Dexter’s house was being remodeled, which meant that his family and he had to stay for a few weeks at his grandma’s house. What he loved about being at his grandma’s place was that there were always delicious cookies jar available for him. What he didn’t take into account was that this week there would be another guest in the house, besides his family and him.

—Did you take it?

—Of course not! I don’t even like cookies. Also, you know I’m on a strict diet, zero carbs —answered Allison, his sister, flipping through a gossip magazine without looking up.

Dexter stayed still, a bit worried. Clearly, his sister hadn’t taken the cookie jar. It didn’t seem like anyone else in the house had eaten them either. Which worried him a little; he only wanted one specific person to eat those cookies.

—What are you talking about? —his cousin Vanessa interrupted, calmly eating some chocolates.

Dexter wanted to ask if she had taken the cookie jar, but he stopped and frowned when he saw what she was holding. Those were HIS chocolates, his favorites from the trip to Switzerland a few months ago, he was eating them little by little to make them last longer.

—Where did you get that? —he asked, pointing at the box of chocolates.

—From your room —Vanessa answered, without a hint of shame.

—Give them to me! —Dexter shouted, trying to snatch the box. —They’re mine!

—They’re not! Things belong to those who need them! —Vanessa replied, holding the chocolates tightly.

They were forcing some time when suddenly, Vanessa pretended she would give him the chocolates, only to turn the box over on him, staining his shirt. She smiled maliciously at what she had done.

—You’re...! Horrible! —Dexter exclaimed, furious.

Vanessa dramatically put her hands on her face and started crying.

—Grannie! Dexter called me horrible!

Elena, Dexter’s grandma went into the room at the noise. Seeing Vanessa crying, she hugged her protectively.

—What happened here? —Elena asked, looking at her grandson with disapproval.

Allison, who had been watching everything from the couch, murmured while turning a page in her magazine:

—Vanessa probably took the cookies and ate them.

—No! I didn’t eat anything! —Vanessa shouted, wiping away her fake tears while still hugging Elena.

Dexter sighed and rolled his eyes, ignoring the accusations and his cousin’s crying. He knew Vanessa hadn’t touched the cookies. If she had, she’d be curled up in the bathroom in stomach pain right now.

Frustrated, he locked himself in his room, ignoring his granmother’s demands that he apologize. He slammed the door while Vanessa shouted from the living room:

—Don’t worry, grannie. I totally understand that Dexter is selfish. But even if he doesn’t apologize, I forgive him.

From his room, Dexter heard those words and sighed even more heavily. It was always like this — Vanessa was the kind of person who did bad things and then played the victim. He ignored his cousin’s tantrum; he was used to everyone believing her. Still, he wanted to teach her a lesson for the first time. Vanessa ALWAYS ate the cookies without a trace of guilt. So the question in his mind was: If she didn’t take the cookies, then… who did?

Suddenly, he heard his grandmother’s phone ring.

—Hello? —Elena answered.

Her tone changed immediately.

—What happened? Wait, calm down son... What? Oh, no. Okay, I’m on my way.

Dexter slightly opened the door, curious, and saw his grandmother grab a purse and look for the car keys in a hurry.

—What happened? —Allison asked.

—Your father called. He pooped his pants and has a conference in half an hour. He says it was an accident and he’s locked in the bathroom at his office. He doesn’t know what happened.

Dexter froze. Everything made sense. He let out a nervous laugh but at least now he knew who had been the victim of his revenge.

Nonetheless, he would not give in the plan to make the cookie- chocolate monster pay for her crimes.