The Bakery on Saint Charles Street

One of the most famous bakeries in all of Paris is the bakery on Saint Charles Street, which is only open for one hour a day. During the lunch hour, you can see a long line of people waiting to buy their loaves of bread, toasted croissants, French pastries, and other delightful creations. When the lunch hour is over, the bakery closes, and you have to wait another day if you want to taste their lovely bread.

It’s a curious and wonderful thing when someone bites into a piece of bread from the bakery on Saint Charles Street. A smile forms on their face and happiness begins to fill their entire being. The master baker so enjoys watching these smiles form that lunch hour has become his most favorite time of the day.

You can hear people chatting happily about the bread as they wait in line.

“They use the very best flour in France. It’s made from a special variety of wheat that can only be found in one place - a tiny, secret field that only twelve people know about in the whole world..”

“You know, their eggs come from a very famous farm that only sells to a very exclusive clientele. On this farm, the chickens are allowed to roam freely and are raised on an all-natural diet of organic feed. So these eggs grow much larger - 20% larger than normal eggs - and the yolk is almost the same color as pure gold.”

“Do you know why their butter is so creamy and rich? It's made from milk that comes from a special farm in the mountains, where the cows are raised on fresh apples and listen to Mozart every day!”

“The baker doesn't use ordinary yeast - he prefers special type that you won't find in any store. Not only does it give the bread a unique fluffy texture, it also helps strengthen your body's natural defenses against sickness. In fact, in some cultures, this yeast has been used as a traditional medicine for many generations."

“You know what I heard? The sugar is a special type that comes from a rare and delicate plant. It’s said that this plant naturally produces a very pure form of sugar, the most perfect sugar in the world.”

As customers rave excitedly about the bakery, their words also reach the ingredients themselves. Every morning, these ingredients wait in the kitchen for the master baker to mix up his next batch of bread, and as they wait, they hear the words of praise and wonder from people outside. It has caused many of the ingredients to become quite vain, and they often interrupt each other with their own words of praise for themselves.

Smug and haughty, Mr. Flour likes to remind people of where he comes from.
Proud Lady Yeast feels she is the most unique and special because of her long history.
Brother Butter looks down on the others for not being as cultured as he.
Being bigger than everyone else has made Big Egg very arrogant and rude.

Unlike the others, wise Sister Sugar doesn't join the boasting. She's perfectly aware of how special she is, but she doesn’t make a big deal about it.

And then there's Little Water.

While everyone around him seems to have impressive backgrounds, Little Water doesn’t know anything about where he is from. The only thing he knows is that he came from the faucet, just like the water that the master baker uses for washing his hands and mopping the floor. As the other ingredients boast and brag, it reminds Little Water that he's not special at all, and it makes him feel ashamed of himself.

Finally, one day, as the master baker began making preparations for the day's rolls, croissants, and pastries, Mr. Flour started talking again about how lovely the air was at the wheat field where he originally came from. As usual, Lady Yeast and Big Egg also joined in with their own elaborate boasts. But this time, Little Water felt that he had enough.

“Compared to everyone else, I’m just a nobody. No one says anything nice to say about little old me. So I must not be very important. In fact, I don’t think I even deserve to work with these big shots.”

So Little Water folded his arms and held them tight against his chest. And when the master baker began pouring water into the flour to make the dough, Little Water kept his hands folded to himself instead of holding them out to Mr. Flour as usual.

No matter how hard the master baker tried, he just couldn’t get the flour and water to mix. “What is going on?” the master baker wondered. He tried adding more flour. He tried adding more water. He mixed with one spoon, two spoons, a big spoon, a fork, a power mixer, his fingers, even the rolling pin. Nothing worked.

Mr. Flour grew frustrated and started yelling at Little Water. “What is the matter with you? You need to stop fooling around and get to work! Hold your arms out now so we can mix together!”

Big Egg also started in. “Hey, pipsqueak, listen to the man. I’m next in line. You better get going or I’m going to miss my big entrance! Don’t keep me waiting, you hear?”

It wasn't long before Lady Yeast began to get concerned as well. “Little Water, is something wrong with you? Are you sick? Why don’t you work with Mr. Flour?"

Soon, it seemed that everyone was upset and blaming Little Water for the trouble. Only Sister Sugar remained calm, quietly observing.

