Nothing But Gingerbread Left

Henry Kuttner's short story, "Nothing But Gingerbread Left", tells the story of a young girl named Alice whose family has fallen on hard times. She and her brother are sent to stay with their Aunt Mary, who lives in a small, rural town. Alice soon discovers that the town is haunted by a mysterious creature that steals food from the local bakeries. Every morning, the bakeries are filled with gingerbread, but by nightfall, all the gingerbread is gone. Alice decides to investigate and discovers a strange old woman living in a nearby forest. The woman reveals that she is the one responsible for stealing the gingerbread, and she has been doing so for years. Alice is determined to stop her, but the old woman warns her that if she interferes, she will be sorry. In the end, Alice discovers that the old woman was simply trying to provide food to the poor people in the town, and she comes to understand the importance of helping others.