Jake Dasher vs. Amy Snickerdoodle for Merryville’s Top Baker Award

1

As I lounge by the toasty open fire in my living room and sip on my favorite holiday nog, I disappointingly stare up at the bare mantle above the heart warming flames in my fireplace; the empty mantle that has meant to be the place I would proudly display the “Merryville’s Top Baker Award” for the last four years now. That place I have planned to showcase the award that I so rightfully deserve but there has been one little ol’ problem for the last four years… Amy Snickerdoodle. To put it simply, my running competition and the winner of the “Merryville Annual Holiday Festival” baking competition for the last four years. Every year I dust and polish the sturdy surface upon my fireplace mantle to prepare it for the displaying of the golden cookie designed Top Baker Award; and each year, Amy Snickerdoodle swipes the award right out from under me. This year is mine, though, oh yes. It is I who will stand upon that grand stage in front of Merryville’s five thousand people this year and gratefully accept the Top Baker Award, making sure that Amy is front and center to watch me claim my victory. 

The mere thought of Amy Snickerdoodle sends chills down my back and makes me cringe. Why, oh why, do people eat up her gingerbread cookies as if they’re luxuries from a far away planet? My cookies are just as luxurious, in fact, twice, no thrice, the quality of cookie as Amy’s. “It must be her delicately charming beauty,” I unconsciously mumble before coming wide eyed and turning quickly to both my left and my right, no matter the fact I live as a lonely bachelor, to make sure nobody heard those untruthful claims come from my mouth. Imagine if someone should hear me spewing such nonsense. Also, so what if I keep a wallet size photo of Amy in my wallet’s window? It’s only so I may look upon her astonishing features once in a while and be reminded of who I must crush in the annual holiday festival baking competition. Nothing more than such and besides, nobody has to know of such things regardless. Downing the last sip of eggnog, my eyes glance up at the hanging clock above the mantle and I determine that at eleven-ten in the evening it’s time to lie down for the night; I must show up well rested if I am to defeat Merryville’s “Most Acclaimed” baker with my new secret recipe of cookies. And so, with a confident smirk upon my lips, I head for the comfort of the hay.

2

The following morning, as I make my way through the gated entry of the town festival, I run into the devil herself, Amy Snickerdoodle. Even from her backside, that waist long wavy red hair reveals her identity immediately. As if sensing my approaching presence, Amy turns around to face me. As always, she flashes her beaming toothy smile and matches my gaze with her brilliantly bright blue eyes and offers her cheerful greeting. “Good morning, Jake! Oh I’m so happy to see you made it, I was starting to worry you weren't going to show this year.” Oh I bet that would’ve made you the happiest woman in Merryville, wouldn’t it Ms. Snickers. Oh no, no way would I miss the year that I bring home the gold. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Amy,” I respond. 

“Well I knew you wouldn’t miss the town holiday festival, Jakey. You could never pass up an opportunity to get in on my delectable gingerbread cookies. That is, afterall, the festival’s main attraction.” 

“Hmmph, we’ll see about that this year, Amy.”

I begin making my way towards my designated large open countered baking booth after Amy sends me off with a pleasant smooching gesture. I am thrown slightly off guard by her smooching gesture but decide it’s only a tactic to throw me off my game today. Even if she was slightly successful, nobody has to know. Festival bypassers offer their smiles and greetings to me as I pass through on the way to my workstation, “Happy Holidays, Jake! Looking forward to your buttered rolls this Christmas!” I smile and nod in appreciation, responding, “Well, it’s no secret who the best baker in town is! Don’t forget to vote for my cookies later!” I receive what I believe to be a pity smile but I keep moving on. 

As I near my workstation, two joy filled eyes fall upon me from within the booth and then a cheerful smile from my wonderful baking assistant, Valerie. “Mr. Dasher! Oh, I’m so happy you’re finally here!” Valerie runs up and plants a big kiss on my left cheek and wraps her arms around my neck. “Alright, Val, alright. That’s a tad bit inappropriate but I’m happy to see you as well! I’m gonna need your help big time today to get everything perfect for today’s crowd. We need those votes, Valerie.” She nods excitedly and ties her candy cane patterned apron snug to her waist. “Absolutely,” she remarks. “I’ve already started getting all the flour prepared and all of your baking tools are laid out and ready to go.” 

“That’s excellent, Val. I’m very grateful to have you around.” 

Valerie blushes bright red and gives me another big toothy grin before returning to her work.

As I don my holiday reindeer apron and begin fastening the straps around my waist, I watch as Amy arrives at the baking station set up directly across the walking path symmetrically to my own. She, like myself, is greeted by her own assistant upon her arrival. I overhear, “Ahh, Amy, you look stunning today, I’m so glad to see you. What do you say we get started on whooping ol’ Dasher over there for the fifth year in a row.” Amy chuckles softly and I can see her smooth cheeks take the same color as her long wavy hair. “You read my mind, Rob,” she agrees as she dons her apron. I feel my cheeks turn their own shade of fire but with different emotion. “Hmmph,” I scoff. Val and I are gonna pull the rug right out from under that sad excuse for a baker, he can just wait and see. 

Just before I turn away to get to work, Amy turns her head in my direction and shoots a wink in my direction as we lock eyes briefly. She pulls her beautiful long hair up into a ponytail before breaking her gaze with me and then gets to doing what she believes is better than anyone else, which would make her wrong. That would be due to the fact that the best baker in town, no, the state, possibly the country, is working just ten yards from her. I pull on my bakers hat and get to work as my apprentice takes her spot at my side. 

