Remember

The forest was dark, but that was okay.
Walking beneath the branches of ancient trees, a little girl hummed cheerfully. It was a wordless tune, but it seemed to make the girl happy, and no one was around to tell her to stop.
The trees didn't mind the humming. In fact, they seemed to lean in whenever the little girl passed beneath, as if to better listen.
The girl didn't know long she'd been traveling through the forest, nor where she was trying to get to.
She didn't even remember her name anymore.
But the girl did know that she had to keep moving, keep humming, and stay cheerful.
For if she stopped any of these things, than the thing in the dark, the thing that kept just within the corner of her eye, would get her.
It would get her, if she stopped.
And so the girl didn't stop.
So long as she remembered what to do, she would be safe.
Even though she didn't remember what being safe felt like.

For Chocolate

1. It helps you to feel happy.
2. Chocolate makes milk into a tasty treat for kids.
3. It can be used to make a tasty cream pie.
4. It can replace missing game pieces, so long as no one get hungry.
5. A drizzle of chocolate sauce makes a dessert plate look extra fancy.
6. An offer of chocolate can end the tears of a crying child, so long as they like the sweet.
7. As a present, it is usually received well. Just try to remember what kind of chocolate the person likes best.
8. It can be fuel for your inspiration. Stuck in the midst of writer's block? Eat a piece of chocolate.
9. Chocolate can be used as a reward to get children to clean their rooms.
10. The presence of chocolate can attract youth to an activity that they might have otherwise been unlikely to attend.

Trains and the House

The train whistled down the tracks, ground shaking at its passing.
Long into the night did its passing echo, a rumbling moan of the engine and the shrieking metal of the wheels against the rails.
Each night, throughout the night, the trains would come calling.
If only a house could lose the railway's number.
But it wasn't to be.
For a house built on a solid foundation cannot flee the passing train.
And so all the house could do was try in vain to ignore the passing trains.
No matter how their passing shook the windows.
No matter how the baby within its walls would start to cry.
No matter what trouble the train caused, the house did its best to ignore it.
Until one night, there were no trains at all.
Sweet silence at last.
No trains came the following day either.
Or the following night.
Time passed, and still there were no more trains.
The house finally had some peace.
And yet, the house felt strangely empty.
What had caused the trains to stop running?
Would they be back, or was this silence the new normal?
The house didn't know.
But some small part of it (probably the hallway closet) wished that the trains would return.

Scary Magic Users

1. Goldfish. With their memory, even the most simple of spells could spell disaster.
2. Cats. They know what they want, they know who could stop them, and they know how to hold a grudge.
3. Mice. No food would be safe with mouse magic nearby.
4. Weeds. With a magical immunity to herbicides, your garden would soon become host to a nightmarish invasion.
5. Sharks. Because so many spells would improve the range of their hunting abilities.
6. Spiders. What if they could literally lure you into their webs?
7. Rabbits. With a bit of magic, they could rule the world.
8. Dogs. There is a reason they're known as "man's best friend", but no one said it was a none-magical one.
9. Zebras. They already know how to blend in amongst their own kind, so what would stop them from using magic to blend in with us?
10. Chickens. Now you know why so many foods seem to "taste like chicken".

Our Human

It was the dog's job to worry.
"When will our human be back?"
"What if she forgot about us?"
"Could the mailman have gotten her?"
"Did she get lost? Who will give belly rubs and treats if she's lost?"
Every day, the same anxious questions spilled from the dog's muzzle within a minute of our human closing the front door.
And she wonders why I seem irritated by the time she gets home.
Still, the dog often makes our human laugh, and so he may stay in my home.
Even if he did get his slobber all over my catnip mouse.
Yes, it is the dog's job to worry.
Mine is to remind our human that my favor is not handed out to merely anyone.
The dog certainly hasn't done anything to receive it.
And with how low the sun has gotten, our human won't be receiving it tonight.
She always returns before sunset.
That is the rule.
Oh, she may leave again after she has changed her furs and groomed her long head-fur, but then it is to be expected that she will be gone until the later in the night.
Even then, it is the dog's job to worry.
But today, I wonder why she has not returned.
Could it be because of that other-human, the one who brought dying plants and spicy-boxed-food?
The dog likes the other-human, who wrestles for the rope-toy with him while our human laughs.
I am withholding judgment on the other-human until I know what his plans are for our human.
After all, the other-human cannot be allowed to disrupt my plans.
So today I wait, and the dog worries.
Finally, our human returns.
The dog's worries vanish in a blink, transforming into a disgusting spew of relief.
"You're back! You remember me! The mailman didn't get you! You weren't lost! Did you bring treats? Can we play? Then get belly rubs?"
The dog made a fool of himself, yet again.
I did not resort to foolishness.
No, I chose instead to glare at the reason our human was late.
The other-human.
There he stood, with more dead plants. The other-human positively reeked of happiness and relief, and his gaze never left our human.
She reeked of happiness as well, and kept playing with some shiny-thing on the long-toe of one of her forepaws.
Oh, this was not going to end well. Not with both our human and the other-human reeking so.
The dog was oblivious, his worries gone at the sight of our human and with the distraction of the other-human.
But now I worried.
For our human would change soon. Change as all creatures seemed to after finding a mate.
My plans must change as well, since the other-human would be nearly impossible to get rid of now.

Toppings for Toast

1. Butter. A classic that most people love.
2. Jam. For when you desire something fruity with your rye.
3. Cinnamon. It isn't just for rolls anymore.
4. Peanut butter. To add a nutty crunch.
5. Eggs. Put them between two slices of toast, and you've got a sandwich.
6. Bacon. Because everything is better with bacon.
7. Chocolate. Who says toast can't be covered in delicious dark chocolate?
8. Lemon curd. It'll add a tang to your toast.
9. Country gravy. Because sometimes you run out of biscuits before running out of gravy.
10. Cheese. A bit of cheese helps make any meal tastier.

While Wearing a Hat

A hat is a wonderful thing.
It keeps the sun from making your eyes sting.
A hat helps keep your head dry in the rain.
And a hat can keep your hair out of your eyes while you're trying to aim.
Hat come in many forms.
Top hats, ball caps, fedoras, and even some you wear with a uniform.
Some hats are tiny, stylish, and fun.
While others are graceful and commanding, just daring to be outdone.
But no matter the hat, there is one thing to you must know:
While wearing a hat, you are the star of the show.

Tasty Food

1. Horchata.
2. A double-double from In-N-Out.
3. Chili-cheese french fries.
4. Pizza with pepperoni, black olives, bacon, and feta cheese.
5. Grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup.
6. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
7. Spaghetti carbonara.
8. Orange juice.
9. Dark chocolate covered pretzels.
10. Roasted broccoli.