Basket of Cupcakes
Briar Blane

They walked on, past trees unknown to them, heavy with fruits that did not exist in their world. Birds’ sang loud and clear and every so often they had to make sure they don’t step into large puddles that dotted the colourful land. The air there seemed crisp and clean, scented with sweet fragrances.

Even Kiki had forgotten to sulk for some time as she was too busy taking in the splendour that surrounded them. Finally, they reached a wooden gate, too low for them to notice at first. It sparkled as though it were dusted in gold. The sign read “Briar Blane – Please enter with the right foot.” How odd.

They could have easily just stepped over and was about too when Yori yelled at them to stop. He unlatched the gate and made every step thru its tiny entrance with their right foot. Soon it became clear why they could not cross over. As each person stepped thru, they seemed to step thru a portal. They were no longer in the bright colourful land they first arrived in. Now it was night. Stone streets were lit with lanterns and closely packed wooden cabins crowned the lanes.

It was a busy, noisy place, that made everyone hungry with the smells of baking wafting thru the air. Buttery scones and freshly baked bread. Time was definitely not a linear thing here, thought Ben. Ethan, being a teen, could not control the growls his tummy made. Soon enough the noise of his rumbling tummy alerted the hunger police. Truly and honestly, Briar Blane’s law enforcement had a division called “The Hunger Police.” Tiny bald-headed men with large beards, each hold a glow worm that flashed and made random noises, surrounded Ethan.

“Hoy there. You’re new to these parts. But I have seen a lady just like you before.

She was an angel to these parts.

Yes, she was. And for her kind we are indebted. I hear your tummy make some monster growls?”

Ethan stood a bit shell shocked at being called a lady and turned a dark pink when Ben and Geordie started to chuckle.

“Ummm, I’m not a girl, I’m a boy!” He retaliated.

“Course you’s a lady, men have beards and no here like this,” the little man said rubbing his head and showing off his beard. “And ladies have no beards and hair! From here, you lot are ladies. And it is my job to ensure you are well fed.”

At that, he turned to Ben, “Madam, please follow me.” Bens smile soon turned upside down and it was Ethan’s turn to chuckle.

Geordie enjoyed a good laugh again until Ben asked him where his beard was.

It was all of a step and they had reached their destination.

“Oy, Thimble.

Come here lady, there are some new giant girlies here that require your feeding. I’m pretty sure they too would love bread pudding.”

Bread pudding!

Kiki remembered it was her mums favourite. And no one could make it as she could. The other person they spoke about make be her mum! Soon a group of little fat ladies carried out a large bread pudding. And when Kiki ate her first bite, she knew this was her mums’ recipe.

“I’m sorry, but could you tell me who baked this?” She asked hopefully.

Thimble responded that it was here. A recipe was given to her by the previous giant that visited. In fact, their town was never this modern. The giant name Ella helped them with recipes and built little houses. She was their leader.

Ben in the meantime couldn’t help but remember Ella while eating the pudding. All this time he did not believe that Kiki was here to save their mother. He still somewhat believed he was hallucinating. But when Thimble used Ella’s name, it started to dawn on him that he may not be blissfully asleep in a fabulous dream and this may, in fact, be real. But he kept that thought to himself because adults often needed mountains of proof before believing anything. And if being transported into another dimension made no sense to them, their brains came up with grand theories of a psychotic breakdown, hallucinations, so on and so forth.

“Do you know where she is now?” Kiki asked overflowing with hope.

“Oh dear, she was snatched from us she was. By the saswatch family for her talents. We tried so hard to get our giant back but to get to them, there are six totems to get. Off which, we cannot retrieve any because we’re that tiny.” Thimble responded.

Kiki’s face dropped and Yori flew up behind her.

“Thimble, that there giant is this here hooman’s mother. She’s here to save her. Where is Flimp? Still tinkering in his workshop is he?”

“Oh no Yori, Flimp and Ella were partners in the time she was here. When she was snatched from us, and we couldn’t save her, he felt he let her down and exiled himself to the woods to live alone in his sadness. We have tried many times to get him but he won’t listen.” Thimble said, whipping her buttery hands on her apron as she quickly ordered the bean drink for everyone. “We never knew beans tasted so good in a drink. Ella made some amazing things from our forests. You will enjoy this.”

Soon out of their wooden cabin came out rows mugs that steamed and filled the air with the aroma of strong, decadent coffee. Of course, the kids were not allowed to drink coffee but Ben was in no mood to lay down any rules for them in this place. If it was an elaborate hallucination, they could drink gin for all he cared.

The kids first stared at the adults thinking they were going to be told not to drink it.

But after a few moments of nothing, they excitedly drank up. There was a point in which even Claire and Kiki got along until Kiki asked Claire “Why don’t you like me? Why do you always make fun of me?”

Claire was taken aback but the directedness of this question.

“Because you’re weird”, she said chuckling. And that was the end of a brief moment of them ever becoming friends.

Ethan heard the whole thing and promised to have a chat with Claire as soon as he could. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

For Kiki, the insults seemed that much more intense now that Claire had a bunch of cupcakes to giggle along with her.

Thimble had a brief conversation with one of the older, plump, red-faced cooks and then came back, now with boots and a hat, and told them she was given time off to take them to Flimp. Victoria seemed a bit worn out after the meal but she was always up to explore this amazing place and jumped up in excitement. “Oh, goodie!”

She said, clapping her hands together.

Kiki rolled her eyes and fantasized about Victoria being snatched up by the saswatch instead. Or even trading her in for her mother.

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