Blog Post

The Filling is the Best Part

April 19, 2020

I stared in the mirror. As I looked at my reflection I knew I could almost pass as a human, enough that I could own a bakery. It didn’t matter though. The Major Fairies, who looked completely human,  that I hired ran the front; it was easier that way. The public didn’t have to see me and I didn’t have to get stared at by them. 

That is what to expect when you are an Ogre who owns a bakery.

Shutting the door to my apartment I looked at my watch, 5:45 am. I would be late to get some of the pastries for this morning finished. I quickly ran down the stairs to the bakery as I turned on the light, I smiled. My dream had come true and now I had to work hard to keep it.

I began the work of creating masterpieces, that tasted as good as they looked. It was my favorite part of the day. Making beautiful treats that others would enjoy.

Even if I never got to see it, I knew.

“West, are you here?” Andy called out. 

Andy was a Major Fairy with a gift for making the perfect caffeinated beverages. 

“Where I always am!” I replied as I finished the last bit of artwork on the cupcakes for the day.

Every day was the same. Every day I stayed in the back of the bakery making more pastries or anything I hadn’t finished the night before. While Andy and July, the other Major Fairy, worked in the front. Greeting customers, talking and enjoying the conversations of the people eating in the shop. I could go out there, but, well. 

“Is that the timer for the turnovers?” July walked in as I woke up from my daydreaming. July was the all-around go-to that helped keep Andy and me on track. 

“Oh! Right!” I went to move them out of the oven to the cooling rack.

The day went by like any other. I could hear the people enjoying their pastries and then the shop slowly quiet down as the last customer left. Another day just like any of the others.

The next morning I woke up, not by my alarm, but a text at 4:40 am. Too early, at least 20 minutes before I actually had to get up.  

*Hey! Woke up sick. Turns out Fairies should limit their coffee intake.*

This was not the first time Andy had gotten sick from drinking too much coffee. No matter how much he loved it, too much tended to make him ill. Caffeine and Fairies was an interesting combination, especially for the ones who worked anywhere near the beverage.

*Don’t worry. July and I will cover it. See you tomorrow!* I replied and then I closed my eyes to try to get any last bit of rest before the day begun. My phone went off again.

*Oh hey! Don’t forget tomorrow night is movie night with everyone. And they want to make sure you come this time. They miss you dude.*

*Don’t worry. I’ll come this time.* I responded as I realized that now I was too awake to go back to sleep. 

I stayed at the bakery and my apartment for the most part. I didn’t like going out or seeing people more than I had too, including my friends. It would help if I looked like them, but I didn’t so it always felt weird.

I went down to the bakery after getting ready and started prepping baked goods for the day as the early morning went by slowly.

“Hey! Am I the first one here?” July asked walking in and putting her apron on.

“Yes. You are the first one here, but Andy isn’t coming in.”

“Why?” 

“He drank too much coffee.”

“That toadstool! I can’t believe he did that again. He knows how coffee affects us. Did you want anyone to come in and cover for him?”

“No. I thought we could handle it today. Do you think I need to call anyone in?”

“I have to leave early. Remember I have a dentist’s appointment? I can cancel it though if you need me here.”

“No. It will be fine. No one really comes in the afternoon.” I said hoping that would be true for today.

The morning seemed to go by much faster than usual bringing the afternoon sooner than I would have liked.

July walked into the back, hanging up her apron, “I’m leaving. Are you sure you are okay staying alone?”

“Yeah, it’s all good.” 

“Uh-huh. Sure, I believe you. Call if you need anything. Okay?”

“I will! Have fun with your tooth…..fairy!” I quipped.

“Haha, real original West! Like I haven’t heard the tooth fairy joke before. Why is it so weird that magical beings take good care of their teeth?” She said walking out.

I laughed as she left. July was always annoyed with jokes about fairies and teeth as if fairies couldn’t have other interests than in dentistry. 

I finished prepping the dough and began filling the turnovers for the oven. They were probably one of my favorite to make and eat.

I listened for the bell to ring. Checked the front at least 20 times, but no one came.

This was good. I could do this. It was just one afternoon.

