Just Like New

Maggie's business, “Pan Revival,” had become a local sensation.

Customers flocked to her with their old, battered baking sheets and muffin tins, hoping for a miracle. Maggie, bless her, delivered on her incredible promise, "just like new!"

Some customers were just eco-conscious, unwilling to send yet more items to landfill. Others were deeply sentimental, wanting to hang on to cookware from their mothers or grandparents.

Each morning, Maggie would unlock the door to her shop, making sure the counter was well-stocked with Bicarbonate of soda (her "secret, miracle ingredient"). She’d greet her customers with a warm, sincere smile.

They’d hand over their tarnished, grubby-looking, bits-burnt-on pans, and she’d assure them that in a few days, they’d be as good as new.

What her customers didn’t know was this: instead of painstakingly restoring each one, she replaced them with brand new ones. She had a supplier who provided her with high-quality, identical replacements at a fraction of the cost.

She’d always dreamed of being the kind of clever person who could upcycle and restore old, worn out furniture. Kitchenware had seemed like a good place to start, requiring less storage space. After several failed attempts at actually refurbishing the pans, she realized it was much easier (and more efficient, at least from her point of view, if not for the planet as a whole) to just replace them.

"This belonged to my grandmother,” one woman said, in a voice tinged with nostalgia. “I used to bake with her every Sunday.”

Maggie tooke the tin with an air of tenderness,, even reverence. “I’ll take good care of it,” she promised solemnly. Once the customer was gone, she found a suitable replacement from her stock, and then, quite unceremoniously, threw the beloved tin in the bin.

Two days later, the customer returned, eyes alight at the sight of the precious memory restored. Perhaps this (actually brand spanking new) muffin tin was all they had left of their dear old Gran. “It’s perfect,” she said, tears welling up. “Just like I remember.”

Maggie smiled. “I’m so glad you're pleased with the result."

As the latest satisfied customer left, Maggie thought about the boxes of Betty Crocker she'd got in the pantry, and considered opening a bakery.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Author's Note:

Word count: 366

(NB. This excludes the title, subtitle, and authors note.)

Submitted on Tuesday 3rd September at 23:58 (eeeeek!)

A Year of Stories: I'm writing (and submitting, here) a story every day this year. This one continues my 247 day streak since 1st January.

Please consider lending your support to the other creators on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They're putting out excellent content every day!

Rachel Deeming

Gerard DiLeo

Edit: I had to submit via my phone yesterday, and the formatting and links haven't worked. Plus there were a fair few typos because I was scrambling to submit before midnight! Thank you so much to everyone who read it and left helpful comments, despite its raw state! Normal services now resume!

Thank you

Especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you very much indeed!

If you enjoyed this one, the very best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another!

My new Dollar Challenge! Please give it a look:

Here's a recent Top Story of mine:

A recent Runner Up placement for one of my Wanky Poems:

And now for something completely different:

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Thank you again!