3

Two hours into the festival, I remove my baker's hat and apron to take a brief break and step out to get some fresh air, instructing Val to do the same. I step out to the front of my cooking station to rest for a moment and Amy, from across the walking path, takes notice. As I hunch down on a box against the side of my station, Amy surfaces from within her respective work area with a gingerbread cookie in hand. She begins making her way over to where I sit with an alluring smile perched upon her lips. I feel the heat returning to my cheeks and I shift nervously on the box I’m resting on. “Jake, you must be working really hard over there, I’m surprised to see you clocking out so early in the game,” she says with an innocent laugh. I open my mouth to return with my own sarcastic joke but before I can say anything, Amy raises the cookie she brought to my lips and insists, “Here, I want you to taste.” I’m hesitant for a moment but then she places the treat between my lips and I bite down, removing the head from a warm delicious gingerbread man. My taste buds dance with delight but I try hard to not express how impressed I am on the surface. “You’re an amazing baker, Amy,” I say, “but it won’t be good enough to take the gold this year,” I finish with a wink.

As Amy brings the cookie to her own lips and takes off a chunk of the leg, Valerie appears from within the cooking station and plops down beside me and then scooting up against me. “What’s going on, Mr. Dasher,” Val says concerningly as she peers at Amy. “Nothing going on, Val,” I respond, “Ms. Snickerdoodle was just stopping by to say hello.” Amy smiles kindly at Valerie who returns a doubtful grin Amy's way. Amy returns her gaze to myself and says, “Well, I guess I’d better get back to work. Only another two hours before the deadline,” and with that, Amy bends over at the waist and gives me a peck on the cheek before turning around and returning to her side of the walking path. 

My cheeks explode with heat and without even looking, I know Valerie’s face is displaying utter shock. “That was totally uncalled for,” Valerie remarks annoyingly. “She’s obviously trying to get you off your game so she can steal the competition again!” I don’t respond to Valerie, hell, I barely even heard what she had to say at all. I stand from the box flustered and dust off the seat of my pants. “Come on, Val,” I say, “we should get back to work.” Before returning inside, I glance over at Amy’s workstation to see her looking my way and giggling. She blows me a silent kiss through the air and then turns back to continue her own work. I look beyond Amy to see that Rob showcases the same annoyed look my own assistant expresses.

4

Another two hours pass and it’s finally time to present our hard work to the people of the festival. White table stands make their way out in front of the baking booths and sweet cookies spread out on multiple platters line the surface of the tables. Standing in the middle of the walking path between the two baking stands, is a large brown wooden box with a slit opening in the top for voters to cast their final decisions. I stand out next to my cookie stand along with Valerie as directly across the path Amy does the same along with Rob. An hour of cookie tasting and voting passes by in a second and Merryville’s Mayor finally calls for everyone’s attention. “Has everyone tasted a cookie at each stand and decided which one they like the best,” she asks the crowd. A few nods here and there and silence from the crowd indicate that it’s time to begin counting the votes.

As the mayor and her two assistants collect the box and disappear to their counting booth, Amy makes her way over to our baking stand. Valerie makes it obvious she disapproves with an ugly frown. “Can we help you,” Valerie sneers at Amy. “Val, please wait inside while we wait for the votes,” I tell her. Valerie scoffs and appears to prepare herself for an argument but decides to wait inside after being convinced by my raised eyebrows and warning face. Valerie returns to within the baking station and Amy takes my hand in hers. “I really hope you win it this year, Jake,” Amy says. “But don't think I slacked off this time, either. I believe I’m the best baker in all of this here land and I always bake to prove it.” There’s that cocky arrogance that drives me crazy. “I hope you didn’t make room for a fifth trophy, my dear,” I return with my own arrogance but without the four trophies to back it up. 

The mayor’s voice then resonates throughout the crowded festival again, “Okay everyone, the votes have been counted and we officially have a winner.” Amy squeezes my hand and smiles at me, “I hope you enjoy polishing that mantle, Jake, because you’re gonna be busy doing so for years to come.” I scoff playfully at her as Valerie joins me at my side as does Rob to Amy’s. The mayor and her two assistants gather on stage with a notecard bearing the winner’s name in one hand and the golden Top Baker trophy in the other. Valerie takes my other free hand in her own and squeezes tightly and whispers in my ear, “We got it this year. Oh I just know it.” 

“As your mayor, I am pleased to announce and to present the winner of this year's holiday festival bake off,” a pause from the mayor and Valerie squeezes harder on my left hand and Amy squeezes harder on the right. The mayor brings the notecard before her eyes and announces, “...Amy Snickerdoodle, please join me on stage to collect this year’s Top Baker Award. Congratulations!” Amy looks up at me with joy filled eyes, “Well, maybe you could put a picture of Merryville’s best baker on your mantle so it won’t be empty anymore.” Amy wraps her arms around my neck and presses her soft lips hard against mine. I wrap my arms around Amy’s waist and pull her snugly against my chest before motioning her toward the stage. 

Amy takes the stage as the crowd erupts in applause. Valerie crosses her arms and huffs as I applaud Merryville's top baker. Amy takes her trophy in her hands and blows me a kiss from on stage. I return with a blown kiss of my own as Rob approaches Val and I, presumably to rub the victory in our faces but he smiles kindly and takes Valerie by the hand. “Come on,” he says to Val. “Let’s go play some games.” Val smiles at him and the two of them disappear into the crowd. Ms. Snickerdoodle returns to me from the stage and lies her head against my chest. She hands me one of her gingerbread cookies and I accept appreciatively. After all, they are my favorite part of the festival.