The Great Sleepy-Time Bakery

The Midnight Mission

Barnaby the Blue Bear had a very rumbly tummy. It was past his bedtime, but he had a dream about a honey-drizzled cupcake that was simply too loud to ignore. He crept out of his cave, only to find Pip the Pink Rabbit already outside, wearing a chef’s hat that kept falling over her eyes.

“Barnaby!” Pip whispered-yelled. “I’ve decided. We are opening a bakery. Right now. In the dark.”

The Ingredients

Since the grocery store was closed (and also didn’t exist in the forest), they had to get creative.

Daisy the Deer joined them, acting as the “delivery truck” because she was the only one who could carry the heavy bags of “flour” (which was actually just very finely ground moon-dust and powdered sugar they’d found in a hollow log).

“I’ll help!” trumpeted Tiny the Elephant, appearing from behind a giant oak tree. “I can be the stand-mixer!”

The “Mixing” Disaster

Tiny stuck his trunk into a giant hollowed-out pumpkin they were using as a bowl. He started to swirl the moon-dust and honey together. But Tiny had a very ticklish trunk.

“I think… I’m going to… ACHOO!”

The sneeze was so powerful it sent a cloud of pink glitter and honey flying into the air.

• Barnaby was suddenly covered in so much glitter he looked like a disco ball.
• Pip got stuck to a tree branch because of the flying honey.
• Daisy had moon-dust on her nose that made her look like she had a glowing mustache.

The Secret Chef

Just then, Oliver the Owl swooped down. “What in the feathers is going on? It’s midnight!”

“We’re making cupcakes!” Pip squeaked, wiggling her stuck feet.

Oliver looked at the mess — the glittery bear, the sticky rabbit, and the sneezing elephant. “You haven’t even turned on the oven! Mostly because you don’t have one.”

He showed them how to tuck the “cupcakes” (which were actually just balls of oats, honey, and berries) into cool, damp leaves to set.

The Cozy Ending

By the time the treats were ready, the moon was high and everyone’s eyes were getting heavy. Instead of a grand opening, the “bakery” became a “picnic.”

Barnaby shared a honey-oat ball with Pip. Tiny used his trunk to tuck a leaf-blanket around Daisy. They weren’t master bakers, but they were very good at snacking.

“Best… bakery… ever,” Barnaby mumbled, his blue fur still sparkling with glitter.

And right there, under the stars, the baker and the chef fell fast asleep, dreaming of tomorrow’s breakfast.