y the time he reached Little Tina, gasping for breath at her side, she was already scooping up big handfuls of frosting from the house, licking her fingers with delight, her face smeared with chocolate.
"Little Tina, you cannot do this! This is someone's home and we're going to get in trouble if you don't -"
With that, the chocolate door swung open abruptly, sending Little Tina and Timmy Tinytot back with a start. With wide eyes and gasping mouths, they looked at the person behind the door, a little old woman with silver hair tucked back into a bun, and a kind but stern face.

"Children, what are you doing here at this hour?" she asked, with a hint of annoyance in her voice. "Shouldn't you be in bed right now? And who gave you permission to start eating my candy house?" she scolded, looking at the chocolate-smeared Little Tina Tinytot.

"Umm, ma'am, I'm sorry about that," said Little Timmy, stepping forward. "She doesn't listen to me sometimes, but I was telling her to stop. It's just that she loves chocolate."

"Oh, yes," said Little Tina earnestly, "I do love chocolate. I love all treats, in fact."

"Well, then," said the woman in the candy house, "you must come inside for a bit. If it's treats you like, then it's treats you'll get."
​
She turned and walked into the house, leaving the door open for Little Tina and Timmy to follow.

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