How Stories Unfold

Round 7: Blueberry Muffin

The sun gave Bryork's old cobblestone streets a golden glow after refreshing rain had fallen.

Rainbows filled the puddles as Maddie's small red boots splashed in them.

As her feet hit the ground, the hood of her yellow rain coat pushed her frizzy hair in her face. She pushed back her hair and hood and then jumped into the next puddle to the delight of both her fathers.

Ardans laid his head on Ormendec's shoulder and Ormendec wrapped his arm around his husband's waist.

-

The smell of freshly baked sweets made Maddie look up.

She rushed to the bakery's shop window and pressed her face against it as she inhaled the sweet scent of sugar.

She peeled her face off the shop window and, with her hands still clinging onto the window, looked at her fathers. "Can I have some?"

Ardans and Ormendec strolled towards the window and looked at all the displayed desserts.

Ormendec smiled. "Of course, sweetheart, but only one. Which one do you want?"

Maddie thought deeply. "I want the purple unicorn."

Ardans raised an eyebrow as he read the description. "A blueberry muffin?"

Maddie scrunched her nose. "I don't like blueberry muffins."

"Then what about another one?"

-

Munching a chocolate chip monkey muffin, Maddie hopped out off the bakery, closely followed by Ardans with a strawberry tart and Ormendec with a big raisin cookie.

Ardans looked at Ormendec. "The zygone are nearing, my love. I think it might be time for the talk."

Ormendec nodded. "Maddie, sweetheart, let's eat our muffin on that bench."

"Okay." Maddie put the muffin in her mouth and climbed the bench.

Her short legs waved back and forth as she took the muffin out her mouth and laid it on her lap. She chewed on the big piece in her mouth.

Ormendec and Ardans joined her on the bench.

Ardans took a deep breath. "You've heard about those weird creatures on the news, right princess? Those zygone?"

"Zy-on," Maddie echoed and nodded. "I know them."

"Well, we don't know what will happen when they get here," Ardans said. "We don't even know if they'd ever get here, but if they'd do and you hear either me or daddy say blueberry muffin, then you have to run to our secret hideout behind the shop and stay there until we come find you, okay?"

Maddie looked at Ardans. "I don't like blueberry muffins."

"I know that, princess," he said. "I don't like them either and neither does daddy, so if we ever say blueberry muffin it means that we don't like the situation and you should run to our safe place and hide there. Me and daddy will then come find you as soon as we can."

Maddie looked doubtfully at Ardans and Ormendec. "Okay..."

Ardans held out his pinky. "Do you pinky promise, princess?"

Maddie nodded and shook his pinky. "Princess pinky promise."

Ormendec held out his pinky too which she shook. "Sweetheart pinky promise."

***

Two years have passed since that day. The zygone slowly took over the country and soon even its capital succumbed.