THE BAKERS OF ALCUIN

Grandpa: ”Ashley? What are you doing here? ”

Ashley: ”I came to wish you a happy birthday; now here is your gift. ”

Ashley: ”Won you invite me in? ”

Grandpa: ”I was just about to do that. ”Come inside. ”

Then there was a moment of silence, and a moment of awkwardness. Who could she possibly be? A woman who appeared to be in the same age range as Grandpa. They seemed to know each other, but acted strangely amongst themselves.

Ashley: ”Well, I bet most of you are wondering who I am. ”

Ashley: ”Especially you, Mason! ”

My father: ” Uhhhhh, am sorry but, I dont seem to recognize you? ”

My father stood in confusion, looking around and trying to remember who she could be. For some reason, he could not recall her. Her name didn even ring a bell to him. After all, not everybody is going to remember their past memories as a child.

Ashley: ”As you might have heard, my name is Ashley. ”

My father: ”Okay, nice to meet you Ashley, but I still don know about you. ”

Ashley: ”Oh son, don worry. You see, there were some history between your family and I but, there is no need to worry about the past. Why not worry about the present or perhaps the future ”

For some reason, Ashley seemed overly suspicious to me. She seemed to know my father very well, but he did
t know her one bit. It was like she was a creepy stalker, who stalks her people of interest.

Grandpa: ”Mason, can we talk? alone? ”

My father: ”Sure ”

My father and grandpa Maxwell, together walked through the door and was talking on the veranda. They talked for thirty minutes straight and was both taking loudly on top of their voices. It was only a pity that we could all hear what they were saying.

My grandpa: ”That woman is an old childhood friend. ”

My grandpa said, ”She is the reason for your mothers and my divorce. ”

My father: ”What! How come? ”

My grandpa: ”Well, one night, while I was checking the cash the bakery had made, she came in and purchased a strawberry cupcake, and we had a chat. I left her at table number three and went to the back where my family heirloom, for you and May-Ann, was safely kept. I would also split the money in half and put it in the safe as well. When I opened the safe, to my surprise, it was empty. I instantly got mad and started to tumble and toss everything in my way as I searched for my artifact. Ashley ran into the back, asking me what the problem was, and I explained to her that my family inheritance was missing. Ashley suggested that I check the cameras because she thought that my wife, Annie, could have stolen them. At first I was in in disbelief that my wife was an honest person who would never betray me in such a way, but anyway, I perceeded into doing so and who did I see cracking the code on the safe? your mother. She was the only one who knew where the heirloom was kept.

My father: ”From the moment she stepped in, I thought something was up with her. ”

My grandpa said, ”Well, there is. Ashley was not always this generous to me. The last time I trusted her back into my life, I lost my wife. Now I know for sure, she is after something from me. ”

My grandpa: ” I am not sure though, but I am watching her every move. ”

And at that same moment, i saw Ashley at the window staring at my father and grandpa. i knew for sure that she could hear what they were saying through the window because, I was hearing the conversation loud and clear and am sure everyone else was . Her face looked stern, as if she was about to explode. And when Grandpa and my father came inside, I saw her face and body language switch from emo to soft. With her pleasant, cheeky smile, she ran up to Grandpa and held his hand tightly. It was quite visible that Grandpa didn want to hold hands with her or be in her presence.

Ashley: ” I heard you two! ”

Grandpa: ” What are you talking about? ”

Ashley: ” You and Maon were talking behind my back were
t you? Or maybe I should have said before my very eyes and ear! ”

Grandpa: ” Well- ”

Ashley: ” Well ! did you mean all what you have said? ”

Ashley: ” Mason ! honey, dont you believe your father, he is trying to make me look bad ”

Grandpa: ”Lets be honest now Ashley! What do you want from me? Whats the main reason for your presence here? ”

Ashley: ”Well why cant i visit my old friend? Huh? ”

Ashley: ” Oh come on Maxy, dont be silly. look I will forgive you for talking behind my back. Afterall arent we all a family? ”

Ashley: ”Now, shall we open our gifts now? ”

Grandpa: ”Uhhh, why dont we do that after the party? ”

Ashley : ” No ! come on, I want to see what these bastards of a friend got you ”

Ashley: ” Plus, I got you the best gift ever! Do you want to open it? ”

Grandpa: ” Yeah might as well, so I can get this over with! ”

Ashley: ” By the way, I hope yall get valuable gifts for my dear Maxwell ”

Grandpa: ” Ashley, I am not your dear! when will you realize that? ”

Ashley: ” Maybe never Maxwell ! ”

The situation got even more awkward and then Grandpa pulled away from her and walked swiftly away from her. The whole evening was all fun and exciting until Ashley came. She was controllable. She switched up our plans and activities for the party. The gift opening was the last thing to do before the party ended, and she opened the gifts at the exact time. Ashley also changed the music playlist from Grandpas favourite genre, western, to her own favourite, pop. The quest were already grooving to the the western music and ashley changes it, they got a little less entertained. One of them even lied about having something busy to do and left the party. I over heard two of the quest whispering about Ashley and grandpa Maxwell.

