A SPECIAL DAY IN THE SHIRE
Cathy Fern had changed her pinny twice
already so had Buttercup and Felicity; they hadnt
stopped since Tommy had come round singing his
message. As soon as Barnaby had arrived back with
the food it was non- stop cutting, peeling and crying.
Kristine had volunteered to peel and chop the
onions; she had stood at the table crying for over
an hour, with Daniel bringing in cold flannels to
put on her eyes.
Buttercup must have squeezed a hundred oranges and
lemons. Then she had to cut up all the peel and put
it in the huge cauldron with the juice and sugar.
If you had your black coat and a pointed hat on
Buttercup. Daniel said laughing, You could be
mistaken for a witch.
Buttercup smiled at Daniel and carried on stirring
the pot to make sure all the sugar was dissolved.
Then it was left to simmer for an hour, with
Buttercup stirring it every twenty minutes.
Cathy also reckoned she looked like one of the
witches in a fairy tale book but didnt say anything.
Queen Pepper had arrived back with Barnaby and
immediately vanished into the conservatory to make
her candy floss. Not only was it rainbow coloured
candy floss made up of the seven colors of the
rainbow; each colour had its own special flavor.
The green was mint, the red tasted of wild
strawberries, whilst the orange and lemon tasted
just like the real fruit. But it was the violet,
blue and indigo that made people wonder if she had
a magic spell. The indigo tasted of iced elderberry
wine, the violet was like a succulent sherbet
fountain and the blue, well you name your own
favourite fruit and that's what it tasted of.
If you loved pomegranates then it tasted like
pomegranates or if your fancy was for a knicker-
bocker glory, then that is what you felt as the
floss melted in your mouth.
King Pepper said the queen had the recipe handed
down to her from her grandmother, and he reckoned
his grandfather always referred to her as an old
witch, so maybe that was why it was so magic.
Kayleigh Willowherb had asked her father to drop
her off at the castle as he passed by on his way to
the stadium to deliver the sand. She had really
come to call for the Princess, but had ended up
helping out in the kitchen.
Cathy had given her all the bread rolls and baps to
cut and butter, then she had to put them all back
in the trays that Mr. Barleycorn had left. She
could never remember seeing so much bread in her
life before.
Cathy had been busy making bread as well, only two
long rolls, but no one was allowed to know what
they were for.
She had also made two big pots of stew or
something, put lids on them and put them on the
range. These wont need any looking after.
She said and that was that, there they sat bubbling
away all morning.
Felicity had the boring task of pouring bottles of
tomato sauce into large plastic dishes and putting
lids on them when they were full up.
"It will be a lot easier to use a spoon than end up
with tomato sauce on everything. Buttercup said
after she had shook a bottle and ended up with most
of it in her hair.
Minnie and Martha were having great fun, Cathy had
made some really sticky toffee and as Minnie stuck
the sticks in the apples so
Martha was dipping them in the toffee it seemed
like there was more toffee on the twins than on the
apples.
You two are going to need a good scrub before
you get to the stadium this afternoon, just look at
the state of your shirts. Cathy said shaking her
head. Buttercup had just finished slicing the last
of the tomatoes as Queen Pepper arrived back from
making her candyfloss.
Time for those bacon butties I think, she said
pinching a slice of tomato off the plate.
Everyone looked up at the clock. Goodness me its
half past twelve already. Cathy said wiping her
hands on her apron. Ill just get Daniel and
Barnaby to take some of these trays through to the
parlour and then Ill put the bacon on.
Did I hear the word bacon? King Pepper said as
he came through the kitchen door. How are you all
getting on, nearly finished.
Yes its almost done, just a few finishing touches
here and there and well be ready to take it all to
the stadium. Cathy said turning the bacon over as
she talked. In no time at all they were all sat
round the table tucking into their dinner.
I never realised I was so hungry, King Pepper
said as he finished off the last bacon sandwich.
Princess Cornflower and Ann could smell the bacon
cooking as they cycled up towards the castle. They
had met up with Jody and Heledd as they were
leaving the stadium.
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