Why Sally?

{editor’s note: this entry comes from the diary of bakery assistant, Lily}

February 13

I had heard the stories of the cookie ordeal and, frankly, I remember none of it. But having heard the stories didn’t prepare me for Baker Hanson as a vampire. I guess I was wrong, Sweeten Village must be a portal for evil and other bad things.

But it’s strange, in all my experiences and from what I’ve read about the things happening back home, Baker Hanson had said something curious: “They are after Sally.”

Now why in the world would they be after Sally? What did that little girl do? Or what will she do? Is that it? Is this some strange plan by an unknown evil trying to prevent Sally from achieving some future goal?

Oh, wow, is Sally a sla…? No, I can’t even say it. Surely that can’t be it.

Can it?

Oh No, Not Again

{editor’s note: this entry comes from the diary of Baker Hanson}

February 16

I cannot believe this happened again. Is it me, somehow, who is a cog in this? It must be. First cookies and now cupcakes. I’m anticipating Mayor banning all cupcakes now. What will I make then?

But this time was different. Not the attack. It was pretty much the same. A flying cupcake that resembled Dracula was flying around. He swooped in to bite me, or at least I think that’s what he planned to do, though I don’t know how, what with teeth like that. They really looked like candy corn. It didn’t matter because when he (it) came toward me, I moved a little and he hit me square in the mouth. Instantly I experienced the same taste I had gotten when the cookies attacked me. And then it was dark.

Only this time when I came to, I wasn’t human. I was flying around. There were hundreds of vampire cupcakes all around me.

And all I could think of was finding Sally.

Something’s Coming

{editor’s note: this entry was taken from the Mayor’s personal journal}

February 13

Well, winter is close to its end and the town is recovering. But for how long? I know something new is coming but I don’t know what. She won’t tell me. As a matter of fact she only talks to me when she has orders. But it’s been quiet. Too quiet.

I still don’t even know what she has planned. I saw Grandma Winston in the Square yesterday, and though she was cordial and took the time to stop and chat, I could tell she was nervous and seemed anxious to be on her way.

I’ve no doubt that means something is coming.

And soon.

Things Are Calm

{editor’s note: this entry comes from the journal of Marshall Winston}

February 7

Sally has been doing well. I’m still sending her to Dr. Allen, though. I’m her father, so I worry. We don’t ever talk about Maggie so I’m hoping, I guess, that he can get Sally to discuss her mom. Boy, do I miss her.

Dr. Allen told me that Sally was adjusting extremely well considering the trauma of the whole cookie thing. And though Mom is leary of Gingerman (and Dr. Allen for that matter), he has posed no harm to us or Sally. Luckily the Mayor didn’t have him milked, though no one in Sweeten Village is allowed to bake cookies anymore. I hope Baker Hanson has a back-up plan. I suggested cupcakes as his No. 1 replacement product. We’ll just have to see how it goes.

All I know is that I’m glad Sally has someone (something?) to play and spend time with. Sammy was a gift after Maggie disappeared, and that helped. But Sally did create an imaginary friend. Sure, she would play and interact with the other kids in the Village, especially at school, but it was in the evenings when Paul would come around. Since Gingerman has joined the family, I haven’t heard as much about Paul. Maybe that mean’s he’s gone.

I hope so anyway.

ZOMBIES DEFEATED, TOWN SAVED

{editor’s note: this entry was published in the Sweeten Village Ledger dated December 9}

by Alan Morris

Sally Winston is a typical 8-year-old.

However, when Sweeten Village was under attach, this precocious young girl stepped up and saved the day.

“Oh, it wasn’t anything,” Ms. Winston said. “I had lots of help, and it was pretty easy actually.”

What she calls “easy” seemed anything but that to most Sweetenites, and when asked if she was scared during the whole ordeal, she stated that is was the support of her father, grandmother and dog that helped her through. But it was mostly thanks to a non-zombified gingerbread cookie come-to-life, a cookie she calls Gingerman.

“Well, at first I was because I really thought they had gotten Grandma,” Ms. Winston said. “But when we found out she was okay, I was relieved. Then Gingerman popped up and helped us figure out what to do.”

