( I ADDED ANOTHER CHAPTER AND COMBINED SOME CHAPTERS )
Once Upon a cake
Chapter 1
We all love
the songs that our mothers would sing to us as children. My favorite has always
been the Muffin Man. “Oh do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin
man? Oh do you know the muffin man who lives down Drury Lane?” Well I know the
muffin man; he is a short chubby man of five feet, brown eyes, curly brown hair
that is almost gone because of age, and a mustache that curls on the ends. His
attire is nothing like a king, a worn chef coat and a chef hat that has patches
and stains, but he wears his hat like a crown. He says he is rich but really
has no money. He always is smiling that jolly old man! I am very close to the
muffin man. I see him every day baking
in his hot bakery humming a familiar tune. His real name is Millen Mitali,
which means kind friend. This man is my
father.
You did not
know that the Muffin Man in the stories had a daughter did you! My name is
Juliana Mitali, but people just call me Julie. I am very skinny, light auburn
hair like my mother, and smoky gray eyes as if something is burning in the oven
as my papa says. I am very strange compared to the rest of my family simply
because well… I like to bake cakes! The thing is we Italians do not generally
bake cakes, so some of my aunts disapprove for my interest and passion of
baking cakes. I cannot help it though I love the science, taste, and creativity
of cakes.
Family is
always first; and my family is huge! My favorite uncle is Tobin. Tobin is tall
dark hair and is in his late twenties. He also works for the prince as his
manservant they are practically best friends. Well also, there is Uncle Angelo,
Uncle Louie, and good old Uncle Mario.
My Aunts, Agatha, Briana, and Camille. I will not even try to remember all
twenty-six of my cousin’s names. Grandmamma is eighty-six years old. Yet, she
can still dance with my uncles! She is so wise and full of life for a woman her
age. I think it is because she loves living! My grandmother Louisiette is like a mother to
me because my mother passed away when I was born. My mother’s name was Elena Mitali.
Don’t you think her name is beautiful. My father would tell me stories of her
when I was a child about the silliest of things. He tells me how she would sometimes sneak some
batter out of the bowl she would giggle as if she a purposefully sinned. As he
playfully batted at her fingers away with a spoon she would say, “Well you
shouldn’t tempt me with that delicious batter!”
I love my mother and I feel like I know her even though we never really
met.
My father
has become famous for his sweet pastries all over the world. No! I am not going
to give you any of the recipes! Our recipes have been in the family for
centuries. We have everything to scrumptious cannoli, creamy lobster tails,
crunchy sfogliatelle, sweet pandor! I can see your mouth watering! Well where
did the name the muffin man come from then? Well you know how I am somewhat
strange in the way that I like to bake cakes, well the same goes for my father
he is unique because he makes muffins! He is practically obsessed with Muffins!
Cinnamon, apple, peach, blueberry, vanilla, even strangely enough garlic
muffins! The Americanos have written a song about my papa were everyone is asking
do you know the muffin man. This is because everyone knows the muffin man’s
food but not the muffin man himself.
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Waking up
at 6:00 in the morning is not my favorite way to begin a day. But then again it
is how I begin every day! When I am getting ready in front of the mirror, I
cannot help but think I could be a very beautiful lady. I smell the yummy aroma
coming from our kitchen down stairs. I have trained my nose to recognize
smells, today for breakfast we are having… ahhh a sweet cornetto smothered with
a juniper berry jam and on the side a warm hot chocolate. Papa always cooks breakfast, I fix lunch, and
we both make dinner. Cooking has always been a fun activity that my Papa and me
share together. Many chores are to be done, and to get them all done before the
heat of the day is… literally impossible, but I try anyway. Here is my list,
walk all the way to the market and collect the ingredients such as sugar,
berries, salt, cream, eggs, onions, etc. These ingredients are for the bakery
and change all the time depending on what we need. Then I hitch a ride with Mr. Agostino who
drives me all the way up to the mill on his donkey cart. His donkey’s name is Drusilla.
Agostino loves his Drusilla he will talk to her like this when they are going
over a rough spot down the lane, “Drusilla, do you remember why I chose this
name for you? I named you Drusilla because your name means strong, you can be
strong my lovely Drusilla.”
At the
mill, I have to bargain with Stubborn Mrs. Carlotta. I don’t get it she always
raises the price of flower and then when we are done bickering she lowers the
price to the day before. Our argument goes something like this, “Young miss!
You will only receive one pound of flower for 7699 Lira!” “Mrs. Carlotta you
have no reason to raise your price! I will just have to take my business
elsewhere!” “Wait! You are a right I’ll give you the four pounds of flower like
every other day.”
When I get home, I have to do my least
favorite chore, starting the fire in the Wood burning Oven. We were the first
in all of Drury to get an Oven! Even before the castle! I say this with great
pride! Everyone thought that my Papa was crazy ordering this strange invention
from France! Papa would answer back confidently, “You can never get anywhere in
life without taking risks!” Because of that risk, our production is up by fifty
percent! The reason I do not at all like building the fire because; first, this
oven is not small! It is six feet by six feet! Second, I need to chop the wood.
Backbreaking agony! Third, by the time you are done lighting the fire you are
sweaty, sore, and very tired.
Life is pretty much the same
in my little town called Drury. The lanes curve and twist, shops and houses
line both sides of the road, and you can see our majestic castle on top of the
hill surrounded by our sparkling lake! Old folk lord surrounds the lake with
myth and legend. However, the real magic comes from my papa’s bakeshop down
Drury Lane.
