LSS: Once Upon A Time

Michael thumbed a long crack on the countertop.
“Yeah. It’s kind of crummy this far south, you know.
Nothing bad, like crime wise, but people will try to scam you out of things.”

“I noticed,” Cerise said dryly. She sighed again.

“What’s in Redwood Town that you need to go to so bad for, anyway?”

“I heard that a small business is in trouble
Of going under. I think they need my help,” she said.
Michael quirked his eyebrow at her. She quickly backtracked.
“Look, I know I don’t look like it—” she laughed awkwardly—
“But I was tasked to help people. I don’t really know
why or how I was chosen, but…
It’s what I’m meant to do, I think.
Plus, I really enjoy helping people, so it’s kind of a win-win.”
She shrugged as she gave him a crooked smile.

Michael opened his mouth, then he closed it.
“You know what, actually? You do you.
I don’t get paid enough to ask questions.”
He paused, looking up at the ceiling; he scrunched his nose.
“Do I get paid at all?”
Michael glanced back at her and cleared his throat, blushing red again.

“How-How long have you been working here?” she asked,
Glancing at the clock. Michael shrugged.

“Two weeks, maybe. My uncle owns this station, so
He gave me this job to help out around here.
Hes getting older, and even crankier,” he added under his breath.

“Well, it must be nice getting to help your family,” Cerise said.
She was trying to give him some positivity. “I work around the farm
To help my family, and it’s very rewarding. Plus, it’s even better
Since you’re getting paid for it! Erm, if you’re getting paid, that is.”

“Hmmph, some job this is, though,” Michael said.
“Stuck in the middle of nowhere inside this broken down building;
Barely anyone comes, and it’s always for a short time. I mean,
Look at this place.” He gestured to the empty, worn out building.
“Would you choose to spend your time in this dump?”

Cerise bounced back and forth on her feet.
“Well, no, it’s not my personal preference,” she said slowly,
“But aren’t you doing a wonderful thing for your uncle? You’re
Helping him keep a business afloat just by being here. I can imagine
That it can be super frustrating to manage on your own when
it is so slow around here. But I know that your uncle appreciates it
Deep down.”

Michael picked at the coins, slowly gathering them up into piles again.
He hummed in reply, barely meeting her eyes.
Cerise smiled warmly, and she placed her hand over his own,
Gently squeezing it.
“I know it doesn’t seem like you’re doing anything exciting,
But let me tell you from my own personal experience that
What you are doing matters. No matter how small or boring
It seems. Even what people think is the most insignificant thing
Can make the biggest impact to multiple people—”
She waved her free hand around the station—
“Or just one person: like your uncle.”

Cerise let go of his hand and fished around in her pocket for spare change.
Then she placed the coins on the counter top.
“Here, before I forget: my payment for using your station.”

“Oh no, you don’t have to—”

“I insist, really,” she said.
Michael stammered out a thank you, and quickly, awkwardly,
Swept her coins in with the rest of them.

“Listen, Michael, whether you believe what I say or not,
I really hope you listened to what I just said. And I
Meant it too. Regardless of what you think of this place,
You’re doing something amazing: helping your uncle,
And you’re learning from this experience.”

Michael gave her a shy smile.
“I have learned how to haggle,” he said.

“See! You’re becoming a natural!”

“Thank you, Cerise. You are pretty great at helping people,” Michael said.

Cerise blushed in turn. “Thanks, Michael.”

After a rough night’s travel by coach and hotel,
Cerise walked down the streets of Redwood Town.
Charmed by its nature and people alike,
She discovered the bakery by smell.

Silently giving a cheer of delight, she hurried
Toward the business in danger of losing itself.
She strode into the bakery,
the sweet scent of fresh pastries greeting her like an old friend.
The bells above the door chimed a charming music,
warming Cerise to her core.
But to her surprise, instead of a bustling scene of happy customers,
only a few patrons were inside. They huddled together or alone,
solemnly sipping their coffees and munching their pastries.
By the dessert section near the back, a plump, elderly woman
with silver, long hair sadly stood. She wore an apron with the bakery's logo.
Whatever had happened, Cerise would find out what from her.

"Excuse me," she said softly, as she approached the woman.
"Would you happen to work here, by any chance?"

The woman stirred from her slump, blinked twice.
"Oh, my dear girl, I'm sorry. Were you waiting long?"

Cerise shook her head. "I just arrived, actually.
My name is Cerise Dasher. I could not help,
but I heard that your business was in trouble."

The woman blinked again. A troubling expression came over her face.
"Oh dear, don't tell me we made it into the papers again."
Cerise nodded sympathetically.
She sighed sadly and held her head in her hand.

"If you wouldn't mind me, I believe I can help you," Cerise said.
"Not to brag or anything, but I have a knack for helping people
out of tight spots."

The woman gave her an even look.
"Do you know anything about baking?" she asked.

Cerise shook her head.
"Nope," she said brightly, "but I am a very good listener."

"Well, I'll need all the help I can get," the lady said.
"My name is Ellen Welder. I'm the owner of this bakery."
She studied Cerise closely. Cerise puffed out her chest,
keeping her smile bright even though she felt nervous.
"Hmm, you seem genuine enough. And you are
the only person who attempted to help without
wanting anything in return.
Alright, Cerise, I accept your help. I can really use it."

Cerise beamed, sighing in relief inside.
"Perhaps we should start at the beginning, then," she said."

Ellen nodded. "Let's step inside my office."

