It's Easter, Peeps!
Sara Brookside
easter gender-neutral protagonist holiday theme One-Room Game Competition 2006 short single room speed IF
A one-room story where your goal is to assemble an Easter basket of goodies for your son, Max.
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It's the week before Easter, and you've popped out of your office one day on your lunch break. Your mission? To assemble an Easter basket that will both delight and mystify your 4-year-old son Max.

You enter a nearby candy store, and the shopkeeper hands you a festive Easter basket. "No charge," he says, smiling, and leaves you to your shopping.

It's Easter, Peeps!

First time players, please type "about" before beginning game play. 

Cheerful images of colorful eggs, chicks, rabbits, carrots, and ribbon-festooned Easter baskets adorn the candy store. To the north, the shopkeeper stands patiently behind a counter. South of you, the storefront window beckons to passers-by, tempting them with its proffered seasonal wares. The wall to the west is lined with conveniences, such as a pay phone, newspaper rack, umbrella stand, gumball machine, and a chair. A lighted display case runs along the wall to the east, filled with candy.
You look at the display
Which do you mean, the window display or the display case?
You examine the case
The display case runs along the right-hand side of the candy store.
It illuminates row upon row of tantalizing confections. The case is lined with a metal runner and a tube of black rubber piping where the smooth, curved glass meets the base of the display.

The lighted case is filled with candy of all sorts. You see some pastel-colored petit fors, marzipan carrots, macaroons decorated to resemble painted Easter eggs, pink marshmallow chicks, coconut eggs, buttercream eggs, peanut butter eggs, milk chocolate rabbits, and rock candy skewered on polished wooden dowels. There is a floral vase full of Pixie Stix in the case with a pile of "pixie dust" (aka "colored sugar!") in front of it.
Hello
Use the format "ask shopkeeper about [subject]".
You ask the shopkeeper about the eggs
(the decorations)
"Eggs are a reminder of the promise of new life ahead."
You ask the shopkeeper about the chicks
He laughs, almost embarrassed. "I do the best I can to decorate the place and make it look festive. I'm a novice, though, and it undoubtedly shows. My wife was the decorating expert of our duo."

You hear a clucking noise emanating from the window display.
Inventory
You are carrying an Easter basket, your wallet (which is open), inside which are a few bills and a couple of photographs and a keychain.
You examine the photographs
Two photographs of Max lie in your wallet: a baby picture and a more recent shot of him blowing out the candles on his fourth birthday
cake.
You examine the keychain
The keychain is a handmade gift from Max. Your car and house keys dangle from a chain looped around a small red and blue heart that he crafted out of salt clay and then painted with tempera paints.
About yourself
You are feeling quite chipper! It is a beautiful spring day and you are looking forward to celebrating Easter with your family this weekend. You're out of the office and engaging in one of your
favorite activities: brainstorming ways to make Max happy!
You examine the window display
The window display consists of a large ceramic rabbit holding out a serving plate, a golden goose, and abundant quantities of both plastic and painted Easter eggs nestled in copious green grass which lines the bottom of the storefront window. Gold letters form an arc above the main display which cheers, "Happy Easter!!!" to those peeking in from out-of-doors.

"You must be shopping for somebody pretty special, I'd say." The shopkeeper glances at you knowingly.
You tell the shopkeeper about Max
"I can tell you love him very much..."
You show the photographs to shopkeeper
(first taking the photographs)
The shopkeeper is unimpressed.
You ask the shopkeeper about the wife
"Passed away seven years ago," he says, eyes clouding for the first time. "She's with the good Lord now, though."
You get the chicks
(the decorations)
They're hardly portable.
You look at the newspaper rack
The newspaper rack is clearly more functional than aesthetic, constructed of metal and glass. In the newspaper rack are a newspaper and a lollipop.
You get the newspaper
Taken.
You read the newspaper
AT&T Inc. T        1-1/1
ONEOK Inc. OKE      1-3/3
Inco Ltd. N        1-1/1
Unilever NV               UN       1-2/2
D&E Communications Inc. DE(CC)   1-2/4
R&G Financial Corp. RG(F)    1-2/3
Oakley Inc. OO       1-2/2
LS Starrett Co. S(CX)    1-1/3
E*TRADE Financial Corp. E(T)     1-1/2
You look under the goose
The goose pecks at your hand sharply. Apparently, she doesn't wish to be disturbed.
You get the lollipop
Taken.

