When I lived on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, it is true that in February the streets were lined with pink blooming cherry trees. It was magical to walk down the street in a world of Pink. This was the inspiration for this story.... I hope you enjoy it!
The Valentine Baker of Pink
Once on an island in the Pacific North West, there was a little
village called Pink. It was a funny name for a town, but it was
named Pink after all the thousands upon thousands of cherry
blossoms that bloomed there early each spring. The townspeople
were very proud of their unique and beautiful town in spring,
and welcomed visitors of all kinds.
In the middle of the town square was a fine little cottage
surrounded by cherry trees. This was the village bakery. For
many it was the heart of the village. And that was because the
Baker baked with joy and love. Everyone said, 'the Baker of Pink
makes the tastiest cakes in the world!' The Baker's specialty and
favorite thing to bake were heart shaped cakes for Valentines
Day - pink of course!
Word spread far and wide that if you ate one of these heart
cakes on Valentine's Day you would feel especially happy and
cared for. Needless to say, visitors came in droves to buy the
Valentine heart cakes, and the Baker worked very hard to bake
enough for all.
Far away from the village of Pink, was a Kingdom. In this Kingdom
was a castle, and there lived a kind King who had a beautiful
daughter, the Princess. The King however, was worried about his
dear daughter, for she was always sad. Nothing the doctors
tried to do helped. Nothing the wise women offered helped. The
Princess was still sadder than sad. And this worried the King, for
he loved his daughter more than anything in the world.
25One day a traveler came to this Kingdom and he heard from the
townspeople about the fate of the lovely Princess. At once the
traveler had an idea, and he went to the gates of the castle.
'Let me in, let me in, I have helpful news for the King,' he called!
The guards brought him to the King, and the traveler told him
of the magic Valentine's Day cakes of Pink, and the Baker who
made them. The King listened and was prepared to take his
daughter to Pink at once!
'But remember dear King,' said the traveler, 'the Baker makes
these heart cakes on one day only! You must arrive on Valentine's
Day for the magic to work.
So the King sent a royal messenger to Pink, to tell the Baker
about his sad Princess, and to please make the best heart cake
for her that he had ever made!
Then the day came for the journey to Pink. The King and his
dear daughter, and many royal guards set off. The journey would
take 3 days.
Back in the village of Pink, the Baker was preparing for their
arrival. He ground the grain to flour, until it was so fine it was
like star dust. He went to his pantry and took out a locked, hand
carved wooden box. Out of his pocket he pulled out a golden key
and opened the box. Inside were his most amazing ingredients
from all over the world!
Inside was a small bottle of vanilla his great-grandfather Baker
had brought home from far, far away in China!
Inside was a stick of cinnamon his grandfather Baker had
brought home from even further away in Madagascar!
Inside was a jar of golden honey his own father Baker had
brought home from a beehive he found in a field of flowers in
Mongolia!
Inside was a spoonful of poppy seed he himself had found and
saved on a high mountain meadow walk in Russia!
The Baker nodded and said out loud, 'now is the time to use these
ingredients. The Princess needs their powers!' And so the Baker
set to work to make Valentine heart cakes fit for a beautiful
Princess.
At last it was Valentine's Day, and the whole village of Pink lined
the street to the center of town where the bakery was. All
around the cottage the cherry trees were already blooming. The
aromas of the blossoms mixed with the sweet smells of the
baking made the whole town excited.
'Here they come, here they come,' the townspeople
cheered! The King and the Princess and all their guards were
coming down the road!
Inside the bakery, the Baker was ready. His kind face looked out
the window, and as the royal visitors got closer he saw the
Princess. He saw that even with a sad face, she was more lovely
than the cherry blossoms, more beautiful than the sunrise, and
his heart opened.
The Baker bowed when they entered his shop. There was one
table set with a pot of warm peppermint tea, a pink teacup, and a
plate with one very special heart cake, all waiting for the
Princess.
She sat down very daintily, and took a sip of tea. Then she took
one bite of the heart cake. Rosy color came to her face. She
took another sip of tea and another bite. Her sad mouth started
to smile. She took another bite, and her eyes started to
twinkle. With her last bite, she sat back and started to giggle,
then laugh! She could not help herself, she jumped up, hugged
her father the King, and ran over to the Baker and kissed him on
the cheek!
The King was beside himself with joy! 'Good Baker,' the King said
grandly, 'you shall marry the Princess and have half my kingdom!!'
After the royal wedding, the Baker and the Princess chose to live
in Pink, in the rooms above the bakery. The Baker taught his wife
how to make heart cakes, and together they lived well, worked
happily in the bakery, and never again was the Princess sad.
***********************