Just like that, the morning was over and it was almost lunchtime. But the master baker didn't have any bread to sell, because he wasn't able to make any dough. He couldn't make any dough because he couldn't mix the flour and the water. Was it because he was getting old? The master baker didn't know. But he knew that today, there would be no bread for the customers standing in line at the bakery at Saint Charles Street. And that meant that he wouldn't get to see those lovely smiles forming on all those faces. There would be no smiles today.

Not knowing what else to do, the master baker finally hung up his baker's hat and told the clerk to hang a sign on the door saying "Closed for business". The customers standing outside of the bakery watched this in shock. No one knew what to think.

"What's taking so long?"
"Why isn't the bakery open yet?"
"Where's the baker? Is he sick?"
"Is the bakery going out of business?"
"Will the bakery be open tomorrow?"

Mr. Flour, Lady Yeast, and the others also watched in shock. In their lifetime, they never saw the bakery closed for business during lunch. "I don't believe it. This can't be happening!" wailed Lady Yeast.

Little Water didn't mean for this to happen. When he saw the sad look on the master baker's face, Little Water was filled with regret and sorrow at what he had done. For a moment, he thought maybe he was wrong to be so uncooperative. Maybe he should have just opened his arms as usual and not cause everyone so much trouble.

But then Little Water remembered how arrogant everyone had been, and how none of them ever treated him with any respect or dignity. This made Little Water feel stubborn and bitter, and so he kept his arms crossed and acted like he didn't care at all that the bakery was closing.

"Why should I care?" Little Water said to himself. "No one cares about me."

Just then, he heard the sound of someone approaching. It was Sister Sugar. "Little Water?" she asked gently. "What's wrong? Are you feeling all right?"

Little Water turned to face Sister Sugar. Her eyes were kind, and her voice warm and caring. Suddenly, it was too much for Little Water to bear. He burst into tears. And it all came out in a rush.

“Well, I keep hearing everyone always talking about how great you guys are. You guys are all so special and important. But I'm just water that comes from the kitchen faucet. I'm nothing, a nobody! Did you ever hear anyone say anything about how special the water is? Never! No one ever notices me, no one ever cares!" Little Water looked down, his eyes wet with tears.

"Go on," Sister Sugar said after a moment.

Still looking at the ground, Little Water finally spoke again. "I'm just not worthy to work with you guys."

For a moment, Sister Sugar was silent. Then she started chuckling softly, then a little more loudly, until she was laughing out loud. When she saw the hurt look on Little Water's face, she quickly stopped laughing, but her eyes still twinkled with amusement.

"I'm so sorry, Little Water, but until today, I did not realize that you really had no idea of how important you are. Isn't it obvious?" Little Water shook his head no, and Sister Sugar continued.

"See, Little Water, if Big Egg refuses to work, we can always use normal eggs. If Lady Yeast goes missing, we can find other yeast. But without you, Little Water, there's nothing we can do. Without you, we can't make the dough at all."

This was true, Little Water realized. But it didn't make him feel much better. "Sure, everyone needs me, but there's nothing special about me," he said. "I'm just water from the faucet."

Sister Sugar patted Little Water on the shoulder. "You really don't know how special you are, do you? Well I know an interesting story about water, and once you hear it, you'll never think of water the same way again."

”Really?” Little Water waited to hear more.

Sister Sugar laughed and continued. "It's a known fact that sugar loves water. Whenever any sugar meets any water, we can't help but become a part of you. So we sugar have lots of stories about water like you.

“In the beginning, all water falls from the sky, where the angels live. In some places, water turns to rain; in others, water turns to snow. Wherever you land, you join other water to become a stream or a river. And then you travel. Your journey starts from the highest mountains where Brother Butter comes from. You flow by the farm where the wheat for Mr. Flour grows; you flow by the barn where Big Egg was born; you even flow into the earth where the plants that create me grow.

"When you finish your journey, you flow in to the ocean and meet even more creatures, thousands and thousands of them, of all species and sizes. And when the sun shines, water from all over the world turns to vapor and rises up to the air. You get together with other water vapour to become beautiful white clouds that hang in the sky like lace curtains. And when the times comes to visit us again, again you fall gently to earth as snow or rain, and if we are very lucky, you may draw a beautiful rainbow upon the sky as you fall.”

Little Water listened to this story in wonder. Sister Sugar face glowed at the beauty of this story, and at the end, she cried in a voice strong and clear, “See how wonderful and unique you are Little Water!"

“Is this story true, Sister Sugar?" Little Water asked in amazement. "Am I really so special?”

