Barry was a nervous man, and there was nothing that made him more nervous than his Aunt Mildred’s annual tea party. It wasn’t the tea he was worried about, or the small talk. It was the scones. Aunt Mildred was a scone perfectionist. This year, Barry’s wife had made a special one for him to bring.

“It’s the Scone of Destiny,” she said, wrapping it in a special cloth. “You must protect it with your life. One perfect scone for Aunt Mildred’s plate.”

Barry put the scone in a tupperware box and held it like a precious diamond. He walked down the street, feeling the weight of his destiny. He imagined a dog running at him, he would protect the scone! He saw a gust of wind, the scone would not be moved! He even imagined slipping on a banana peel, holding the scone high in the air as he fell. His mission was clear.

He arrived at Aunt Mildred’s house. He could hear the low murmur of conversation inside. He took a deep breath, clutching the box tight. His hand, however, was a little sweaty. He fumbled the box. It slipped. The box flew through the air, turning slowly, beautifully. Time seemed to slow down.

The box landed on the welcome mat with a soft thud. Barry opened it, his heart pounding. The scone was safe! But a small, dark stain appeared on the top. It wasn’t jam, or cream, but a mark from the tupperware. Barry felt his fate was sealed. He was a failure.

Aunt Mildred opened the door. “Barry, you’re just in time! Where is the scone?”

He held out the box, shamefully. “I’m so sorry, Aunt Mildred. I… I dropped it.”

She peered at the scone, then started to laugh. “Barry, is that a coffee stain?”

He looked closer. The dark stain was not from the tupperware, but a drop of coffee from his own thermos. The stain looked like a tiny, smiling face.

Aunt Mildred took the scone and put it on the plate with the others. “It’s the most cheerful scone I’ve ever seen,” she said, smiling. “Now, come in and have some tea.”

Barry realised his Scone of Destiny had fulfilled its true purpose: to be a perfectly cheerful, slightly messy scone, and to be eaten. He felt the weight lift from his shoulders and smiled.

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Vocabulary Notes.

Nervous
Definition: Feeling worried or anxious about something that is going to happen.
Example: “Barry was a nervous man, and there was nothing that made him more nervous than his Aunt Mildred’s annual tea party.”
New example: “She felt nervous before her first day at the new job.”
Similar words: anxious, worried, uneasy, apprehensive.

Perfectionist
Definition: A person who wants everything to be perfect and is not happy unless it is.
Example: “Aunt Mildred was a scone perfectionist.”
New example: “My boss is a real perfectionist; she checks every single detail of the report.”
Similar words: fusspot, stickler for detail.

Fumbled
Definition: To handle something in a clumsy or awkward way.
Example: “He fumbled the box. It slipped.”
New example: “He was so tired that he fumbled with the keys and couldn’t get the door open.”
Similar words: dropped, mishandled, stumbled.

Clutching
Definition: To hold something tightly in your hand.
Example: “He took a deep breath, clutching the box tight.”
New example: “The child was clutching her mother’s hand in the crowded supermarket.”
Similar words: gripping, holding tightly, grasping.

Fate was sealed
Definition: A phrase used to say that a person’s future, often a bad one, is now certain and cannot be changed.
Example: “Barry felt his fate was sealed. He was a failure.”
New example: “When the team’s best player got injured in the first half, their fate was sealed and they lost the game.”
Similar words: destiny was decided, future was determined.

Story written by Gemini Pro AI.

Image created by ai.magicx.

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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