The Secret Heart Shelf — All afternoon, the bakery smelled like butter and warm sugar while Fern squeezed one neat swirl onto a plain cupcake. Read the full story →
All afternoon, the bakery smelled like butter and warm sugar while Fern squeezed one neat swirl onto a plain cupcake. She wanted to save it for the tired night watchmouse, who always passed the window after closing. Then the bell made no sound, but a small kitten stood there with a ribboned box and flour on one paw.
“Is this for the window?” Fern whispered. The kitten shook her head and tucked the box beneath the treat shelf, where no one would see. Inside was a tiny sugar heart for whoever had no treat of their own. Fern set her cupcake beside it, quiet as snow.
By morning, a new heart appeared on that shelf, and then another. Ever since, the bakery keeps a secret heart shelf for gifts nobody watches being given. Next time you spot the kitten’s little present, can you keep the secret too?
