Good Cookies
As soon as Ben arrived home after rehearsal, he was greeted by the decadent aroma of chocolate. "Mmm," he murmured appreciatively. "What did you make this time, Dad?" His dad worked at a popular bakery downtown, and he made mouthwatering desserts in his downtime, too.
Dad poked his head out of the kitchen. "Chocolate chip cookies," he said conspiratorially, a mischievous grin on his face. "They just came out of the oven. Go ahead and help yourself, but make sure you save some for your sister." Ben's sister, Maria, was still at tae kwon do. The cookies were warm and gooey, and Ben was famished: at lunch, he'd only grazed on an apple and a handful of pretzels. Ben took two cookies and washed them down with a glass of ice-cold milk. Then he inhaled another two.
He went into his room and tried to start his homework, but the lingering buttery-chocolate scent lured him back to the kitchen. "Maybe just one more," he said to himself halfheartedly. One more turned into two more. He scarfed one after another, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand between massive bites.
Before he knew it, the cookies had vanished, and only crumbs remained on the baking sheet. Maria would be furious.
But when his sister got home, she took one look at him and said, "Ben, do you have a stomach virus or something? You look really sick."
In fact, Ben's stomach ached terribly, and he felt like he was about to throw up. "I'm sorry, Maria," he groaned. "Dad baked cookies, and I didn't leave any for you."
"I'd be mad at you if you didn't look so terrible," Maria replied. "Next time save half for me, okay?" Ben nodded, feeling miserable. From now on, he'd have more sense.
Now, select the quotation from the story that most strongly supports the theme.
Before he knew it, the cookies had vanished, and only crumbs remained on the baking sheet. Maria would be furious.
"I'm sorry, Maria," he groaned. "Dad baked cookies, and I didn't leave any for you."
In fact, Ben's stomach ached terribly, and he felt like he was about to throw up.
He went into his room and tried to start his homework, but the lingering buttery-chocolate scent lured him back to the kitchen.