BAKE ME A CAKE

                                    

                                          


                          
     "Business is slow today, it rained so much that nobody is even bothering to come outside even though the sun is out...all these nice pleasantries and pastries, must I throw them out the instant they lose their most delicious state?  Ah," A large, broad-shouldered woman with a baker's hat had just finished sprinkling something when someone had approached her stand. "Oh hello sir! You're my first customer this afternoon. How can I help you?"

                          
"I'm looking for something." The man peered behind her, straining to ignore the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bread that invaded his nostrils.
                          
     "Yes, I can see that.  I make cakes, and I specialize in all sorts of bread from different parts of the world.  You could say I'm a bread connoisseur." The woman's smiled quickly faded, as a loud, obnoxious pop sound erupted from above them. "Excuse me one second sir!"  She turned her face and the pleasant smile and closed eyes had instantly been replaced with a scowl. "Torrence! Turn down that crap or I will smash that ipod under my foot."
                          
"Y-yes mother!" A cowardly, scrawny kid poked his head out guiltily from the balcony above the stand.
                          
     "Honestly!" The woman turned back to the man. "Can you believe that absolute trash can pass for music these days? Is there something in the water that has corrupted young people's sense of taste?  What would you like to order?"
                          
"I'm looking for a yellow sheet of paper, have you seen any?" The man ignored the incredulous look on the woman's face.
                          
     "Paper? Sweetie, I've got tons of yellow paper! Wax paper that is! It's what I use to bake my special treats on!  Take a look! What the seashell is this?" The woman pulled the pastry from what seemed to be a paper that had printed letters on it. "What in the...how did this get here? TORRENCE! Get down here now!" The woman held the paper for the bumbling child to see. "What's this and how did it get into my set of wondrous delicacies? Explain yourself, or you'll be looking for another part time job to buy your new bike!"
                          
	The child looked like someone who spent a lot of time by himself. His downcast face, disheveled hair, and a small jacket that's sleeves were too long for his arms seemed to conceal his identity.
                          
"Pull your sleeves up boy! Do you think world class bakers handle their creations in such a rudimentary manner? I found this stuck to one of the croissants I was making."
                          
"It was on the counter when I got here, I thought maybe you were experimenting with a new type of baking style.  I'm really sorry Mom I'll throw it out right away."
                          
"No! Don't! I-I want that...h-how much?" The man stared hungrily at the paper, or was it the croissant he was after?
                          
     "Absolutely not! I have built up a solid reputation in this neighborhood for delivering quality baked goods.  To hand something to someone that was not part of my stock is out of the question."
                          
"Ma'am." The man leaned over the counter, staring fiercely into her eyes. "You don't understand. I NEED that paper."
                          
     "Aren't you going to buy something first? Torrence..." The woman became distracted as she read the words on the paper, "This sounds like something a child would write...Is this a page of your diary Torrence? You took something you wrote on and left it here for me to blindly bake something with?"
                          
     The child cradled his fingers, staring at Mrs. Brasse's stern face. 'I don't think I'm gonna be working here much longer...I really want that bike though.  Maybe if I say the paper is mine, I can sell it to that rugged looking dude.  He looks really desperate to get it too. Yeah...that's what I'll do, it's not like I liked working here much anyway.  Working for your mom sucks. Why can't I just get allowance like other kids?' "That's right mother! It's mine.  Your drab wax paper could have used a little excitement." The kid snatched the paper from her hands.
                          
"That can't be right, I'm Lex, Lexington Greve.  My name is on that paper.  Go ahead and check it."
                          
"I don't give a what about your name or the paper, if you're not going to buy anything, why don't you just leave?"
                          
"I...don't have any money."
                          
"So you like to browse around and never buy anything, you're one of those huh? Couldn't even offer me a smile..."
                          
"What?"
                          
"You're pretty handsome, how about you give me a kiss?"
                          
"There's a severe gap in our appearances..."
                          
"Don't you mean age?" The woman brushed back a portion of her hair with her hand, revealing her semi crinkled skin on her forehead.
                          
"Aehehehe." Lex laughed nervously, half hoping the woman would just drop dead and he wouldn't have to humiliate himself or stain his lips with middle aged lady makeup.
                          
"My girlfriends say I look just like Madonna when she was in that "like a prayer" video.  Look! I still have all the rich brown colour in these curly locks of mine."
                          
Lex ignored the disillusioned, narcissistic rantings of Mrs. Brasse, and kept his eye on the loser kid who was quickly making off with his precious page.
                          
     "Just a minute Torrence!" The lady, without even showing the slightest disruption, grabbed the boy's collar without looking and held him there.  "I didn't say you could go yet...I think you need to give this man what belongs to him.  And as for you..." She continued to stare fiercely at Lex. "You need to give me something fast.  If it's not money, I'll settle for some honey if you know what I mean...tee hee."
                          
"You always make these guys kiss you and they never want anything to do with you!"
                          
"Be quiet or I'll give you something to scream about.  Now," The lady gently placed a hand on Lex's forearm. "Pucker up stud, or you'll never see this paper again!"
                          
Lex closed his eyes, leaned forward and pursed his lips. 'The things I would do just to save my story...'
                          
     "Yeah that's right...I like my men rugged....oooooh...huh...whew boy you smell a little funky." Mrs. Brasse wrinkled her nose in disgust.  "Rugged yes, smelly no.  You just reminded me that I have to take out the trash for tomorrow's pick up.  You know what?" Mrs. Brasse ripped the yellow paper from Torrence's hand and gave it to Lex. "I just had a reality check.  If I let you kiss me, it means I'm letting filthy men have their wicked way with me, I'm a strong woman and I refuse to be under the spell/smell of any man unless I choose to.  I know how you feel about me Lex," The woman raised her hand and softly let her fingers cradle his face. "But I'm just too good for you.  I wish you the best of luck! Maybe one day, when my standards are beneath the dirt and I'm desperate, we can be together again.  Please move on..."
                          
     "..." Lex was stunned, 'At least I didn't have to kiss her.'  He was still in a daze when he crossed the street into a wooded path. 'I wonder why that little brat wanted to keep the paper all of a sudden." He pulled the yellow paper out of his pocket and read the first paragraph.
                          
Pat..pat....pat...something was making a ruckus in the bushes nearby.
                          
     ".....I can't even read in peace for one second without something distracting me...ah I'm still hungry.  I could have had a piece of bread if I catered to that cougar, but then I wouldn't have this part of my story, speaking of which...I think I'm making good progress, I guess now would be a good time to take a break."  As Lex sat down on a rock by the river bank, he closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of nature.  He cupped his hands over the flowing water and splashed it on his face.  He heard the sounds of birds chirping and immediately relaxed as he heard the sound of rustling leaves around him.  "Staying inside all this time writing got me away from the natural world, but seeing it firsthand really makes me appreciate it.  It's sad that this is the only time I've ever stopped to take in the air and walk through a forest."  Whoosh! The sound of rushing water and the smooth, warm rock he stretched out upon made him sleepy.  "I earned this nap...just for a half hour or so...then I'll continue my search..."