The shopkeeper retrieves a wind-up chick from beneath the counter, winds it up, and sets it down. The toy gyrates jubilantly across the wooden surface, while the whirring sound of the wind-up mechanism drones from inside it.
Pet chick
You can only do that to something animate.
You examine the goose
The golden goose is not only golden, she's also alive! She seems to be sitting on something in quite a protective manner.
You take the chick
The pink marshmallow chicks are currently in a glass display case, inaccessible to you.
Open case
The shopkeeper comments, "I hold the key to the display case, but it
is a figurative key, not a literal one."
You ask the shopkeeper about the case
"Doesn't it all look positively scrumptious? Go ahead and look in the case. Just poke around for a bit."
You check your inventory
You are carrying a lollipop, a newspaper, a couple of photographs, an Easter basket, your wallet (which is open), inside which are a few bills and a keychain.

"Once you have some candy in your basket, bring it to me and I'll
check it against Max's list," the shopkeeper offers amiably.

"Max's list???" you think. Had you told the man your son's name? Or what sort of candy he likes?
You ask the shopkeeper about the list
"Oh, yes. I have it with me right here, behind the counter. Once you have some items in your basket, bring it to me and we'll see how much progress you've made on Max's list."
You put the lollipop in the basket
You put the lollipop into the Easter basket.
You give the basket to the shopkeeper
"Well, you've made a good start, but there are still some items on Max's list that you haven't found yet. Not to worry... 'well begun is half done,' as the old saying goes."

"Here," he says, handing you Max's list.
You look at the list
Your heart melts as you recognize your son's crude printing in orange crayon on a yellow piece of construction paper.

a gumball
jellybeans
a lollipop
a macaroon
tiny chocolate eggs
yellow marshmallow chicks
You look in the case
The lighted case is filled with candy of all sorts. You see some pastel-colored petit fors, marzipan carrots, macaroons decorated to resemble painted Easter eggs, pink marshmallow chicks, coconut eggs, buttercream eggs, peanut butter eggs, milk chocolate rabbits, and rock candy skewered on polished wooden dowels. There is a floral vase full of Pixie Stix in the case with a pile of "pixie dust" (aka "colored sugar!") in front of it.

Outside, a little girl tugs on her father's arm, straining in the direction of the candy store, but he hustles her along past the door.
You get the macaroon
The macaroon is currently in a glass display case, inaccessible to
you.
Break case
"Certainly! Here you are," he says, opening the display case with ease. He plucks a macaroon out of the case with a pair of tongs and deftly writes "Max" on it with a thin line of icing. He then wraps it in tissue paper and presents it to you with a flourish.

The display case wasn't meant to be broken, but maybe you can find something else in the candy store that is meant to be broken...
You put the macaroon in basket
You put the macaroon into the Easter basket.
You ask the shopkeeper for the buttercream eggs
Use the format "ask shopkeeper about [subject]".
You ask the shopkeeper about egg
"Eggs are a reminder of the promise of new life ahead."
You ask shopkeeper for the egg
Which do you mean, the peanut butter eggs, the buttercream eggs or the coconut eggs?
You look in the case
The lighted case is filled with candy of all sorts. You see some pastel-colored petit fors, marzipan carrots, macaroons decorated to resemble painted Easter eggs, pink marshmallow chicks, coconut eggs, buttercream eggs, peanut butter eggs, milk chocolate rabbits, and rock candy skewered on polished wooden dowels. There is a floral vase full of Pixie Stix in the case with a pile of "pixie dust" (aka "colored sugar!") in front of it.
You examine the window display
The window display consists of a large ceramic rabbit holding out a serving plate, a golden goose, and abundant quantities of both plastic and painted Easter eggs nestled in copious green grass which lines the bottom of the storefront window. Gold letters form an arc above the main display which cheers, "Happy Easter!!!" to those peeking in from out-of-doors.
You examine the gumball machine
A metal pole supports the classic-looking machine, a clear glass globe atop a shiny red support. The globe reveals heaps of huge, soft gumballs. Each gumball is stamped with the words "Happy Easter" in white script. A slot and knob assembly is engraved with the words, "Insert Token Here" and a swinging door covering a small chute reads, "Thank You!"
Look around
Cheerful images of colorful eggs, chicks, rabbits, carrots, and ribbon-festooned Easter baskets adorn the candy store. To the north, the shopkeeper stands patiently behind a counter. South of you, the storefront window beckons to passers-by, tempting them with its proffered seasonal wares. The wall to the west is lined with conveniences, such as a pay phone, newspaper rack, umbrella stand, gumball machine, and a chair. A lighted display case runs along the wall to the east, filled with candy.
You look at the umbrella stand
The umbrella stand is rather uninteresting. It is black in color and looks like it may be made of iron. It is cylindrical in shape, with a solid circular base and two circular bands of metal providing structural reinforcement above the base. In the umbrella stand is an umbrella.
You get the umbrella
Taken.
You open the umbrella
You open the umbrella.
You look in the stand
The umbrella stand is empty.
You ask the shopkeeper about the goose
He leans forward conspiratorially, even though you and he are clearly the only ones in the shop at the moment. He whispers, "I'll tell you
a secret about that goose. She likes candy dots. They're her
favorite food, in fact!"
You look at the confections
The lighted case is filled with candy of all sorts. You see some pastel-colored petit fors, marzipan carrots, macaroons decorated to resemble painted Easter eggs, pink marshmallow chicks, coconut eggs, buttercream eggs, peanut butter eggs, milk chocolate rabbits, and rock candy skewered on polished wooden dowels. There is a floral vase full of Pixie Stix in the case with a pile of "pixie dust" (aka "colored sugar!") in front of it.