“Every word, Little Water. None of us can compare to what you have seen, what you have touched, what you have been a part of. But, Little Water, listen to me." Here Sister Sugar sat down next to Little Water and began to speak seriously.

"I want you to understand something very important. No matter how special and unique you are, in the end it doesn't matter who you are or where you are from. Look at what happened today. Every one of us is special and unique in their own way. But if we cannot work together, we cannot become the dough for a wonderful loaf of bread or the batter for a delicious cake. If we stand alone, we remain individual ingredients on a table, our potential unrealized. Alone, how can we bring happiness to those people outside?

"We can't do it on our own, can we, Little Water?" He nodded silently. "But if we work together, if we embrace each other with open arms, that's when our unique qualities can emerge, together and as one. That's how we achieve our true value. That's how we transform ourselves into the most wonderful bread in all of Paris."

“So, Little Water, now do you see?" Sister Sugar offered her hand. "You are the most special of all of us. Would you like to be special by yourself? Or would you like to join us and help us become the most delicious loaf of bread this baker has ever made?"

Sister Sugar's eyes smiled with warmth and encouragement. Little Water thought of all the people standing in line. He saw how happy he could help make them, and he began to understand how the master baker felt when he watched his bread bring smiles to their faces.

It's nice to be recognized, Little Water thought, but it seems that it is far more rewarding to bring happiness to other people.

"I don't mind what people think of me anymore," Little Water realized out loud. "I just want to do my part to bring happiness to those people outside. If we work together, we can still do it!"

Sister Sugar laughed and said ”That’s brilliant! If we move fast, maybe we can make it in time! Let’s go talk to the others.”

Hand in hand, Sister Sugar and Little Water approached the other ingredients. After hearing their story, Mr. Flour began to feel ashamed at his earlier prideful attitude. Coughing loudly a few times, he finally spoke up, but in a quiet and newly humble voice.

"Little Water, you have put me to shame. I... I want to apologize for my behavior all these years. Those beautiful wheat fields... well, never mind about all that. What's important is that we work together. I won't mention them ever again."

Brother Butter thought about his own behavior and felt ashamed as well. "Now I realize that you're the most special and important of all, Little Water. But nothing is more special or important as just working together."

"Hmmph!" Big Egg felt he was the worst of all, but he was a little rusty at making apologies. "Well, Little Water, I supposed it's natural for a big egg to make big mistakes. I have learned my lesson.” Lady Yeast nudged him hard in the side. "My sincerest apologies," Big Egg quickly added.

"Together, now, quick! The baker is back!" Sister Sugar cried. The master baker had returned to put the ingredients away. Little Water held his arms out to Mr. Flour and they finally joined together.

As the baker picked up his mixing bowl, he noticed that the flour had begun to be absorbed into the water. "Hmmm..." he said to himself, and he picked up a mixing spoon and tried mixing the dough. This time, instead of the flour and water remaining separate, they mixed very well together. Excitedly, he continued with the other ingredients. Everything worked as well as before, maybe even better.

The master baker looked outside at the line of people. Some of them had already begun to leave. He rushed outside, putting his baker's hat back on his head.

"Stop! We are open for business!" he commanded. A loud cheer rose from the crowd and the ones who were starting to leave quickly rushed back into line.

"But," the master baker added, "there will be some delay. I thank you for your patience."

Even though it was too late to finish the bread in time for lunch hour, the master baker knew he could have it ready by dinner time. During the rest of the lunch hour, the master baker worked furiously to mix the dough, while his clerk got the names and numbers of every person in line. When the bread was finished, each of them would get a call, and they could come and pick up their freshly baked bread. And the master baker would be able to see those smiles he loved so much.

With great passion, the master baker swore a solemn oath to his customers. "Even though the bread is a little late today, I promise you that it will be the most delicious bread that I have every made." Little Water, Sister Sugar, and the others heard this promise, and they, too, promised to do their very best to help the master baker in his mission.

And you know what? People still say talk about the bread that the bakery on Saint Charles Street baked that evening. They say that of all the bread they ever tried from the bakery on Saint Charles Street, none was ever as sweet, as tasty, as fluffy, or as healthy, as the bread from that day.

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This story is created by Oliver Wang and Richard Hsia.
We are looking for a publisher who can help us to publish this lovely story.
It's good for parents and children. It's also very interesting for adults.
If you have interest to publish it, please leave your message. Thank you.