After passing a few shops, the red-bricked walkway veered right and ended at three steps leading to a solid green wooden door.

The building’s exterior blended earthy tones of green, brown, and silver. Artificial molding shaped like twisting tree roots ran down the sides, with the center resembling a massive tree trunk. Perched at the top was a small tree house adorned with carved wooden owls,squirrels, birds, cats, and turtles. Hanging just above the entrance door, beneath the tree house, was a sign that read: Magic Door.

Coming to a stop at the first step, William admires the artistic architecture outside the store. However, he is unaware that, to the left of the entrance door—stationed directly in front of a window—is the 588th Girl Scout Troop of Pomona.

“Don’t try to hide from us. We saw you coming up the sidewalk!” a blonde eight-year-old Girl Scout yells, her hands on her hips. A brown-haired girl behind her adds, “Yeah!” with a triumphant grin.

William turns his head, his brow furrowing. She stands there, boxed in by three other Girl Scouts, like they’re planning an ambush—or a bake sale gone bad.

“Sorry, I’m low on money right now. I can’t buy any cookies,” he says, edging toward the bookstore. But before he can plant a foot on the second step, a Girl Scout hurls herself onto his back like a tiny wrestler. Another lunges for his legs. Within seconds, he’s buried under a swarm of cookie-fueled fury, flailing as they drag him down the steps in a heap of green uniforms, cookie boxes, and flying merit badges.

Why not something simple, like stopping by the bookstore on the way home? What could possibly go wrong? he thought.

This deeply irritates him. For a fleeting moment, he imagines swatting the little pests like flies, but no, that would end with him on the evening news as the deranged man who attacked a troop of Girl Scouts.

“Get off me, you stupid little cookie trolls!” he roared, staggering under their weight.

“Ooooooooo!” they all gasp, latching onto him like koalas and dragging him down like a collapsing Christmas tree.

He falls flat on his stomach with a spectacular thud. One of them pounces like a ferret.

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