Every morning, when the sun is still sleepy, Mr. Baker wakes up. He stretches his arms, puts on his big white hat, and walks to his little bakery.
Inside, it smells warm and sweet, like hugs and soft blankets. Mr. Baker smiles. “Good morning, dough!” he says, patting the soft, squishy bread dough.
First, he pours in flour. The flour is soft like clouds. He adds water, cool and splishy-splashy. He stirs and squishes the dough. “Mix and squish, mix and squish!” sings Mr. Baker. His hands are gentle and strong.
He waits. Waiting is important. Bread needs time to grow big and fluffy. Mr. Baker hums a quiet song while he waits. “Bread likes to sleep and rise, sleepy bread, close your eyes.”
After a while, the dough gets bigger. It looks like a puffy pillow! Mr. Baker smiles. “Hello, puffy dough! Are you ready?”
He adds a little salt. Then, he opens a shiny jar. Inside are small, green pumpkin seeds. They are smooth and cool. “You will make the bread special,” whispers Mr. Baker. He sprinkles the pumpkin seeds on the dough, soft as a whisper.
He puts the dough into the warm oven. The bakery fills with a yummy smell. It smells toasty, nutty, and sweet. People walk by and smile. “Good smells, Mr. Baker!” calls the mail lady.
Mr. Baker waits again. He is patient. “Warm bread takes time,” he says. “Bread is happy to wait.”
When the bread is ready, Mr. Baker takes it out. The crust is golden. The pumpkin seeds shine. The bread is warm and soft.
He cuts a slice and tastes it. Crunchy seeds, soft bread. “Mmm!” smiles Mr. Baker. He shares bread with his friends. “Bread is better when we share,” he says.
That night, Mr. Baker dreams of sharing more bread. In his dream, everyone is smiling, eating bread together. The bakery is cozy and warm, and so is Mr. Baker's heart.
