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// The baker 
// Story: A Story for all Authors 
// by ZM 
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The life of a baker is not always rewarding. You put a lot of effort and time into your work but barely earn anything. Still, I enjoy it. It is creative because I can bring my own ideas and art into the baked goods, which can later be consumed by customers. That alone motivates me to continue. And I bet many other bakers feel the same way. It is hard-earned bread (I am sorry for the pun), but it is not about the income; it is about creating something that others can enjoy.

I stood in my bakery, making preparations for tomorrow, whistling a casual melody that went through my head. My hooves kneaded the dough in a smooth but intentional movement. Tomorrow, I planned to introduce some new baking ideas to my assortment.

It is always important to update your baked goods. The customers are eager to see something new they can have. It only makes sense, after all. Even the best cake gets bland after being eaten too many times, so you get excited when your baker introduces something new to the range.

I gave one last knead to the dough before putting it into a bowl, covering it, and placing it with the other prepared doughs. For today, I was done. Tomorrow, I would bake it and bring it to my shop.

By the way, I should check on my shop. The light that fell through the window into my bakery told me that the sun was going down and the day would soon be over.

I stepped back and gave one last look at my preparations. All the doughs were nicely wrapped up and in order, ready to be finished into breads and patisseries. I felt proud of myself when I saw what I had done so far. Sure, I knew that I was not perfect, and my work wasn't either, but I didn’t think of myself as too bad. In the end, you need a little self-confidence.

I cleaned the working table and washed my hooves before I left the bakery and entered my shop next door. Here is where I sold the baked goods: big breads, small breads, sweets, patisseries, sandwiches, cakes, and everything else. Everything was self-made, of course. Taking baked goods from somepony else and selling them as my own was a no-go. Every baker knew that.

Right now, nopony was in my shop. Not that I was surprised. I was, after all, still a small and unknown bakery. I looked out of the shop window. The orange sunlight slowly turned into purple. I spotted some ponies walking by, but none of them bothered to come in.

I gave a heavy sigh and opened the cash register. Some bits were inside, barely worth counting. It was not a motivating sight, but I looked past it. Maybe it was not much, but it was something. Every bit told me that a pony had entered my shop to consume my product. And even if it was just one bit.

Of course, I was hoping for more. Not because of money reasons, but to know that my work was valued. That ponies were interested in what I did.

I shouldn’t complain. There were other bakeries out there with far less than I had. Bakeries with even fewer customers and less income. And for many, I couldn’t even tell why that was. They had very good products, but for some reason, barely anypony visited them. I cannot explain why. Maybe the goods don’t fit the interests of what the ponies desire.

In the end, the customers get what they want. Heck, you could just sell what they want, and you’d have success. There are some products that always sell like hot cakes (again, sorry for the pun). For example, mooncakes. Many ponies love mooncakes and will just enter your door because of them. Or cream pies.

Ah yes, cream pies. There are so many cream pie lovers. You could write CREAM PIE on the entrance, and you could be sure it would get the interest of most of the ponies.

Don’t get me wrong. I also like cream pies, and I also make them sometimes myself. I am not angry at the customers who consume cream pies or the bakeries that produce them. I just hope that ponies also value the work of others as well. Bakers also make very good products but don’t like to make cream pies.

I left my counter. It has no use for me to just stand in my shop and wait for something to happen. I stepped outside and looked up and down the road. In the distance, I spotted the closest bakery next to mine. A very successful one that I personally also like to go to.

There isn’t any real rivalry between us bakers. Maybe some envy here and there. Especially if you are not so successful, I can understand that you like to compare yourself with others. Seeing how much success they have and wishing to be in such a position. But in the end, we all do the same thing: make quality products.

And that one, my neighbor, sure sells very good stuff. On my free days, I would buy some sandwiches from her, go home, sit back, and relax while I eat the delicious bites. And it seems like it is not only me who thinks highly of her. Even right now, I can see how passersby are going in and out of the shop.

Yes, there are also successful bakers. I am not envious of them because, in the end, they also do it for the same reason as every other baker. They don’t do it for the income; they do it so it can be enjoyed. And if they do a very good job, who am I to blame them? Quite the opposite. I am happy for their success and hope that they stay in business for a long while.

I gave a smile and went back inside my own shop. Will I one day also be on top? Be a famous baker? I don’t think so. But I also don’t aim for it. I am happy with what I have. I prefer to stay loyal to my own work instead of reaching for more. If I get more, I will take it, but I will not change my style just for its sake.

