As Cocoa and Otis prepare for their big class election, the school is in an uproar. Their classmates have already picked which candidate they want to win the election. The school principal does not know what to do. None of the students will concentrate on their schoolwork or participate in any after school activities. The entire class has shut down until the results of the election.

Otis and Cocoa are preparing their big campaign speeches in the library.

“What are you going to say in your campaign speech Otis? I hope you are not going to talk about all of the nerdy cookie clubs you belong to and how you can use them to try and improve the school. That is so overdone and boring. Just like you. And you really think oatmeal raisin is new the chocolate chip! You need to stop thinking about glasses of skim milk and try to beat me in this election. All of your thinking is taking up too much space in your doughy mix,” Cocoa says with a nasty smirk across her chocolaty mouth.

“Don’t YOU worry about it Cocoa. I don’t think I have anything nice to say to you. Besides, my mom, Mrs. Shortening, always says if you don’t have anything thing brown sugary-sweet to say, then you shouldn’t say anything sour and extra salty either,” whines Otis in the most annoying voice possible.

This comment makes Cocoa very upset and now she feels more at war with Otis than before. She has to win the election, not only because she wants the position, but to spite Otis. Cocoa now has to think of a sure plan to win the election and make Otis look as over-baked as imaginable to their classmates.

“I’ve got it. I will join one of Otis’s cookie clubs and make good friends with his vegan friends, Alvin and Wally. This will surely make me win the election. If Alvin and Wally like me, then all of those vegan cookies will!” Cocoa says to herself in a devilish voice.

As Cocoa leaves the library, a new cookie rolls in and speaks to Otis. She does not know this new handsome cookie and is curious to see who he is, as she does not need anyone spoiling her brilliant plan. As Cocoa walks up to Otis to be introduced to this new good-looking cookie, they both abruptly leave. She is now puzzled and cannot figure out the relationship or interaction between the two.

“Who is this new cookie? Why is he here?” Cocoa whispers to herself. “Nevermind, I have my own work to do. Where are those doughy nerds, Alvin and Wally when you need them? I’m out of here.”

What’s going to happen between Otis and Cocoa and her plans to spoil the election? Who is the new cookie? Find out in the next chapter of As The Cookie Crumbles!

While Otis daydreams of his victory, another alluring fresh baked cookie perfume fills the air. Cocoa, the milk chocolate chip cookie, rolls in wearing a tight, wide fudge dress enhancing her chunky figure. She also notices the flyer.

“Well hello my dear sweet chocolaty classmate. How are you doing this fine afternoon?” mumbles Otis with a grimace and sweet smile.

“I am doing just fine Otis, and don’t you worry about any of my goodies,” Cocoa replies with a sugar-coated smile. “Anyway, I am going to run for class president so I hope you will vote for me, Otis. I will need as much support from the cookie scraps as possible.”

“What do you mean cookie scraps! Besides, I am going run and win. Everyone knows that oatmeal raisin cookies are the new chocolate chip. Where are YOU going to get the support to win, from your crumbly batch of friends? I have the support from my vegan oatmeal friends. They are filled with dried fruits and nuts. You leave Alvin, the vegan almond-raisin, and Wally, the vegan cranberry-walnut, out of this. They are my best friends and they support me in anything I do,” Otis tells Cocoa in the most threatening way possible trying not to call attention to the large cookie crumbles falling from his mouth.

“ Do not mess with me and my batch of friends, Otis. You know we are filled with rich morsels of chocolate and our hint of espresso will have you dying for more.” Cocoa says after taking a sip of vitamin D milk.

“Well, we will see who will win this election. Only time will tell,” Otis and Cocoa say as they both leave the locker room.

Stay tuned in to the next chapter of As The Cookie Crumbles to find out what happens between Otis and Cocoa and their big election!

Mayor Bloomingburg had this to say, “As a democracy, we have placed our trust in the people to elect officials who best represent both their own interests and the interests of their city. While I did in fact question the recent election of a cupcake to public office, I remained confident in the decision of the people of this fair city to decide what was right for them. I am sorry today, to say that my suspicions were correct and that we are in fact headed down the road to financial ruin.”

Perhaps the most shocking turn of events in this entire debacle is that at no point did the public have any inclination that mismanagement was taking place on such a grandiose scale. This was largely due to the fact that the treasurer’s entire cabinet and press team also consisted entirely of cupcakes. Cupcakes of course, are quite incapable of grasping even the simplest of mathematic concepts.

