There is a little blond outside the baker looking at the muffins in the window, in his arms an old book, his clothing clearly as old, worn and threadbare, but he is smiling. Today he's got enough money from giving out flowers to get a mufffin. Slowly he's moving inside shyly.
There was a gentle tinkle of bells as the bakery door was shoved open, the warm air from the inside carrying with it the scent of warm dough and sugar. It had been years since the small bakery had first opened its doors, and its gradual success was evident. Light-colored wooden counters were polished, chalk boards were finally hung and decorated, and the entire place was decorated for comfort and quietness-- somewhere between a coffee-house and a reading nook that was bathed in sunlight.
What little staff that manned the store paid no heed to the tiny urchin that came inside. They were baking and cleaning, taking people their orders and doing inventory. There was no time to give a child attention, or even question why he was there.
The owner noticed, though.
Jude hadn’t changed much over the years. His hair had gotten longer, his magic a bit stronger. Yet he retained the same gentle expression, the same quiet demeanor. He, of course, noticed the boy who had came in the door and edged his way up to the counter. He even went to meet him.
“Welcome to the Garden Square Patisserie. Would you like something, my little friend?”