Cerise Dasher
At the Bakery in Redwood Town (Finally) Part Two

Inside Ellen's office, a small room with various papers and knicknacks filling the space,
she pulled out a chair and gestured for Cerise to sit down on it.
Then she sat down on a bigger, comfier chair behind her desk.

"Won't the customers miss you?" Cerise asked. Ellen snorted.

"Goodness, no, those lazy slugs can handle a good five minutes away without me," she said.
Cerise frowned. That wasn't a good sign. Still, as she clutched her bag,
she patiently smiled at Ellen, slightly fidgeting in the uncomfortable chair.

"My bakery has been around for many years," Ellen began,
"ever since when I was a young woman. It was in my family for generations.
This has been the pride and joy of our town,
being one of the reasons why our town's tourism was booming for so long.
Years went by. The business boomed, and so did my family. They
started to move across the country and opened up franchises of the family bakery.
I stayed here in Redwood Town, carrying on the family legacy until I ultimately
inherited this business from my father and my mother."

Ellen sighed heavily and leaned back in her chair.
"But as the years go by, times change. People change.
Soon, they started inventing new ways to make life easier:
machines and automations. They brought their inventions to my bakery,
and I, the foolish woman that I was, turned them away.
What good are machines to tradition: hard earned hand labor.
I didn't want automations to ruin my family's precious cakes and pastries.
It felt like cheating. LIke these machines would ruin the taste and the integrity of
my family's honest, hard working way of living.
Foolish, stupid, Ellen" she muttered, shaking her head slowly. "It was me who
ruined this business. My hubris was my downfall."

Feeling very bad for the other woman, Cerise shifted forward
and laid her hand on Ellen's.
"Would you like a few minutes to yourself?" she asked.
Ellen shook her head.
"No, thank you dear," she said. "Let me continue with my story, now."
Cerise nodded and leaned back again.

Ellen cleared her throat.
"Where was I?" she muttered. "Oh yes:
I was so prideful about my own abilities that I didn't see
how much I was actually hurting the bakery and the town.
I didn't think that a machine could help me bake cakes or brew coffee."
She chuckled sadly. "Now, my arthritis is killing me.
I am foolish, indeed."

Cerise felt nothing but sadness and pity for Ellen.
"Please don't talk about yourself like that, Ellen. I understand
that change can be hard, but you weren't foolish for thinking that
something as new as machines could hurt your business. But,
there's no harm in trying something new, right? Bring in those
machines. Learn how to use them. Maybe they'll bring your business back."

"Well, I have nothing to lose anyhow," Ellen said. "Alright, Cerise,
I'll try it. But you're going to help me do it."

Cerise smiled. "Wouldn't want it any other way."

Munching on the delicious pastries Ellen provided her,
Cerise watched the buildings and trees fly by her in a blur.
The wonderful baker had given her an entire day’s worth of pastries and desserts
For Cerise to enjoy whenever her whims fancied her.

Bless her heart, Ellen was such a wonderful person.
Cerise wished her well with all her heart.

She was very happy that she was traveling by train now instead of the coach.
It was much less bumpy and rough, and the train offered her more comfortable seats.
The train was taking her to a quaint little place that offered a gorgeous waterfall to view.
Cerise had always wanted to see this waterfall,
and she was very pleased to finally be able to. She deserved a break, after all
The work she had done to help others. And even though it sounded selfish,
She felt that she needed to treat herself, at least once in a while.

The conductor passed by the compartment she was in, letting her know
That in five minutes, the train ride would be over.
“Soon, we will arrive in Maplewood Grove,” he told her, tipping his hat.
“Will you be off to see the waterfall, then?”

“Oh, yes,” Cerise said, beaming. “I’ve heard it is absolutely magnificent!
I’ve always wanted to see it.”

“Well now, you’ll get your chance, miss,” he said. He bowed his head to her and left.

As the conductor had promised, the train stopped at the station within five minutes.
Cerise stepped out into the autumn sun and breathed in the scent of pumpkins and flowers.
The town stood nestled in and out of the forest,
giving cozy and warm vibes under the golden leaves. She took another deep breath and sighed
As the cool breeze caressed her face and hair. She should have come here sooner.
Not even ten minutes had passed, and she was already feeling so relaxed.

“Well, I suppose I can stay here for a couple of days,” she mused to herself.
“See the waterfall, explore the trails, get a spa…” She sighed happily at the thought of getting a deep massage. And a mud bath! She never had a mud bath before. She was very excited to get one for the first time.
“Hmm, I just need to find a place to stay for the night.”

After chatting with a few locals, they pointed out an inn at the center of town.
“It’s very charming,” they told her. “Perfect for anyone traveling. They serve the best beef roast too.” They had added that last part in a sly whisper.

“Yummy,” Cerise said. “Any good spots I should see during my stay?”

“Anywhere that can be walked, my dear. The town is open to everyone,” the woman said.

“Except the witch’s cottage,” the teenage girl whispered. Her mother elbowed her.

“Sorry, a witch?” Cerise asked, lips quirking up.

“She’s not actually a witch,” said the woman, “but she is—”

“---freaky!”

“Peculiar. She is peculiar.” The woman glared at her daughter, who for the most part, did look abashed. “She can be cranky at times to visitors, so we always advise them to steer clear
When they tour the trails. She lives near the waterfall.
It can be bad for tourists.”

Cerise frowned. “That is rough, isn’t it? But I believe in giving people chances. If she isn’t downright despicable, I think I would like to meet this ‘peculiar witch.’

The other two glanced at each other.

“Your funeral,” said the girl. Her mother elbowed her.

Cerise just laughed.