You decide to be clever. If the cookie thief comes back, you'll be ready! You mix up one more batch of cookies — this time extra gooey and delicious, the kind that makes the whole kitchen smell like a bakery in the North Pole. You place the plate right in the center of the counter, perfectly arranged, like bait for the greediest cookie bandit ever. Then you turn off the lights, grab your flashlight and detective notebook, and hide behind the counter. You wait. And wait. And wait some more. The clock ticks softly. The Christmas lights blink on the tree. The radio plays "Silent Night," which feels extra true right now because… it's completely silent. No footsteps. No jingling bells. No cookie thief. You sigh. "Maybe they're still full from the cookies they already ate," you mumble. Your stomach growls, reminding you that you're definitely not full. You peek at the new cookies. They look amazing. You figure one bite wouldn't hurt while you wait… By the time you realize it, you've eaten one cookie. Then another. And another. You blink down at the empty plate. "Oh no," you whisper. "Now I'm the cookie thief!" You laugh to yourself, wash the crumbs off your hands, and decide it's time for a new plan.