What she did was coordinate a gathering of the entire Village at Town Hall where she and her family, along with Gingerman, lured the zombies in and doused them with gallons and gallons of milk. Then with the entire town enthralled, Sally told the story. And what a story it was.

But, truly, it all began the night before the chaos when Ms. Winston became the youngest Sweetenite to be chosen to top the Sweeten Village Christmas Tree. Few were not surprised when Mayor called out Ms. Winton’s name, but somehow it all makes sense in hindsight. Obviously, she is a special child. And the descendent of a previous tree-topper: her mother, Maggie.

Villagers were shocked by Maggie’s disappearance three years ago not long after her tree-topping experience. The entire town looked for a month trying to find her, but to no avail. The younger Winston has certainly honored her mother’s memory.

In the end, Ms. Winston’s father said it best, “She is just like her mother, and I couldn’t be more proud. It has been tough the past few years, but Dorothy [Maggie’s mother] and I have done our best. Seems that Sally’s doing well.”

As for the rest of the town, the celebration last night was evidence enough that our brief bout of worry and fear is gone.

However, Douglas, the town conspiracy theorist, isn’t so sure.

“This isn’t the end,” Doug said. “You’ll see. Vampires will be next.”

Am I Cursed?

{editor’s note: this entry comes from the diary of bakery assistant, Lily}

December 12

I thought for sure when I left Sunnydale I had left all the crazy behind me. Surely that stuff didn’t follow me to Sweeten Village. At least I hope not. I love it here, but zombie cookies? I mean, come on!

As a little kid, I knew I wanted to be a baker and, frankly, I love sweets. So when I met Baker Hanson a couple of years ago at the Eastern Region Bakers Conference, I knew Sweeten Village was for me. He gave a demonstration on making fluffy pastry dough and I was blown away. The most amazing thing was that he said he used a recipe that had originated generations ago in the little town he was from, Sweeten Village. But he was careful to not divulge all of the ingredients. Man, it was so good. I just had to learn from him, and after hearing all about it and the town and the wonderful people there, I couldn’t resist the temptation. Now this.

The last thing I remember is seeing the cookies climbing my legs. Then lights out. Next thing I know, I’m standing on the stage at Town Hall with Baker Hanson, covered in cookie dough and drenched in milk. The whole town was there and cheering. Only later did I find out what really happened.

I really love this little town and my job. Cooking all the different sweets and greeting all the kids. I’m learning so much from Baker Hanson. It is such a joy to be here. But why is all this craziness following me? Am I cursed for some reason?

Maybe it was a fluke, a one-time thing. The Mayor did say that all the zombies were destroyed. That’s a relief, but I still have a bad feeling.

What I do know is that I’ll go to work tomorrow and make more sweets so the town will be happy. I have a feeling it won’t be cookies, and that’s okay with me, for a while anyway. Who am I kidding, I’ll be happy, too. But to be safe, maybe I should give her a call just to see if there is anything like this in the texts. If so, there might be some way to keep it from happening again.

Because really, what’s next, vampires?

Oh, She’s Mad

{editor’s note: this entry was taken from the Mayor’s personal journal}

December 9

I hate when she uses her “magic.” It’s such a cliché. The evil witch reigning down evil over an unsuspecting little town in the middle of nowhere. It’s like a fairy tale. I mean it’s not one, and she’s not a witch, no matter how much she wants to be. And frankly, I don’t believe it’s magic. Sure, I don’t know what it is, but can it really be magic?

I’m still not sure how it all went wrong. All I know is it wasn’t my fault. She didn’t seem mad when we talked, but I know she is. This certainly set back her grand scheme. Luckily she doesn’t want me to come out. She only requested Grandma Winston. There’s no way she would harm that little old lady, would she? But I don’t think my worrying is over. If the gingerbread thing went askew, her “magic” could find the wrong course and hurt someone for real. Even me.

I have no idea what’s next. Maybe when Grandma Winston returns she’ll let me know. Or maybe it’s better that I don’t know this time. It would be easier to put on my Mayor hat and not know what is going on.

But I just don’t understand what happened. Why didn’t they get Sally when they were in her house?

