Moon Phase Bakery: A Sleep Story

 The morning sunlight filters through your kitchen window as you make your coffee and wait for the mail. You open the window to let in the fresh spring air just as the mail carrier arrives and drops a single letter into your mailbox before continuing on her way.  

A letter?  You think, an actual letter, not a bill or an advertisement? Not a credit card application that you certainly do not need, but an actual letter! You hurry outside, wondering who sent it. Opening the mailbox, you find a pale blue envelope with an embossed gold seal that closely resembles a croissant.  

You don’t see a return address, so you are even more curious as you open the envelope. Inside is a pale yellow card decorated with a variety of pastries. Upon opening the card, fancy gold script says the following: 

You are cordially invited to the grand reopening of the Moon Phase Bakery, open only on the first night of each new moon phase. Directions are right around the corner!  

That’s it. You are puzzled; directions are right around the corner? As in more directions are coming or is the bakery literally around the corner?  

As night falls you realize that the letter is glowing faintly and you eagerly pick it up and examine it.  

Walk outside. Look at the moon, walk around the corner and treat yourself. You read the new words with a smile and head outside to follow the instructions.  

Sure enough, as you turn the corner, you see the bakery which most certainly is magical as it has never been there before. The fact that it is illuminated by a single beam of moonlight heightens the magical feeling. The pale blue cottage seems both out place and inviting at the same time. You can smell the lovely aromas from here you stand. 

You speed up a little, already hungry and imaging what might be inside. Warm light spills from the large display windows, which are piled high with doughnuts decorated to look like the various moon phases, along with cookies shaped like stars. Even more celestial themed treats glimmered from the displays.  

The door sign declares the shop to be open, so, you step inside, delighted by the bell tinkling above the door.  You love that sound. The bakery seems to be empty save for the black and white cookies, moon pies, and almost every treat imaginable, all with the celestial theme as the window display cases.  You know you will have a difficult time choosing the perfect snack.  

“See anything you like?” A voice nearby asks. You look up from cookies to see a woman with silver hair and blue eyes behind the counter. Her face crinkles delightfully at the eyes and mouth when she smiles 

“Too many things,” you reply, returning her smile. “What do you recommend?”  

She chuckles gently, “That depends on what you want, comfort, cheer, nostalgia.”  

You pause, considering her words. What do you want? She seems to be in no rush for your answer, giving you time to think over your life recently. What do you want and when was the last time anyone asked you? When was the last time you asked yourself that question?  You look over the treats again as you think, and the answer just comes to you.  

She smiles and fills a silvery box with desserts that are exactly what you wanted.  She brews you a cup of special moon water tea, that is the most calming tea you have ever tasted. She shows you to a comfy armchair under a skylight with a perfect view of the moon. What a perfect night, you think, already planning a return visit the next moon phase.  

Sleep Well