The Bake Sale

The Bake Sale
The church grounds were already busy when Elias and I arrived.

People moved in every direction, carrying folding tables, boxes, chairs, and decorations. Christmas music played from a small speaker near the church entrance, while volunteers called out instructions to one another.

I smiled when I saw my father standing beside the truck.

"You're finally here."

"We walked," I said.

Dad looked at Elias.

"And you let him make you walk all the way here?"

Elias laughed.

"He said it wasn't far."

"It isn't."

Dad shook his head.

"You two."

We helped unload the truck.

Mom was already arranging the baked goods on one of the long tables. Colton stood beside her, trying to place the labels in the right positions.

"Not there," Mom told him.

"Why?"

"Because people won't see it."

"They'll see it."

"Colton."

He sighed.

"Fine."

I laughed.

Elias walked over to Mom.

"Where do you want these?"

"Put those beside the biscuits."

He nodded and carefully carried the containers over.

Mom looked at him.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

I watched them for a moment.

There was something strangely comforting about seeing Elias standing beside my mother, helping her arrange the things she'd spent days preparing.

He didn't look like a guest.

He looked like he belonged.

Grace arrived about twenty minutes later with two of her friends.

She walked toward us with a smile.

"Good morning."

"You're late," Colton said.

Grace looked at him.

"It's barely ten."

"Exactly."

"Did you help your Mom?"

Colton looked away.

Grace laughed.

"I thought so."

She hugged Mom and then greeted Dad.

Her eyes eventually landed on the table.

"Everything looks amazing."

Mom smiled.

"Thank you."

The bake sale officially began shortly afterward.

People started arriving from the neighborhood.

Some came from the nearby towns.

Others had heard about the sale through friends and family.

The first hour passed quickly.

I moved between the tables, helping customers, answering questions, carrying boxes, and restocking things whenever something started running low.

Elias had somehow become one of our best sellers.

He stood beside Mom, greeting people with an easy smile.

"Would you like to try one?"

He held up one of the biscuits.

The woman smiled.

"Did you make these?"

Elias glanced toward Mom.

"She did most of the work."

Mom laughed.

"Don't listen to him. He helped."

The woman bought six.

I laughed when she walked away.

"You're good at this."

Elias looked at me.

"I've been trained."

"By my mother?"

"She's a demanding teacher."

Mom overheard him.

"I heard that."

Elias laughed.

"Sorry, Mom."

She shook her head, smiling.

The crowd continued growing.

Grace and her friends helped with the table while Colton moved between the different stations.

At one point, he came back carrying an empty tray.

"We need more."

"More what?" I asked.

"Everything."

I looked at him.

"Everything?"

"People are buying faster than we're replacing."

Mom looked pleased.

"That's a good problem."

"It is," I said.

I headed toward the storage area with him.

We returned with more containers.

The work continued.

Everywhere I looked, people were helping.

Some sold baked goods.

Others collected money.

A few volunteers served hot drinks.

Children ran around the church grounds while their parents talked.

Christmas music played in the background.

The cold weather seemed less important with so many people around.

Around noon, Grace found me near the drinks table.

She handed me a cup.

"Here."

"What is it?"

"Hot chocolate."

"Thanks."

She looked toward the crowd.

"This is bigger than I expected."

"Me too."

She took a sip.

Then she looked at me.

"Crane, why do we actually do this every year?"

I looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"I know it's for charity. But what exactly does the money go toward?"

I smiled.

"The money all the sellers are making today here helps fund the Christmas party at Haven Children's Home."

She looked at me.

"That's the orphanage near the community center?"

"Yes."

"What do they use the money for?"

"Food, gifts, decorations, entertainment, and whatever else they need for the children's Christmas celebration on the twenty-fourth."

Grace nodded slowly.

"So all of this..."

She looked around at the tables.

"All of this helps give those kids a Christmas party."

"Exactly."

She smiled.

"That's actually really nice."

"It is."