STORY STARTER

The cookie jar at your grandma’s house has gone missing. No one else in the family is concerned, except for you, because you know the truth about what was inside…

A cookie jar that doesn't have cookies

I enter the house and head directly to the kitchen when I hear my grandmother's humming. Once I get inside the kitchen, the sweet smell of baking wraps around me. I close my eyes and take a sniff before I smile and tiptoe to my grandmother.

Booh!

My grandmother gasps sharply, almost knocking me with the stray she's holding.

"Oh my god, Jessy! I told you to stop this," she smacks my chest and aims next at my head but I dodged the slap while laughing.

"Where is Mom?," I ask, still giggling.

"Probably watching those silly fashion shows in the living room," she waves a dismissive hand.

I steal a strawberry from the top of her cake on the way out, leaving her groaning in frustration.

While I was exiting the kitchen, my eyes naturally drift to the top of the old cabinet. But the cookie jar wasn't there. I frown and turn to my grandmother.

"Where is the cookie jar?"

"Which cookie jar?"

I cross my arms. "come on, Grandma. The jar that was here from a century ago. My grandpa's jar."

"Oh that one! I have no idea. Ask your brother."

I sigh and rush to my brother's room, he always touches stuff and change their places so--heart pounding in my chest--I hope he knows the answer.

"Sam, have you..."

The words die in my mouth when I catch the jar in his lap and his eyes focused on the item in his hand. I swallow hard and approach him.

"Sam, I thought no one touches the cookie jar. What are you doing with it?"

"Because this looks like a cookie for you?"

He shows me the watch. "This watch has nothing like a casual necklace. And at Grandpa's time, they didn't have these kinds of jewelry. Neither now anyway."

"Sam," I close the door and walk to sit on the edge of the bed. "This is not a necklace," he glances at me in confusion. "I don't know how to name this but when you wear it, you will be able to talk to Grandpa."

He looks at me with surprise then bursts in laughter. "Yeah, right. As if it's possible to connect with the dead. Sure thing." he scoffs but I hold his wrist firmly, speaking more serious than ever.

"Try it then. Try it now. Wear it and say Grandpa's name. You would be the only one capable of talking to him, not even me can hear your words."

He stares at me in concern, like I was out of my mind to say that a simple necklace can connect you with the afterlife. Yet he complies and wears it, sighing and saying Grandpa's name.

Then, stillness.

Sam goes completely silent. His eyes turning all white and his hands are dropping to his sides.

He was now talking to our grandfather.

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