As I took the turnovers out of the oven I heard the little bell above the door jingle signaling my doom. I put the turnovers on the rack and stopped to listen to see if I could hear if anyone was actually there.

“Hello?” A woman’s voice called out, “Anyone there?”

I walked out with a tray of cookies to block my face.

“What can I do for you?” I asked as I put the cookies in the case.

“Can I get a coffee, a crescent, and a turnover?” She asked.

“Would you like one of the hot turnovers? I just got a batch out of the oven.”

“Oh yes! I love it when filling is warm and gooey. The filling is actually my favorite part. The pastry is good, but it is the filling that makes it delicious.” She said as I got what she asked for and placed the plate on the counter.

While she looked for cash I thought of what July and Andy did. Friendly conversation and banter. I could do that.

“Do you come here often?” I asked and then regretted every word. 

“Yeah, actually I do. I like to come here, get a snack, and sketch. Are you new?”

“No. I don’t usually work the front, but today it’s just me. I’m the owner and baker.”

“Oh, why not? Oh sorry! I can ask a lot of questions. You should work out here more often, you have a nice smile.”

I looked up as I handed her her change.

“I’m Dana.” She stated as she put the cash in her purse.

“West,” I answered as I tried to think of something funny to say. “Have fun with your strudeling!” 

“What?” She asked as I mentally facepalmed.

“You know, strudel, like doodle?” I explained.

“Oh, nice! That’s adoughable!” She responded with a laugh as I regained some of my confidence.

“Nice pie.” I retorted.

“You know it’s crust one of those things I love doing, but I’m not very good.”

“Well, you know what they say: cake it till you make it. Do you have any more?” 

“As a batter of fact, I do! Do you like baking?” 

“Yeah, although it’s whisky business. And that last one was good.” 

“Thank you! I’m on a cinnamon roll!” She laughed, “Sorry that was horrible.”

“You are actually pretty good at puns.” I chuckled. 

“Thank you, my friends might disagree, but thank you. I do really love your turnovers. They are probably my favorite thing you make. I could eat the filling by itself.”

“Really, by itself?” I asked.

“No, I’m just baking it.” She said with a straight face.

“Now that one was terrible.” I laughed as she broke her straight face and began laughing too. “What filling is your favorite?”

“Peach. I know it isn’t very popular, but it is so good.”

“I’ll make sure we always have peach here for you.”

“You should really hang out here more often. You’re fun to talk to.” She stated, moving to the table. 

For the rest of the day, I stayed in the front talking to her in between customers.  

As the next few months passed, I got more confident. Moving between the front and back without hesitation. Meeting people who really liked me. Who really liked what I created. Including the ever-growing favorite peach turnover. 

“What is going on with you West?” July asked as she helped me restock the case. 

“I don’t know. I thought no one would like me because of how I looked.”

“That’s stupid. No offense, but I could have told you that people like being around you. They don’t see what you see.” 

“They don’t?” 

“No. The insecurities you see, the things you notice, seem a lot bigger because it is you seeing you through your own eyes all the time. You see your insecurities and it is hard to get past them because you worry other people see them, but those people are just as worried about their own. As cliche as it is, just being confident in who you are, thinking about your strengths, and just being you, is all that you need. Don’t compare yourself to others either because comparison kills you. When you compare yourself to someone else you destroy the potential of what you could be by putting in all the effort to be something else. Notice your strengths and own it!” 

“That was really profound for this early in the morning,” I said with a smirk.

The bell rang as July laughed, “Stop being a toadstool, accept the truth, and go help the customer.”

“Andy is out there.”

“Andy!” July called. 

As Andy walked in with a cup of coffee in hand July pushed me toward the front.

“I think its Dana. And she really seems to like you.”

I blushed as I walked out to the front to see July was right. Dana stood in front of the case smiling.

“Good morning! How are doughing?” Dana asked as I chuckled.

July was right in more ways than that. When I stopped thinking of all that I wasn’t and was just myself, I was able to stop comparing myself to others. I started noticing my strengths more and could enjoy being around people without my insecurities getting in the way. 

I could just be me. 

After all, she had taught me that what was on the inside that really mattered. 

“Good. And you are adoughable!”