Ashley: ”Who bought this gift for you, Maxwell? ”

Grandpas best friend Joey: ”It was me. I bought it. Don you like it? ”

Ashley: ”Of course not; no! I don ! ”

Grandpa: ” No, what do you mean Ashley, I actually like it! ”

Ashley: ”Which outdated fool could ever buy a golf set for your birthday Maxwell? ”

Grandpa: ” Since your beung so over yous shoulders, show me the gift you bought for me! ”

Ashley: ” I would be delighted, afterall you will love it! here ”

Grandpa: ” Well- ”

Ashley: ” Well what ! ”

Grandpa: ” Well, what the heck is this? ”

Ashley: ” Dear, I am sure you can see, its a chessboard ”

Grandpa: ” And why did you think I did
t seen it: ”

Ashley: ” so do you like it? ”

Grandpa: ” No i dont! ”

Ashley: ” Well you cant say Ashley did
t bought you anything dare. Atleast i did
t buy those dump golf equipment like Joey did. He is just as dump as the gift he bought you by the way! ”

At Grandpa: ”Don you dare speak about my best friend in that way? At least he knows me well and knows that I do like from what I dont like! ”

Grandpa: ” Unlike you! You claim taht we are friends, then u should know me well! I dont like chess! ”

Ashley: ”What, how come? ”

Grandpa: ”As I thought you knew nothing of me! ”

Grandpa: ” Well, i wont be offensive of it, but ist mathematical tactics were just too much for me. It throws coconuts to my brain ”

Grandpa: ”I appreciate your gift so much, but I think you should return it to the store. ”

Ashley: ”Ugh! You selfish little rat! I have always hated you, Maxwell!

Ashley: ”I hope you enjoy the rest of your birthday, Maxwell! ” Have a nice day or not! ”

BANG!

As she slammed the door.

My father: ”I cannot believe her. I hate that woman already and I bearly know her! ”

My father: ”What is up with her? Whats her problem? ”

My grandfather: ”I don really know. All I know is that we were very close friends in early childhood school and then she became envious of me the day I was chosen over her to represent our house colors at the cross country run for youngsters. Poor six-year-old me did
t have a clue that me participating in a race and winning a whole lot of awards, could cost my friendship with her.

My father: ”So why doesn she just put her envy aside? ”You
e all grown-ups with families now. ”

”I know, ” Grandpa says, ”but she won until she gets the attention she craves from me. ”

Grandpa: ”Thats the exact reason why she hates your mother. Ever since the divorce between your mother and I, Ashley has started to reappear in my life. She would invite me out for coffee and long walks in the park. I always found it quite fun and relaxing as I needed rest after my divorce. I was glad at first, but it turns out that Ashley saw things the way I did
t. I would always grumble to myself about how much of a fake your mother was. One day, Ashley asked to come over and hang out with some friends. We were all doing barbecue fry in my backyard when suddenly, Ashley got a call and went inside. A couple minutes had passed and my old friend Joey could not find the sauce, and so I went inside in search of the sauce. As I was about to enter the kitchen, I heard Ashley conveying over the phone. She was discussing that I should have divorced Annie a long time ago. She also mentioned that she is going to be my wife soon and half of everything I own will belong to her. I was left in complete shock and was even more surprised when Ashley looked up and made our eyes four. She outrageously asked what I was doing while listening to her conversation. I tried explaining that this is my house and I only came looking for the sauce. After all, why would I spitefully come to listen to your conversation? I further told her that we are friends and will always be nothing more than that. Hearing that made her furious and frightened. She got extremely mad and told me that she would always hate me because I ruined things for her. That day was the last I saw or heard of her until today ”

Grandpa: ”Since that time, I have thought a lot about your mother. After all, I ought to have believed in and trusted my wife. Sometimes I feel like the one who betrayed Annie. I was too quick to judge back then. If I got three wishes they would be to reunite with my family completely, to make things right between your mother and I and to enjoy my last days with my wife. You see I am old and I wont be here for long for i am not a stone or a tree. I just wanted to be with my beloved Annie before my end times ”