Steven Universe At The Creek Chapter 7 Homemade Cookie Cat To Trade

Craig, along with his friends arrived at The Trading Tree as they sat together at the stump. With multiple kids lining up to trade in, Craig and the others weren’t really in the mood to trade in even if they have the items Kit would approve of. Then Omar arrived, noticing Craig not being in the line just when he’s about to trade in something.

Over the last two hours, Craig couldn’t get over the photo itself, despite not taking it one hundred percent. He can’t even tell if Steven’s hiding a secret that’s either bad or for his own benefit.

“You think you’ll have the chance to see it in your own eyes tomorrow?” Kelsey wondered. “Tomorrow may be all about your family, but what else can you do?”

“Being on my best behavior?” Craig sarcastically replied. “Even if I had the chance, I don’t want to ruin everyone else’s day, including Steven’s.”

Kelsey and J.P. are clueless for their best friend’s family reunion tomorrow. “I doubt your family would ever scold you.”

“My brother is still gonna talk to my parents about what we did today and I doubt getting grounded would help me at all.”

Then Omar sat next to Craig, much to their surprise. “I’m here Craig.” He spoked. “So what did you capture on your phone?”

Craig handed his phone to Omar to show him the photo. Upon looking at the blurring image of Steven himself, he became surprised with his belly button. “Do you think his belly button’s pink?” J.P. asked.

“I don’t think so, it looks real to me.”

“Can you guess what it is?” Kelsey added.

“Possibly a small pink medallion, but I doubt it would fit in his belly button.”

“And I doubt Steven is famous for buying those types of jewelry.” Craig commented. “This is gonna be harder to believe.”

At the creek, Steven went through multiple spots just to find Craig. Not only that, he came across more children enjoying their time at the creek, as if it’s the reason why the neighborhood had been too quiet.

“I really need to focus on my priorities right now.” He said to himself. Luckily he saw Craig and his friends sitting together including the kid he just met earlier. Unlike the previous spots he went to, the Trading Tree made him witness a line of children trading in items. Although it’s only the least of what the creek has to offer.

“I think I’ll just let Steven know that I’m not coming after him, but I doubt he’ll believe me for what I did.” Craig receives his phone from Omar. “In fact I don’t think he wants anything to do with me.”

“True, but you can’t say the same thing about yourself.” Upon hearing Steven’s voice, the four children turned their attention to the grown teenager. They would expect that to happen outside the creek, but inside especially by the Trading Tree felt bizarre. “Please tell me you haven’t shown anyone of that photo you took?”

“No?” Craig blinked. “I’m keeping it between me and my friends.”

“Why are you here?” J.P. asked.

“I’m here to tell you to delete that photo, trust me, it’s really really personal.” Steven placed his hand on his head. “I’m not in a good mood right now, so will you please delete it?”

Craig didn’t want to make Steven even more cross, but he refuses to let this opportunity pass him by. “Can we please make a deal or something?”

“Sorry but no, it’s not gonna happen.”

“Hey, he’s not gonna expose it to anyone, he’s not that kind of person.” Omar defended his friend.

“Yeah, what’s preventing you from revealing your belly-” Kelsey took notice of the children in line, turning their attention to Steven himself. Steven then took notice of being the center of attention, which only made him even more concerned.

“Did you really have to say that out loud?” Steven retorted. “Don’t do this to me.”

Without any option at all, Craig decided to delete the photo, all the while emptying his trash can in the process. “There, it’s gone.” He showed it to Steven.

“What we were referring to is that he still had wet sand in his belly button while swimming at the beach.” J.P. defended the grown teen.

This caused everyone in the line to go back to do their business, but Kit still couldn’t keep her eyes off of Steven himself. Steven himself sighed in relief, thankful his life is still intact. However, Craig is disappointed that he deleted the photo, but he had no choice after being confronted.

“Guys, I might as well head home for the day, I'd rather be grounded in failure until tomorrow.” As Craig gets off the stump, he leaves the Trading Tree only for Steven to grab his arm.

“No no no no.” He replied as Craig looked straight at him. “Look I’m sorry for making you delete it, but you know it’s not right.”

“Steven…” Craig couldn’t even say another word as long as there were kids around Steven. “...Teens don’t spend their time at the creek, kids do.”

“You still know why I’m here, I couldn’t let this go.”

“If you showed me what you had all along maybe I could let that go. If I was out to come after you, I wouldn't even be here right now.”