"Don't forget to look up, if you haven't tried that yet. You never know where things may be hiding in this store, so you'll have to look around carefully." The shopkeeper's helpful voice rings out across
the store.
You look up
You see a large pinata hanging from the high ceiling of the candy store.
You examine the pinata
Hanging from the ceiling is a pinata, decorated to look like a purple bunny holding a large orange carrot. It appears to be out of your reach.
Smash pinata
(with the umbrella)
An open umbrella doesn't make a very effective tool.
You close the umbrella
You close the umbrella.
Smash pinata
(with the umbrella)
The pinata sways, suspended by a piece of twine.

"Ah... I think you're on the right track, there," the shopkeeper encourages.
You examine the umbrella
A good-sized umbrella with a curved wooden handle. Its swirls of
black material are held in place with a loop of material and a snap when the umbrella is closed. It is closed.
Smash pinata
(with the umbrella)
A strip of candy dots flutters to the floor.
You take the dots
Taken.
You show the dots to the goose
The golden goose is unimpressed.
You give the dots to the goose
The goose stands and pecks at the candy dots contentedly, revealing a token beneath her. You take the bronze token.
You examine the token
A simple bronze-colored circular token.
You put the token in the machine
You put the token in the slot and turn the knob. You hear a slight clunking noise in the metal chute below, so you put your hand beneath it to catch a purple gumball as it rolls out.
You put the gumball in the basket
You put the purple gumball into the Easter basket.
You look at the chair
It is just a simple plastic chair, the kind you might find behind a school desk or in the waiting room of an oil-change shop. It appears to be anchored to the floor.
You sit on the chair
You get onto the chair.
You get up
You get off the chair.

Cheerful images of colorful eggs, chicks, rabbits, carrots, and ribbon-festooned Easter baskets adorn the candy store. To the north, the shopkeeper stands patiently behind a counter. South of you, the storefront window beckons to passers-by, tempting them with its proffered seasonal wares. The wall to the west is lined with conveniences, such as a pay phone, newspaper rack, umbrella stand, gumball machine, and a chair. A lighted display case runs along the wall to the east, filled with candy.
You examine phone
It's just a normal pay phone, like any other you'd see in a public place. The bulky receiver obscures the touch-tone dialing pad behind it, and a shiny metallic door that bears the word "CHANGE" swings over a small metal chute. You check simply out of habit, but... In the pay phone are a crumpled note and a candy coin.
You take all from the phone
crumpled note: Removed.
candy coin: Removed.
You read the note
1.19.11.19.8.15.16.11.5.5.16.5.18.6.15.18.13.1.3.1.18.15.15.14
You look in the basket
In the Easter basket are a purple gumball, a macaroon and a lollipop.
You put the coin in the basket
You put the candy coin into the Easter basket.
Inventory
You are carrying a crumpled note, an umbrella, Max's list, a
newspaper, a couple of photographs, an Easter basket, inside which are a candy coin, a purple gumball, a macaroon and a lollipop, your wallet (which is open), inside which are a few bills and a keychain.
You read the note
1.19.11.19.8.15.16.11.5.5.16.5.18.6.15.18.13.1.3.1.18.15.15.14

"Forgive me, but I didn't notice whether you had happened upon the golden goose yet or not. If you haven't, you might want to keep an
eye out for her. She likes to think she's important around here!" the shopkeeper hoots.

