A Cake Conundrum

“This will not do!” cried Ayla.

Ayla awoke early to create the perfect cake for her mother’s one hundredth birthday.

“Why? Why did the oven have to break today, of all days?” said Ayla.

“Is there a problem, dear?” asked her mother from the next room.

“No, Mama, nothing I can’t handle. I will need to go out for a bit,” replied the girl.

Ayla picked up the bowl of cake batter and headed out to see Franny the Hedgewitch.

“Hello, is anyone home?” shouted Ayla when she reached Franny’s front door.

“Who wants to know?” came the reply.

“It is I, Ayla Willowthorn. I need the hedgewitch to help me with my cake batter,” answered Ayla.

The cottage’s door flew open, and Izba the magical cat leaped out to greet the woman.

“Did you say cake batter?” the cat said.

“Yes, I did, and if you help me turn it into a cake, I’ll let you lick the bowl,” Ayla replied.

“Consider it done. Follow me, please,” the cat instructed.

Within minutes, Izba had a roaring fire under the oven, and Ayla had floured a cake tin.

“Now comes the tricky part, we mustn’t get any batter on the edges, or the cake will stick to the tin,” said Ayla.

“I shall endeavor to ensure not a drop touches the edge,” said Izba as he stuck his paw under the bowl to catch the drips.

With the cake tin in the oven, the two cleaned up before having tea.

“I must congratulate you, Izba, not a single drop touched the tin’s edge,” said Ayla.

“Thank you. I’ve sharpened my paw movements chasing mice in this old dump,” came the cat’s reply.

Ayla checked the cake’s progress and, after a bit, pronounced it perfect. “Now, let’s get it out to cool,” the girl said.

“Thank Franny for me. I must get this home before my mother worries about my absence,” said Ayla, who headed back to her kitchen.

“Is that you, child?” asked her mother as Ayla removed the cake from its tin.

“Yes, Mama, I’ll be in for tea in a moment,” said Ayla.

After dripping honey over the cake, Ayla carried it into the sitting room as she sang happy birthday.

“My, that was a wonderful cake, I hope I don’t need to live another hundred years before I get another,” said Ayla’s mother.

“I’m sure I can work something out now that I have a magic helper to make it,” said the girl to her mother.

“Magic?” asked the woman.

“Let’s say that is my little secret,” said Ayla with a wry smile.

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