Steven can see honesty in Craig’s tone of voice. In fact, if he didn’t delete the photo, he’s bound by his word, no matter what situation it is. “I didn’t give you any credit for how you acted, didn't I?”

“He’s a kid like the rest of us.” Kelsey chimed in. “You should know what it felt like when you were a kid.”

“I would’ve seen you like everybody else if you were our age.” Omar commented. “But after seeing the photo before it got deleted…you must live farther away from us.”

Steven placed his hands in his pockets, while looking above at the sky. Omar is right about him living farther away from here, but at the same time, if he kept one of these kids in the dark, his secret could be revealed to the citizens that could spread from town to town.

“What’s this line for?” He pointed at the line. 

“That’s for people to trade their items at the Trading Tree.” Craig explained. “You need an item to do that.”

When the line got much shorter over time, Steven nearly forgot about his treat he was originally gonna eat if he didn’t forget during lunch. “Wait here.” He spoke to Craig as he made his way to the Trading Tree.

“Well this could be interesting.” J.P. commented.

After the final kid did his trade by leaving, Steven stepped up to Kit who’s running The Trading Tree. Kit felt uncomfortable with a person taller than her. “Look I know this feels off, but don’t take this personally.”

“Sorry I’ve overheard what you and Craig’s friends said about your belly button but don’t worry, I won’t judge you.” Kit replied as she backed away.

Steven looked at the Trading Tree itself, it felt like an outdoor store like at a farmer’s market he’s been to numerous times. He grabbed something from his bag that had an ice pack inside in case it didn’t melt. When Craig and the others take notice, it’s revealed to be Cookie Cat with one eye and mouth missing.

“You’re trading in an old Cookie Cat?” Kit asked, looking at the sweet.

“Actually, I made this by myself.” Steven answered. “I’m not sure if anyone’s willing to like it after eating, but they don’t make these anymore, from where I live that is.”

As Kit looked at the cookie cat again, she only saw a few that had their eyes or mouths messed up. “It still looks pretty old to me.”

“Have you ever made an ice cream sandwich before? It’s always annoying to mess up the eyes and mouths. I don’t work at a factory, you know.”

Craig walked up by Steven to see the cookie cat himself. “Maybe he’s telling the truth. I had cookie cats and they never had their faces turn out like that.”

“Are you sure?” Kit asked.

“The ice cream looks different then how the real ones were made.”

“Why don’t you trade in something, so I can eat it to see if it’s homemade.”

“Okay.” Steven replied as he looked at the Trading Tree itself. “Do you have a granola bar?”

“Yes I do.” Kit taking out one granola bar from the yellow locker. “Not really my pick for trading in a cookie cat, but better then nothing.”

As Steven traded his cookie cat in favor of the granola bar, he put it in his bag while putting his attention to Kit. While the other kids stared at Kit eating the cookie cat, Kit tasted the ice cream itself. “How is it?”

“Just the same as a normal cookie cat.” Kat answered. “But I guess it’s not as old as I thought.”

“I made a couple more, but I’m saving those for myself. A granola bar seems nice to trade though.”

As Kit eats the rest of the cookie cat, Steven turns his attention back to Craig. “Craig, about what you and your friends said earlier, I’ve been thinking about it.”

“You’re gonna talk to my parents tonight?” Craig asked.

“Yes but…do you really want to know what I have under my shirt?”

“Yeah, like the rest of us.” J.P. replied.

Steven sighed, while trying to be nice to the others. “This is only between me and him.”

“But Steven…” Kelsey walked up only for Omar to stop her.

“He wants his family to keep a secret, let Craig handle this alone.” Omar replied as he headed to the Trading Tree.

“Okay, see you two after the family reunion.” As Kelsey and J.P. left the Trading Tree, Craig and Steven went back on topic.

“Tonight, you take me to a hidden spot in the creek and I’ll show it to you.” Steven confessed. “I don’t care where you pick, I just don’t want anyone to know about it.”

“Then I promise I’ll understand what your life feels like.”

This caused Steven to place his hand on Craig’s shoulder. “You need more proof to understand.” As he left the Trading Tree, Omar walked up by Craig after trading in an item.

“You think you can handle it?” He wondered.

“Possibly, but I’m definitely gonna be sleeping rough tonight.” Craig said, lowering his head.

“Keep your head held high though, at least you're getting your chance.”

“Thanks Omar.” As the two leave the Trading Tree, they all head home for the day, and a night Craig will never forget.