by Summary of The Cookie Lady | Class 12 | ISC Syllabus | Prose
The Cookie Lady is the story of a young boy named Bubber Surle and his visits to an old woman called Mrs. Drew. When you will read the story you will feel that this lady has a strange power connected to youth.
So the story begins with Bubber walking to Mrs. Drew’s house after school. His friend Ernie teases him about visiting an old lady, but Bubber ignores him. There’s a detailed description given about how her house looks. It looks old, broken, and surrounded by dry weeds. But still this little boy, Bubber is attracted by the sweet smell of freshly baked cookies. He rings the bell, climbing upon the rickety steps, the old steps which seems that they can collapse anytime. Mrs. Drew opens the door and very warmly, welcomes him inside and gives him cookies along with cold milk. Just like any other child, he too eats them happily.
Once he finishes eating the cookies, he starts looking around for more cookies. Mrs. Drew says it will take some time, and then she asks him to stay a bit and talk to her. She asks him about his school. And since this is a small boy, he didn’t talk much, because he is there just for cookies. Nothing more, nothing less.
Watch the explanation in Hindi-
So the boy agrees to wait till the next batch is ready and the old lady asks him to read for her since she cannot read now due to her poor eyesight.
As Bubber reads from his geography book, Mrs. Drew watches him very closely. While she listens and observes the boy very closely, his wobbly cheeks moving as he reads, holding his finger next to the line. She was sitting so close, that there was only a talbe and lamp between them.
She sits back in the chair, and thinks about the time when the boy used to come to her house for the delicious cookies. And this visiting thing have been taking place from over a month. And we get to know that she has been lonely for over a very long time. While listening to him, Mrs. Drew slowly falls asleep, and something strange happens. She starts becoming younger. Her wrinkles disappear, her body looks healthier, her grey hair becomes darker and thicker, and she slowly turns into a young woman of about thirty. She feels warm, strong, and full of life again. And she did not know why all of these things were happening with her. This change happened almost every time Bubber visited, especially after she moved her chair closer to him.
But as soon as Bubber finishes reading and says it is time to leave, the effect disappears. The warmth leaves Mrs. Drew’s body, and she suddenly feels weak and old again. When she looks in the mirror, she sees her wrinkled, tired self. She asks Bubber softly, Please come back again. Will you come back? Bubber agrees and takes the rest of the cookies along with him.
When Bubber returns home, his parents May and Ralf Surle are angry and worried. They notice that Bubber always comes home exhausted and pale after visiting Mrs. Drew. Then his mother says that this boy would do anything for a plate of cookies. Then his father, he strictly forbids him from going to that lady’s house. Because he believes that something is wrong after seeing his son going usptairs slowly, completely drained and exhausted. So after some discussion, his mother allows Bubber to visit Mrs. Drew one last time to politely say goodbye. That this will be the last time visiting her.
On Wednesday, Bubber goes for a final visit. Mrs. Drew is extremely happy to see him and already feels young again just because he is there. She even says that it makes her feel young again to have him come visit. He gets inside, looking around, for what? Cookies. She bakes fresh cookies, and Bubber notices that the table and the lamp was gone. The chair was placed right next to the couch.
She looks at him closely, and askes him to read for her. He says that he hadn’t brought his book. Then she gets up to give him one of her books from the bookcase. But then Bubber tells her that this was his last visit, as she hears these words, she becomes stiff with fear and begs him to read. As he reads, she touches his arm desperately, completely frightened from the fact that he will not be there any more. She will no longer have that beautiful feeling of youth.
As the boy read, she could feel his youth flowing through her fingers, through her arm into her body. She was drawing his youth into herself. This time, the transformation was complete and permanent—she became fully young, energetic, and alive. She touched her body, the fuller body, no more wrinkles, no coldness, no gray hair. Soft, glowing skin, filled with warmth. Full set of teeth, not just gums. She bursted with joy.
Meanwhile, Bubber asked about the cookies, if it was ready. He stuffed his mouth and pockets with cookies and left the house. Mrs. Drew, now young, happily waves goodbye, confident that her youth will stay forever. She saw herself in the mirror and admired herself- feeling young and lovely.
Bubber, however, walks home slowly, looking pale, dull, and lifeless-dead white. The cold wind pushed against him, and he felt extremely tired and weak. He wasn’t even able to walk in the wind, it kept him pushing side by side. His head hurt. He took heavy breaths. He even stopped by a lamp post and held it, and then walked the best he can, with whatever energy was left in his body.
At home, his parents waited anxiously. They were worried that their son wasn’t home yet. It was already dark and wind had started to blow. Then they finally heard a sound at the door, a faint sound. Ralf opens it. As he opens the door, instead of Bubber, there was something grey, dry, and lifeless—like dust and dead weeds— that blowed past him with the wind. When May asks Who is it? Ralf said, just the wind!!
So what must have happened? Mrs. Drew had completely drained Bubber’s youth and life. And there was nothing left behind.
Question Suggestions
A. Very Short Answer Questions (1 marks)
- Who is Bubber Surle?
- Who is known as the “Cookie Lady”?
- Why does Bubber visit Mrs. Drew regularly?
- What food does Mrs. Drew offer Bubber?
- Which book does Bubber read aloud to Mrs. Drew?
- Why does Mrs. Drew ask Bubber to read to her?
- Name Bubber’s parents.
- How does Bubber look when he returns home from Mrs. Drew’s house?
- On which day does Bubber make his final visit?
- What does Ralf think blows past him at the end of the story?
B. Short Answer Questions (5 marks)
- Describe Mrs. Drew’s house and surroundings.
- How does Ernie react to Bubber’s visits to Mrs. Drew?
- What conditions does Bubber place before agreeing to read to Mrs. Drew?
- Describe the changes that occur in Mrs. Drew while Bubber reads.
- How does Mrs. Drew behave when Bubber announces that he must leave?
- Why do Bubber’s parents become suspicious of Mrs. Drew?
- How does Mrs. Drew react when she learns that Bubber will not return?
- What physical condition does Bubber show after his last visit?
C. Long Answer Questions (10 marks)
- Give a detailed account of Bubber’s visits to Mrs. Drew and their effect on both characters.
- Describe Mrs. Drew as a character, showing the contrast between her outer kindness and inner nature.
- How does Philip K. Dick build suspense and horror in The Cookie Lady?
- Discuss the role of youth and vitality in the story.
- Explain how Mrs. Drew’s transformation is connected to Bubber’s decline.
- Examine the role of Bubber’s parents in the story.
- Discuss the significance of the title The Cookie Lady.
- How does the author present evil as something ordinary and harmless?
- Comment on the ending of the story and its effect on the reader.
- Show how the story warns against blind trust and hidden danger.
D. Character-Based Questions
- Describe Bubber Surle’s character.
- How does Mrs. Drew manipulate Bubber without using force?
- How are May and Ralf Surle portrayed as parents?
E. Theme-Based Questions
- How is the theme of exploitation of innocence presented in the story?
- Discuss the theme of appearance versus reality.
- How does the story explore the fear of aging and desire for youth?
- Explain how loneliness contributes to Mrs. Drew’s actions.
G. Title & Authorial Intent Questions
- Justify the title The Cookie Lady.
- Why does the author use cookies as a symbol?
- What message does Philip K. Dick convey through this story?