Chapter 2
“Here ye hear ye!” says the
town herald. In a small town with no
news, the herald is always welcomed for the weekly gossip. “Listen one and all!
Today I have a royal proclamation! The majestic majesty the queen Lilian
Lawrence passed away on the 16th of August! There shall be a day of
mourning for the entire kingdom on the day August 17th! No one shall
bake! No one may work! No one is allowed to be merry! It will be a day of
remembering our great queen!”
“Oh my!” “How sad!” says
Mrs. Carlotta chattering with some of the nosiest women in town! “Well she was very old!” says the short squat
one. “She was 89 years old!” “I heard from the court jester the skinny one not
the fat one that she had false teeth and a wig!” I frankly don’t know why she
is talking for she has two brown hairy warts on the tip of her nose! “NO! it’s
not possible!” “I always knew that hair was fake!” says the high-pitched voice
one with the arrogant sneer. I have
always been known for sticking my nose in the wrong conversation. “Mrs.
Carlotta don’t you have any respect for the dead especially the queen!” “I mean
who made the men rebuild your mill after ruffians burned it down!” “Surely your
jealousy will not interfere with the kindness that she had shown you in the
past!” “Why I say!” Hasn’t anyone taught you to respect the elderly! Why I
should!... “She is right you know what gives you the right to judge those who
you do not know!” turning around I see a young man will hazel eyes strong
stature almost like a prince cowering over the women in the square. “We were
just chatting what gives you the right to nose into somebody else’s business!
What is your name?” I am uh… Fredrick I am here to find a man named Tobin
Mitali, perhaps you know him? “I know him he is my uncle. May I ask how you
know him?” I can’t help be a little suspicious.” “Well you must be Julie!” He proclaimed
as he gives me a warm Italian hug. I have never been a hugger so it was somewhat
awkward. “He has told me so much about you! Well he is a friend of mine who
works in the palace with me. I work in the stables. Can you tell me where to
find him! I must speak to him!” “Well.. if you will just come this way he is in
the bakery with my father I believe.”
Fredrick is so strange as he
walks almost as if he was a horse corralled is the smallest pen possible for
weeks on end and just was released. “So Tobin tells me you love to bake
something called cakes am I right? A
yes. Well what about it, tell me more! I
currently created a new recipe if you must know!” “Yes I must know. So what
about this new recipe Tobin tells me you will talk on end about them tell me
more? He is right I am a sucker for someone who is willing to listen with
curious ears. So I told him everything I know about the science of cakes all
the way up to why Mrs. Adalberto’s cakes always turn out wrong.
“Uncle Tobin!
Tobin where are you!” Here follow me, he is probably in the oven room. Fredrick
is so curious. He has to touch everything as we walks through the bakery. “What
do you call this strange contraption?” “Oh that is a whisk, you use it to stir
a liquids like syrups and sauces. I tell him in great detail what goes on in
the bakery. “What do you keep in this?,” he asks. He is holding a small wooden
box with the initials L , E. He almost seems as though he has seen it before. I know E stands for my mom’s name but I still
have never been able to find out what L stands for. The box has intricate
flower designs all over it, and is made out of a beautiful plain olive wood.
“That was my mother’s recipe box.” I say carefully taking the recipe box out of
his hands and putting it back on the shelf. “Julie, I believe I heard you
calling what do you need…” What are you doing here Ry..” Fredrick interrupts
“Hi Tobin. I got my day off from the stables and just wanted to come here and
talk with you about something.” Tobin seams confused. We will just go outside a
minute and talk about it then, Julie I believe your father needs you in the
back. “Ok. It was nice to meet you Fredrick.” “The pleasure was all mine, good
by Julie.”
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“What are
you doing here Prince Ryan Lawrence!” Tobin says in great frustration. “It
isn’t safe!” “Hey Hey slow down. I was careful.” “I needed to talk to you, and
you weren’t coming till two days from now I couldn’t wait that long..” “Hmm, ok what is it, you seam confused?” Well
as you have probably heard my Grandmother passed away. Yes I’m so sorry it is a
great loss. Well um, anyway. The reason I had to come and talk to you is.. In
her will it says I may not be crowned king unless. I, I , I have to get married
Tobin! Not only that, the girl I marry has to be able to make Queen Lillian
Lawrence’s chocolate cake. The cake she would make for every special occasion. Tobin’s
face says everything. Pure shock! “I mean did she not trust me to take care of
Drury! Why did she do this to me! I love her and I will do as she wishes but..
Tobin doesn’t say anything for a minute as if trying to soak in all of this
information. He finally says, “She must have had a reason. She was so wise, and
I am positive she trusted you to inherit her kingdom; I mean no one loves this
Kingdom more than you!” “Yes, but I am not sure I am ready to get married?”
“Well you’re going to have to be, I’ll go back to the castle with you we will
send a proclamation to all the princesses saying if they can make your
grandmothers cake they get to marry you.” He he he “What’s so funny? “Well
usually it is the prince trying to win the fair maidens hand, I guess its
backwards in this case.” “Oh come on man
stop heckling me! Let’s go!”
( Italian greyhound ) - Simon or Sim
( fuzzy tabby cat ) - Coco ( this used to be Aunt 3's name )