"You'll find her in the window display, although I'm sure she'll make her presence known soon enough!" He chuckles.
You look D
The floor is made of dark, hardwood planks. Walnut, perhaps? Or
maybe oak? It is well-worn, but functional, and rather charming.
You examine the planks
comprise the floor of the candy store.
You pull the planks
You are unable to.
You look at the list
Your heart melts as you recognize your son's crude printing in orange crayon on a yellow piece of construction paper.

a gumball
jellybeans
a lollipop
a macaroon
tiny chocolate eggs
yellow marshmallow chicks
You examine basket
The basket is woven of yellow and lilac straw and is quite spacious. Apparently the shopkeeper wants you leaving his store with plenty of candy in tow!
You look in the basket
In the Easter basket are a candy coin, a purple gumball, a macaroon
and a lollipop.
You ask shopkeeper about chicks
He laughs, almost embarrassed. "I do the best I can to decorate the place and make it look festive. I'm a novice, though, and it undoubtedly shows. My wife was the decorating expert of our duo."
Display case
Whom do you want to display the display case to?
You examine the display case
The display case runs along the right-hand side of the candy store.
It illuminates row upon row of tantalizing confections. The case is lined with a metal runner and a tube of black rubber piping where the smooth, curved glass meets the base of the display.

The lighted case is filled with candy of all sorts. You see some pastel-colored petit fors, marzipan carrots, macaroons decorated to resemble painted Easter eggs, pink marshmallow chicks, coconut eggs, buttercream eggs, peanut butter eggs, milk chocolate rabbits, and rock candy skewered on polished wooden dowels. There is a floral vase full of Pixie Stix in the case with a pile of "pixie dust" (aka "colored sugar!") in front of it.
You get the vase
The vase is currently in a glass display case, inaccessible to you.
You ask the man about case
"Doesn't it all look positively scrumptious? Go ahead and look in the case. Just poke around for a bit."
You examine the runner
The shiny, grooved piece of trim serves as would-be pin-stripe detailing for the display case. The runner is about 3" wide and appears to be made of sturdy chrome.
You examine the piping
A narrow black tube of rubber piping, about 1/8 inch in diameter and hollow. A cross-section of the piping would look very much like the letter "o."
You get the piping
You're not entirely sure that the shopkeeper won't be upset if you start disassembling his display case...
You examine floor
The floor is made of dark, hardwood planks. Walnut, perhaps? Or
maybe oak? It is well-worn, but functional, and rather charming.
You take the plank
They're hardly portable.
You examine the window
The window display consists of a large ceramic rabbit holding out a serving plate, a golden goose, and abundant quantities of both plastic and painted Easter eggs nestled in copious green grass which lines the bottom of the storefront window. Gold letters form an arc above the main display which cheers, "Happy Easter!!!" to those peeking in from out-of-doors.
You examine the plate
You see some butterscotch drizzled on the plate. It appears to be script of some sort.
You examine the butterscotch
You see some butterscotch drizzled on the plate. It appears to be script of some sort.