Just as I was about to close the door and switch the sign from “OPEN” to “CLOSED,” an earth pony mare rushed inside. She had a black coat and a striped mane and tail with the colors black, purple, and blue. Her mane was styled backward, like it normally is only seen on Pegasi. Still, it fit her very well along with her warm, friendly smile.

I was taken aback for a moment. I didn’t expect somepony to come in anymore. But I didn’t want to complain. I gave a smile back in return and waved her in. Now that I think about it, she might have been here before. But I am unsure. I trotted back behind the desk and watched as my probable last customer for today looked over all the breads. She seemed to really study every single piece of them.

“I would like to have these blueberry muffins,” she happily said while pointing with her hoof at the three remaining ones.

“Most certainly. Would you like me to pack them in?” I asked the mare.

“Yes, please pack two in, and I will eat one straight away,” she answered.

I did as she pleased, packing two of the muffins into a cardboard box and giving the third one right into her outstretched hoof. She, in return, gave me the bits for the price. She placed the box on her back and took a big bite from the muffin in her hoof.

“Mm-mm-mm,” she said after a moment of careful chewing. “Sweet and with a strong texture. The taste of blueberry sure is at the center, making the whole thing very unique in flavor. But all in all, it is very well made. I like it.”

I had to smile at her compliment. Such kind words are rare to hear.

“I am happy to hear that. I’m working on some new products for tomorrow,” I told her.

“I look forward to it,” the earth pony mare said to me before turning to the exit.

I watched her leave with a smile on my face. That compliment really made my day. But with her presence gone, there was no need to keep the shop open any longer, so I stepped to the shop door and turned the sign to “CLOSED” for sure.

Ponies say, “If a customer likes your product or service, they will come again.” This is very true. Many ponies, sadly, don’t give a review. They come, pay, and go again. You can only tell by the fact that they come and buy again that they liked it. If they don’t, they will not come again. I am grateful to have some regulars. It tells me that I do a good job.

But nothing is as valuable as an actual review. Whether positive or negative, reviews give essential feedback. Positive reviews, like the one the mare just gave, not only tell me what I am doing right but also motivate me to continue. Just the simple phrase “good job” can encourage you to keep going.

Negative reviews are also helpful. They tell me what I can improve and where I can work to make it better next time. Sadly, they are also rare. If you get a negative review, they often aren’t explained. They just say, “It is bad,” without explaining what or why. Did I make a critical mistake, or do they just not like my baking style, or are they giving such criticism without any real reason?

I shake my head to get rid of such thoughts. Today was a good day, and I want to keep it that way. I had some customers, received a good comment, and finished my preparations for tomorrow.

I took out the broom and swept the floor of my shop, getting rid of all the dust and dirt. The ponies want to see a clean shop, after all, when they enter. Having a good first impression is important.

I stood on my back legs while my front legs held the broom. My gaze wandered around my shop. I have had the luck that a good friend helped me create the shop. She gave me a colorful and appealing design that attracted customers at first glance. I am really thankful for her offering.

But I also know that not all bakers have the luck to ask a talented friend for help. Some, like me, have connections. Some others can pay an architect for a commission. And some can’t do either, which saddens me because a good first impression is maybe the most important part of being noticed. Ponies are more willing to enter a building when it looks interesting. Small and hidden shops often fall into the background and get avoided, no matter how good they actually are.

This also reminds me of the smaller bakeries, bakeries with even fewer customers than I have and are even more ignored. I feel sad for them. I see myself in them—the small fish that tries to be noticed in the big sea.

Just as I sometimes like to visit the famous bakeries, I also like to go to the small ones to give them a chance too and to see what they have. It often happens that I get surprised by the quality—lovely breads, baked with care and displayed with pride.

Of course, not all bakeries are good, or at least not good in my eyes. Just like every customer, I also have my preferences. But that doesn’t mean they are bad per se. I still give the small ones a chance because they also put a big effort into their work.

I yawned as I looked around my shop. Everything was ordered and clean again. I swept the dirt pile away and put the broom back in its rightful place. Today has been a long day, but it has not been bad. I am excited for tomorrow to finish my project and see how many customers I will attract with it. Even if it is just one, it would be enough for me. Because that is what baking is about: the joy of creating and knowing that others can enjoy your creation.