Novel & Cerita I Didn't Pray For These Baguettes

I smile at the woman manning the counter as I strode profusely in her direction or rather the direction where the foods are on display. “Good morning ma'am.” The thirty-something woman greeted me as I survey the baked goodness on display. “Morning,” I mumbled in reply. When I finally decided what to get I looked at her with a blinding smile of a starving woman. “Hi, can get a box of croissants and two boxes of bagels, please, and a large chai latte to go.” She nodded her head typing it on the register. “Anything else ma'am?” I shook my head. “That would be all.”

I pushed open the door, and a little bell chimed above me. The woman behind the counter greeted me with a warm smile. “Good morning! What can I get for you?” I looked over the selection, my eyes landing on a flaky croissant that looked too good to pass up. “Just one of those croissants, please,” I said, pointing at it. She wrapped it up in a small paper bag and handed it to me. “Here you go! Have a great day!” I thanked her and paid before stepping back outside. I took a bite as I continued walking, the buttery, flaky layers practically melting in my mouth. It wasn’t much, but it was comforting—a small bit of normalcy in a day that had already felt too overwhelming.

He didn't understand that for people like me, life is a giant jigsaw puzzle where the pieces never quite fit. I walked into a small bread shop on the corner of 5th. It was warm inside, and for a second, the smell of yeast made me want to cry. It felt like home, the home I used to have, not the one with the marble floors. "Looking for help?" I asked the man behind the counter. He looked tired, with flour on his forearms and a kind face. "Always," he said. "Can you shape a baguette?" "I can shape fifty in twenty minutes," I told him.

She didn't say anything, I wasn't exactly expecting a response but I heard a hum from her, that is enough for me, I nodded and went out I was going to buy something and eat on the way, it should sustain me till I come back, hopefully she won't be around, then I can make a decent meal and eat. ___________________________________________ I stared at the certificate in my hands and watched my classmates and their parents take pictures and I can't help but feel a pang in my heart, I want this too you know, I thought and I couldn't help the lone tear that strayed down my cheeks, I wiped it away quickly and turned to leave the depressing atmosphere when I was met with a cold liquid on my face that

The nights were long, and all day the wet wind gnawed; business at the bakery, however, grew only stranger. Early mornings, bleary-eyed delivery boys would find offerings on the stoop—peculiar breads wound with cress and copper coins, single slipper orchid buds tucked into the scoring, loaves that, when sliced, spelled letters of the alphabet, trailing acrid, hopeful promises. As if the city’s hunger had grown a tongue, and now spoke in crumbs and crusts.

“Then you’ll have to get used to it, Mr. Cross.” He held out the paper bag. “You’ve never been in the best health. I figured you probably skipped breakfast.” I did not take it. The bakery’s logo was printed on the bag. It was my favorite bakery back in Sicily. I had mentioned it to Zach countless times before. He had always acted as though it was not important. He had remembered. He just remembered far too late. In a quiet voice, he said, “I remember how much you loved this bakery. I had them fly it in first thing this morning.”

“Got any fresh bread for us?” I forced a smile. “Of course. What can I get for you?” He looked me up and down, a nasty look playing at the corners of his mouth. “How about a smile to start with?” I clenched my teeth, resisting the urge to insult him. “We have rye, sourdough, and baguettes fresh out of the oven.” Rye, huh?” he said, leaning over the counter. “You know what I like about rye? It’s tough. Just like me.”

Sensi and Gio were both in trouble on their own because of her, and who knew whether or not they were still alive? As tears of exasperation began to flow from her eyes onto her cheeks, she remembered Gio's promise to save her and held onto that for strength even though it seemed highly unlikely. Then, surprisingly, the Lord's Prayer began to bang in her head, and she began to say it: “Our Father…" Who art in heaven… Hallowed be thy name…” More tears flowed down her cheeks at this point because she knew she was in dire need of help from somewhere, anywhere. “Thy Kingdom come… Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven… Give us this day our daily bread… And forgive us our trespasses, as we

I laugh and race him down the stairs. 'What did he mean?' my heart questions. 'Nothing important' my brain replies. 'I think he has a thing for us' my gut speaks. 'Focus on why you came here' my brain yells. the other two nod as I reach eating quarter. "Chef, What's special today?" I ask standing at the kitchen entrance. "Cereals and bread, miss" he smiles and prepares a plate for me. "It's a baguette" I say looking at the bread.

I knocked on the demarcation glass and the chauffeur slammed on the brakes, causing our bodies to fly forward. I pushed the door open. “She wants to talk to us.” The woman stopped before me, and stretched out the woven basket in her hands, “I wanted to give you this.” It felt warm in my hands. “Baguettes, I baked them this evening.” “Oh.” Was the only response I could make at this strange, although welcome gesture. She bowed, smiling and turned to run off. I turned back towards the car and nearly bumped into a guard who had appeared behind me. He stretched his hand out, and out of habit I was already extending the basket towards him, but I froze.