Tracy Schuldt Helixon
Hope is one cup of sugar
one stick of butter
my pandemic anxiety
firmly packed
brown sugar
applesauce
Time to mix.
She’s eleven now
no longer so excited about this cookie-making business
At age four, she burst with
Delight
Tonight’s motivation is product, not process
Still, I’ll take it
Gratefully
Two cups of flour
baking soda
salt.
More mixing.
“Good job. Remember to scrape the sides.”
She nods.
Hope is when we pour the chips
She steers the spatula through thick batter
making sure
chocolatey goodness
reaches
every
single
cookie
Hope is sliding the tray in the oven
closing the door
waiting
“Smells good!” says my husband.
And her teenage brothers
emerge from their rooms.
Hope
Is
This
Moment
Standing in the kitchen
together
the five of us
bustling
talking
laughing
pouring milk.
I savor the warmth
and the sweetness
and maybe even
a cookie.
Tracy Schuldt Helixon is an author and teacher who seeks out creativity and good in the world and can’t stop smiling each time she finds it. Her first picture book, Little Isaac’s BIG Adventure (2012), earned a Literary Classics International Book Award. Her historical fiction chapter book, Caleb’s Lighthouse (2017), was described by reviewer Rosi Hollinbeck as “an early middle grade book that is about as sweet as they come.” Tracy is currently working on a faith-based historical novel called Finding Home, inspired by her adventures in Ireland and stories from her Irish American family. Learn more at www.tracyhelixon.com.