Misappropriation does not even begin to describe the way city taxpayer dollars were spent this past calendar year, which saw New York’s first “Free Money Day”, the first annual 5k Run for Dollars, in which all participants received five thousand dollars, and of course the highly controversial loop-de-loop track addition to the number 7 train. The treasurer claiming the Queens-bound train needed, “…more flair” proposed the plan to his cabinet, who agreed unanimously.

City officials have begun pleading Albany to forgive their missteps and provide aid to get the city back on its feet.

All we can do at this point is learn from our mistakes. Cupcakes belong on a plate, next to a glass of milk. NOT in public office.

Red Mango: So ‘Mel, how long have you been in the limelight?
Caramel Torme: A long time, kid! You wouldn’t remember this, you’re too young, but I opened the Sands!
Yeah it was me and Dean Magnolia back in those days. I could tell you stories you wouldn’t believe!

RM: Pretty entertaining time then, eh?
CT: The times weren’t the half of it! The people were what made it! You wouldn’t remember any of them, you’re too young, but us old timers could move, boy! We were playing to packed houses nightly, singing like songbirds for politicians, the mob, all the best girls in Hollywood . Nothing like what you have today.

RM: So other than talking about things that happened before my parents were born, what have you been up to since… well, the mid 1900’s?
CT: The mid 1900’s? Boy now what a time that was!
You wouldn’t believe it, kid. You’re probably too young to hear this anyway…

RM: *sigh*
CT: …anyway you’re probably too young to hear this but we’d have girls in the crowd throwing their paper at us on stage every night!
Oh boy I’ll tell ya, they were different times!

RM: Am I too young to remember?
CT: Probably, kid. This was back in the old days. Before you were even born.

RM: Sounds great. Well, I gotta go…
CT: Oh boy, we could go, boy! The guys were dressed to kill, the mobsters did, and all the girls were knockouts! Frosting spread so thin you hardly had to use your imagination.

RM: That’s awful. I’m leaving. Bye ‘Mel.
CT: “Bye ‘Mel”! That was the name of my 4th retirement spectacular!
… oh boy what a night that was! I’ll tell ya…

Some samples of his works include:

Confused World
I try
I TRY
To fit in
With
What they prescribe
Hot oven
Cold refrigerator
World
MAKE UP YOUR MIND

Talkin Ice Cold Frosting Blues
Why do they feel I must be stifled?
Covered
Smothered
Covered with frosting
Frosting and spice
Sugar and spice hiding me from the light
Tell me, what’s out there?
What treasures lie beyond the walls of this Frigidaire?

He’s so angsty! We can’t wait for Saturday!

Concerned cupcakes came out in record numbers, forming around-the-block lines to donate. Nearly all the cakes who participated did it with a smile. Some though experienced slight dizziness due to their temporarily low sugar levels.

All those who participated received the Mayor’s personal thanks, as well as a glass of milk to compliment themselves.

The city is still accepted frosting of all types in the continued effort. Help save a cupcake, donate today!

The contest commenced and the course of all humanity was about to be derailed in a most peculiar way. He plowed through the first 14 like a man possessed. The next 8 went down just as quick. Two more and his pace slowed to a crawl. It was now determination versus general safety. Caution was thrown to the wind and the wager was completed. The victory celebration was short-lived however… He acted strange, his eyes glazed over… with… glaze? He frosted at the mouth. His skin crumbled. His firm youthful complexion became fluffy and buttery.

No one said a word. All were silent. Suddenly he arose. He lunged forward at the table, still full of cupcakes. He began devouring at a pace unimaginable for someone who had just eaten as much sugar as he had. His vision swirled. His friends appeared to him in a new light. They looked…. delicious.
He had to have them. He siezed his friend by the arm and took a bite of the most deliciously frosted friend he’d ever tasted. He sampled another and she was just as tasty. So it began…

Time stood still as the Planet Earth took it’s last breath of sane air. Everything would be different tomorrow. Conventional wisdom… right out the window! Tomorrow the world would be scoured by legions of cupcake fiends. They know not reason or mercy. They only know cake. Some will retreat to the hills to fight for humanity as they knew it. Some would pray to the sky for answers…. Some actually volunteered to be bitten, citing a desire to be part of, “The most deliciously awesome world ever man! Cupcakes man! Yeah, awesome!”