Timothy Gribble was a peculiar child. His nose was always buried in a book, his ears always twitching at the slightest mention of mischief, and his eyes forever twinkling with the kind of curiosity that only meant trouble. But the most peculiar thing about Timothy wasn't the way he liked to climb trees in the dead of night or the way he would sprinkle salt into his little sister's porridge when she wasn't looking. No, the most peculiar thing about Timothy Gribble was his obsession with marmalade.
Now, to most people, marmalade was just a spread—something you slathered on toast or a crumpet when breakfast was particularly dull. But to Timothy, marmalade was something else entirely. It was magic. Golden, gooey magic, full of tiny, shimmering bits of orange peel that sparkled like treasure in a jar. He'd sneak spoonfuls of it when his mother wasn't looking, scooping it up by the mouthful, letting the sweet bitterness slide down his throat like melted sunshine.
So it wasn't long before Timothy started noticing a peculiar thing happening in his house.
It began one morning when he rushed downstairs for breakfast, eager for his first spoonful of marmalade of the day. He pried open the pantry door, and there—on the top shelf where the marmalade was always kept—was an empty space. The jar was gone. Vanished!
"Mother!" Timothy cried, his voice filled with indignation. "Where's the marmalade?"
His mother, who was busy frying bacon at the stove, didn't even look up. "There's none left, Timothy. I used the last of it yesterday."
Timothy's heart sank. No marmalade? That was impossible! He distinctly remembered putting a fresh jar in the pantry just last week. He even remembered the satisfying pop the lid had made when he opened it.
But there was no time to dwell on it. He'd simply have to wait until his mother went shopping again.
The next morning, Timothy raced downstairs once more, hoping to find the pantry restocked. But to his horror, when he opened the door, the shelf was bare. His mother hadn't bought any more marmalade.
"Mother!" Timothy wailed. "Where is the marmalade?"
His mother sighed. "I didn't get around to it, dear. You'll just have to manage without it today."
Timothy managed without it, though it was a struggle. Every slice of toast felt dry, every breakfast was a shadow of what it could have been.
Days passed, and the marmalade situation didn't improve. Timothy's mother kept forgetting to buy more. The pantry remained empty, and Timothy's desperation grew.
Until one night, when Timothy heard something strange.
It was the middle of the night, and the house was quiet. Too quiet. Timothy had always been a light sleeper, and his ears perked up at the faintest of sounds—a soft clink, like the tap of a spoon against glass.
Timothy crept out of bed, tiptoeing toward the kitchen, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound grew louder as he approached, until he stood just outside the pantry door.
There it was—a shadow, small and hunched over, rummaging through the shelves.
Timothy's mouth went dry. He couldn't believe his eyes.
It was a creature—no bigger than a cat, but with long, bony fingers and wiry whiskers sprouting from its face. Its eyes gleamed in the darkness, wide and greedy, and in its hands it held a jar. The last jar of marmalade.
The creature lifted the jar to its mouth, its tiny tongue flicking out to scoop up a sticky glob of marmalade. It licked its lips, letting out a satisfied hum.
"That's my marmalade!" Timothy whispered furiously, stepping into the kitchen. The creature froze, its eyes snapping toward Timothy. For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then, quick as a flash, the creature bolted for the window, still clutching the jar. Timothy chased after it, but the creature was too fast, leaping through the open window and disappearing into the night, leaving behind nothing but a faint whiff of oranges.
The next morning, Timothy told his mother everything, but she just smiled and patted his head. "What a vivid imagination you have, Timothy! A marmalade thief! How delightful."
But Timothy knew the truth. Somewhere out there, in the deep corners of the night, that marmalade-loving creature was waiting. Waiting for the next time a fresh jar appeared on the pantry shelf.
And Timothy Gribble wasn't about to let that happen again. Not without a fight.
From then on, Timothy kept a watchful eye on the pantry. Every night, he would sit by the door, spoon in hand, ready to catch the marmalade thief in the act. But the creature never returned.
At least, not yet.
And Timothy Gribble never stopped dreaming of marmalade.