Let the Sweeten Village Winter Celebration Continue

{editor’s note: this entry was taken from the Mayor’s official governmental journal}

December 9

I knew we were a town full of residents who cared about one another, but I had never seen a celebration quite like I did last night.

Doused with all that milk, the little creatures simply disintegrated right before our eyes. The most miraculous thing was that Lily and Baker Hanson were human again. They had no idea what had happened, but they were alive and I was relieved.

Everyone cheered and the celebration began. Sally, Marshall and even Gingerman were hoisted onto the shoulders of their fellow Sweetenites. Everyone left the Town Hall and made their way to the Village Christmas Tree. It was a bit in disrepair but nothing that couldn’t be fixed.

I took the stage to express my sincerest gratitude. While the Winstons were instrumental in the town making it through this ordeal, it really was a total town effort.

“Thanks to everyone, we survived this nightmare,” I said.

The town folks cheered.

And I was able to declare, “So let the Sweeten Village Winter Celebration continue!”

Case 27 – Sally Winston Part 4.2

{editor’s note: what follows is a transcription of the notes of Dr. William Allen, continuing the conversation with Sally Winston and Gingerman that began in Part 4}

How did your Dad know how to get the zombies to Town Hall?
Sally: Well, he didn’t really. We had left them near the Christmas Tree and they didn’t seem like they would follow us. But for the plan to work, they had to go to Town Hall.

Gingerman: I told him that maybe I could get them there. I wasn’t sure, though, but I’m a cookie. They were cookies, sort of. Of course, I didn’t look just like them. The zombies had this yucky goo on them and that’s when Sally suggested putting icing on me to make me look just like them. Then if I groaned and walked toward Town Hall, they might follow.

Sally: And it worked!

Gingerman: It sure did. While the Mayor and Marshall were telling the folks in the auditorium about the plan, Grandma and I were in the kitchen. She was applying the icing, making me look all zombie-like. Once we were done, I walked to the tree and just mingled with the zombies for a while. I climbed over the tree like the rest of them were doing and then climbed down and started walking back to Town Hall. A few of the small ones took notice and followed, and then they all followed, even the big ones.

Sally: I was watching for them, and when I saw them coming, I ran to tell Dad. He already had everyone in their positions. I grabbed some of the milk balloons and got ready. Gingerman led them to a side door that was left open and walked them up to the stage. As soon as they were all up there, Gingerman jumped off the stage and yelled, “Fire!” That’s when we shot and threw the balloons at them, and there were kids in the rafters above who dumped buckets of milk on them all.

Gingerman: I ran to the back of the auditorium so I wouldn’t get hit. And I felt kind of bad for them. I mean we were all cookies. I was just fortunate enough to have been the odd one out. And just like we thought, all the little cookies dissolved into dough, and Lily and the Baker returned to normal. And the town was saved.

I had seen everything they had just described, but hearing it again, I simply continued to struggle with the truth of it. It did happen. I saw it. But I’m a doctor, a scientist in some respect, and cookies can’t live and breathe and talk. Yet, I was talking to one. I ended the session there, but also I knew that our time together had not come to a close. I was fascinated by that cookie.

I Know Too Much

{editor’s note: this entry was taken from the Mayor’s personal journal}

December 9

It bothers me to lie. Lying to my staff. Lying to the Village. Lying to myself. I am keeping this journal in the case something happens one day that brings certain things to light. I guess I want to be sure I was not the mastermind of any of this. She is.

In my “professional” journal I act like a mayor who knows nothing of the strange events in the town. I write about those things happening and claim ignorance. The other journal is for history’s sake. This one is to save my own butt. Of course, the truth of the matter is that I know all about everything because she is behind it all.

Yet there is one thing I don’t know: how in the world did the cookie plan go so far array? It seemed simple enough. She gave Grandma Winston a powder to introduce into the cookies. Once alive they were supposed to take care of it quickly, but for some reason they left the house without Sally and went to the Bakery instead. From there it all just got worse.

She is not happy with me, although I haven’t the first clue what I could have done to make the outcome different.

But lucky for me, Marshall Winston kept it in check and kept the whole town from falling prey.

If he hadn’t, that would have been really bad.