The Birthday Cake Thief

Shawn gazed down at the children, who were all looking up at him expectedly, with excitement on their faces and pure innocence in their sparkling eyes.

Entertaining the children wasn’t usually his job, but tonight, on the night of their Harvest festival, Shawn had been assigned the task of storyteller. Shawn wrapped his cloak tighter around himself as a harsh fall wind brushed them by.

He could not disappoint them. Not after he promised them a better tale than all the ones they had heard before, especially after all the repetitive and boring ones they had been told recently. They needed a story to help brace themselves for the cold winter ahead.

Thankfully, Shawn had a story to tell. It is a true story at that.

“Are you children aware that I am the head baker for the King?”

All the children shook their heads. Some even raised their hands to ask questions but Shawn put up his hand, reminding them to save their questions to the end.

“Well, I am. I make all the breads and cakes that the King desires, each one more beautiful than the last. One day, not long ago, it was the King’s birthday…”

**

Shawn held his breath as he meticulously sprinkled the last bit of colored sugar decoration onto the top of the cake. Then he took a step back and after a good long look at his latest creation, Shawn nodded and smiled in satisfaction.

The cake was covered with a pure white frosting that took him years to master. Along the edges of the round cake, were small white clouds that were also made of the same white frosting. And in the middle of the top of the cake, were small confectioneries, all smaller than his fingernail, and all in different colors. Shawn made them himself.

Yes, this was his best creation yet. This was a cake fit for the birthday of a King.

Shawn looked around the kitchen and saw that he was alone, which was expected. He had wanted space and quiet to work on the King’s cake, and most of the cooks and bakers were off delivering the other dishes for the King’s feast.

Shawn had a little time before he had to deliver his cake. He might as well clean up so he wouldn’t have to worry about it after the feast. The head baker then turned around and grabbed some of the dirty bowls, measuring cups, and spoons.

He heard nails scrape across the kitchen floor.

Shawn’s back immediately stiffened before he became completely still. His heart crept up to his throat when the scratching noise continued, sounding closer and louder with each second. Shawn wanted to plug his ears to protect himself from the horrible sound but he was too afraid to move.

Because no human could make that sound.

Then the sound stopped.

Only to continue a second later, this time accompanied by a loud scraping noise.

Shawn, finally finding his courage, turned around and when he did, the bowls, spoons, and measuring cups slipped from his hands and landed on the floor with a bang.

It was a rat. It was easily the size of his shoe with gray fur so dirty and mangy that Shawn was afraid that he would get sick if he so much as touched it.

And it was dragging the plate with the cake along with it on the counter.

“No!” Shawn cried with horror as he looked around for a weapon, anything, to stop the rat thief. He...He had to save the King’s birthday cake, his masterpiece!

Then his eyes landed on the bowl that had contained the white frosting. There was still a good amount of it left.

“Take this instead!” Shawn exclaimed as he grabbed the bowl and threw it at the rat. The frosting bowl struck the rat right on the face, causing the vermin to tumble backwards, letting go of the cake as it did so.

Shawn immediately went to the cake and after a quick scan, was greatly relieved to see that it had been untouched. It was safe.

The rat then got onto its four feet and Shawn knew that it was glaring at him.

Shawn would have to perform a more thorough check of the cake later. Right now…

The head baker’s eyes darted between the rat and the knife rack on the opposite side of the kitchen.

He had to clean the kitchen.

**

“Shawn, what are you wearing?” Shawn, startled, snapped his head up to see the man who lived in the same quarters as him, Brian, behind the kids looking quite confused.

“I mean, this is the Harvest festival, not the Renaissance fair…”

“Ssh!” shushed one of the children before Shawn could defend himself. “He was getting to the good part!”

“Yeah!” cried another child. “He was just about to kill the rat who tried to steal the King’s birthday cake!”

“Rat...birthday cake...oh my gosh. How many times do I have to say that I thought it was up for grabs? I didn’t even know it was your birthday! I kept finding frosting in my hair hours after that...and I had a nightmare about you hitting me with that broom.”

“As you deserved! You should’ve used your common sense when you saw my masterpiece!” Shawn cried the ire he gained that fateful day coming back to him in full force.

“Masterpiece? It was a Funfetti cupcake!”