WELLINGTON COUNTY – A Grade 4 student from Drayton and a Grade 6 student from Fergus are the winners of the sixth annual Olive and Fred Robins Junior Short Story Contest.
The Wellington County Library contest is held each October, inviting county students in Grades 4 to 6 to submit original short stories between 500 and 750 words.
Entries are judged anonymously and winners are selected based on creativity and originality, story structure, style and quality of writing, including spelling and grammar.
Drayton’s Marwa Al Jasem and Fergus’ Gureet Virk are the two 2024 top prize winners, earning $150 cash prizes. Virk’s winning entry follows.
The Sweet and Salty Truce
By Gureet Virk
In a cozy kitchen, inside a tall, dark cabinet, two snack kingdoms lived in constant competition.
On the left was the Cookie Crew, a fun group of sweet, crumbly treats. On the right was the Cracker Clan, who prided themselves on their crunch and versatility.
Even though they shared the same cabinet, they could never agree on who was the best snack.
Captain Chocolate Chip led the Cookie Crew. Proud of his gooey chocolate chips, he declared, “We’re everyone’s favourite!” Oatmeal Raisin, the wise one, loved sharing tales of his adventures. “Back in my day,” he’d say, “we didn’t have sprinkles—just oats and raisins!” Sugar Cookie sparkled with colourful sprinkles and danced around, singing, “Look at me! I’m a party on a plate!”
Snickerdoodle, warm and coated in cinnamon sugar, added, “We make everyone smile!” The cookies had a way of lifting spirits with their sweet personalities and delightful flavours.
On the other side was Sir Cheddar, the confident leader of the Cracker Clan. “We pair well with cheese and spreads! We’re the snack for all occasions!” Saltine, the serious one, stood tall. “We’re classic. No fancy stuff needed.” But secretly, he loved being dipped in warm soup. Buttery Ritz was the smooth talker, always ready to charm everyone. “I’m perfect for parties,” he’d say with a wink, while Wheat Thin boasted, “I’m hearty and wholesome! A real whole-grain original!”
Every night, after the kitchen lights went out, the cookies and crackers argued over who was the best.
“We’re the best at every celebration!” Captain Chocolate Chip shouted, his chocolate chips shining like stars. “You’re just dessert!” Sir Cheddar fired back. “We’re the snack for any time of day!”
As their arguments grew louder, the cabinet suddenly shook. “What’s happening?” Oatmeal Raisin cried, grabbing Snickerdoodle. The cabinet shook violently, and a peanut butter jar teetered on the top shelf. “Look out!” Ritz shouted as the jar crashed to the cabinet floor, the lid popping off. Sticky peanut butter oozed out, splattering the Cookie Crew and Cracker Clan.
For a moment, all the snacks froze, staring in horror. “My buttery smoothness!” Ritz gasped, wiping at the goo. “I’m ruined!” Sugar Cookie squealed, “I’m stuck!” Captain Chocolate Chip groaned, “This is a sticky mess…”
Sir Cheddar tried to stay calm, grumbling, “We’ll be peanut butter sculptures forever if we don’t get out of this.”
Just then, Saltine stepped forward. “If we don’t work together, we’ll be stuck here forever. Let’s join forces!”
Realizing he was right, Captain Chocolate Chip sighed. “Alright, cookies, we need your soft edges. Crackers, let’s use your crunch!”
Finally, they were free! Ritz, still covered in peanut butter, took a cautious nibble of his gooey corner. “Hold on … peanut butter, crackers and cookie crumbs? This is … AMAZING!”
The others exchanged glances and decided to give it a try too. Sugar Cookie squealed, “Oh my sprinkles! This is a party in my mouth!” Even Sir Cheddar grinned. “I can’t believe it, but this might just be the best snack ever!”
From that day on, the Cookie Crew and Cracker Clan became friends. No more arguments – just teamwork. They even held a celebration party together, mixing cookies and crackers in fun, new ways. They experimented with peanut butter, cheese and sprinkles, creating delicious combinations that surprised everyone. Ritz, ever the show-off, grinned and said, “Looks like I was the missing ingredient all along.”
Saltine nodded with a smile. “When we work together, we can create something amazing! It’s always better to join forces than to fight!”
As they enjoyed their new snack creations, the kitchen filled with laughter and chatter. Everyone agreed that their unique flavours complemented each other perfectly. They found joy in sharing their delicious discoveries, celebrating not just their differences but also their newfound friendship.
With smiles all around, the Cookie Crew and Cracker Clan learned that in the end, it’s the joy of collaboration that makes every snack unforgettable. They cheered and clinked their crumbs together, ready to face any kitchen adventure that lay ahead.