in the fridge, so we just heated it up in the microwave for like a minute. It melted and then we added the sugar and other stuff, just like in the recipe.” I explain. Kyle huffs out a sigh.
“The recipe didn’t tell you to melt the butter in the microwave. You made it too soft, and if it was hot when you added the sugar, you probably melted that too.” Kyle pokes a finger into the bowl.
“Yeah, your mix is still warm, you definitely overheated it.” he explains.
“Oh… Can they be saved?” I ask hopefully. Kyle crosses his arms across his chest reluctantly and groans.
“Oh fine. I’ll see what I can do.”

Thirty minutes later we have a tray of mostly decent cookies. They aren’t perfect, but they’re passable and I’m happy enough with them, even if I did need Torin for emotional support and Kyle to provide his professional expertise to make them work. I serve them all onto a plate cheerfully.
“Thanks guys, I really appreciate it.” I tell them with a smile. Torin nods, clearly pleased that I’m happy again. Kyle just grunts his acknowledgement.
“Who are the cookies for anyway?” Torin asks.
“Oh, they’re for Jane, to thank her for that protection spell.” I explain. Torin just nods again, totally accepting of my answer, but Kyle makes a weird choking sound and looks like he wants to knock his head on a wall somewhere.
“They’re for Jane! But… She eats anything, trash even. Why would you waste time making her cookies?” He complains. I furrow my eyebrows.
“To say thankyou, that’s all. What’s wrong with making her a treat?” I pout and pick up the plate, protectively. Kyle sighs.
“Nothing at all, it just seems like a lot of effort for a creature who probably would enjoy eating the plate the cookies come on as much as the actual cookies.” He grumbles. I roll my eyes at him.
“Just because she CAN eat anything, it doesn’t mean she wouldn’t enjoy a treat every now and then. Plus she won’t eat the plate if we ask her nicely.” I add. Kyle seems unconvinced, but I don’t care. I take the plate of cookies out to Jane and present them to her, reminding her that the plate is not to be eaten. Jane purrs happily as she eats the cookies, one by one. I still don’t know if she likes cookies more than some of her other options, but I feel better now that I’ve at least tried to thank her properly. I DO save the last couple cookies though and I present them to Torin.
“Thanks for helping me with the cookies, or trying to help at least. It turns out failing at something isn’t nearly as miserable if you do it as a team. I really appreciate it.” I tell him warmly. Torin cracks me a slight smile. Then, he heads off. Following his usual routine of opening up the bar for the evening. It’s the first night we’ve been open all week. So I’m not surprised when a lot of the usual customers come in later than usual, and tentatively, like they aren’t actually sure that the place is actually open. Still, they do come, and by the time we reach about midnight, everything in the bar is back to usual, you would never guess some guy trashed the place only a few days back!