A dog leashed to a tree just outside the store begins barking furiously. A bird flitters out from the tree branches.
You read the plate
"Look up"
You get the plate
The serving plate is part of the window display.
You examine the rabbit
(the pinata)
Hanging from the ceiling is a pinata, decorated to look like a purple bunny holding a large orange carrot. It appears to be out of your reach.
You examine the ceramic rabbit
The ceramic rabbit in the storefront window puts you very much in mind of "Alice in Wonderland." His fur is white and he dons a blue waistcoat. He is holding a serving plate.
You look at the waistcoat
The ceramic rabbit wears a royal blue coat, which falls to about mid-hip length and is fastened in the front with three brass buttons.
You examine the plate
You see some butterscotch drizzled on the plate. It appears to be script of some sort.
You get the waistcoat
That seems to be a part of the ceramic rabbit.
You examine the letters
The gleaming cubes of miniature iced cakes are carefully arranged in three rows, each row a different color. A letter has been written on the top of each morsel in contrasting icing.
You eat fors
(first taking the petit fors)
The petit fors are currently in a glass display case, inaccessible to you.
You ask the man for petit
Use the format "ask shopkeeper about [subject]".
Search case
The lighted case is filled with candy of all sorts. You see some pastel-colored petit fors, marzipan carrots, macaroons decorated to resemble painted Easter eggs, pink marshmallow chicks, coconut eggs, buttercream eggs, peanut butter eggs, milk chocolate rabbits, and rock candy skewered on polished wooden dowels. There is a floral vase full of Pixie Stix in the case with a pile of "pixie dust" (aka "colored sugar!") in front of it.
You examine the base
The base of the display case looks sturdy and functional.
You examine the dust
You can see white linoleum gleaming through the colored powder in places. There is something scrawled in the pixie dust.
You read dust
"/3../3./3./3/__/2../2/6./3/9../__/3/6../8/7../__/8/6../__/4/6../6../7. ./3./"
has been traced in the pixie dust.
You look at the phone
It's just a normal pay phone, like any other you'd see in a public place. The bulky receiver obscures the touch-tone dialing pad behind it, and a shiny metallic door that bears the word "CHANGE" swings over a small metal chute. You check simply out of habit, but... The pay phone is empty.
You look at the marzipan carrots
The candy has been carefully molded and decorated into very realistic-looking, albeit miniature, carrots. One could almost
believe that they had been pulled from Mr. MacGregor's garden only
just this morning. The candy appears rich and dense. "Mmm...candy
for grown-ups," you think to yourself.
You look at the macaroons
Moist, glossy macaroons. They are decorated with icing to resemble painted Easter eggs.
You examine the pink chicks
The marshmallow chicks are very... well, very... pink! The fact the the manufacturer was able to create colored sugar of such a bright, neon fuschia shade is rather remarkable to you.
You look at the coconut eggs
The filled eggs look extremely tasty, but you're looking for something with a little more pizzazz.
You look at the milk chocolate rabbits
Solid, not hollow... if you had to guess.
You examine the rock candy
Colored crystal-like candy of various hues clings to gleaming wooden dowels. YUM!
You look at the stix
These are a real classic! Paper straws filled with flavored sugar
that leave kids of all ages begging for more!
You get Stix
The Pixie Stix is currently in a glass display case, inaccessible to you.
Look around
Cheerful images of colorful eggs, chicks, rabbits, carrots, and ribbon-festooned Easter baskets adorn the candy store. To the north, the shopkeeper stands patiently behind a counter. South of you, the storefront window beckons to passers-by, tempting them with its proffered seasonal wares. The wall to the west is lined with conveniences, such as a pay phone, newspaper rack, umbrella stand, gumball machine, and a chair. A lighted display case runs along the wall to the east, filled with candy.
You examine the images
Simple, but tasteful, decorations frolick on the walls, counter, and display case of the candy store. Most are made of paper and some are laminated for added durability.
You examine the chicks
(the decorations)
Simple, but tasteful, decorations frolick on the walls, counter, and display case of the candy store. Most are made of paper and some are laminated for added durability.
You examine the counter
Just a simple slab of wood separating the shopkeeper's area from the rest of the store. It looks like it may be made of the same dark hardwood as the floor. A serving tray is on the counter.
You look at the tray
Since the candy samples have already been enjoyed, you can see that
the silver tray bears an inscription on its top surface.
You read the tray
"One code is as easy as ABC,
The other uses phone digits, 1-2-3..."
You get the tray
You gently slide the candy wrappers onto the counter and pick up the serving tray.

"Yes, yes," says the shopkeeper. "You go on and take that. I have a feeling it might be helpful to you!"
You get the keychain
You already have that.
Unlock case with key
Which do you mean, the house key or the car key?
You hit pinata
(with the umbrella)
JACKPOT! A deluge of candy comes raining down from the burst pinata. The stash that has fallen from the pinata includes a creme egg, tiny chocolate eggs wrapped in pastel-colored foil, yellow marshmallow chicks, and a sack of jelly beans.

"Well done!" says the shopkeeper. "Good on you! That's for Max...all of it!"

He tugs a nearby stool over and climbs upon it, detaching the empty burst pinata shell from the ceiling, and then disposing of it
somewhere behind the counter.
You get the creme egg
Taken.
You take all
sack of jelly beans: Taken.
yellow marshmallow chicks: Taken.
tiny chocolate eggs: Taken.
You put tiny eggs in the basket
You put the tiny chocolate eggs into the Easter basket.
You put the beans in the basket
You put the sack of jelly beans into the Easter basket.
You put the chicks in the basket
(the yellow marshmallow chicks in the Easter basket)
You put the yellow marshmallow chicks into the Easter basket.
You put the creme egg in the basket
You put the creme egg into the Easter basket.
You look in basket
In the Easter basket are a creme egg, some yellow marshmallow chicks,
a sack of jelly beans, some tiny chocolate eggs, a candy coin, a
purple gumball, a macaroon and a lollipop.
You give the basket to the man
Congratulations! You have put together a marvelous Easter basket that will undoubtedly please Max greatly. The shopkeeper wraps it beautifully in cellophane and attaches a festive bow. You carry the basket back to your office, anticipating the holiday weekend ahead.
You can almost picture Max's smile already...