The sun had barely risen, but the kitchen in the magical forest was buzzing with activity. Kiwi, Taro, Cheri, and Tang were trying their best to bake a cake for Blueberri’s upcoming birthday party.
“Boring old banana cake again?” Tang mumbled, peeling a banana with less enthusiasm than usual.
“Tang, we know it’s her favorite. Let’s keep it simple,” said Kiwi.
Tang sighed but held his peace—until he found himself alone in the kitchen. “Time for a fruity twist,” he thought, adding some wild berries without telling the others.
The cake took longer than usual to bake, and when it finally emerged from the oven, it was an undercooked, gooey mess.
“What happened?” Cheri gasped.
“Don’t worry, we could cook up a new one,” Kiwi noted, glancing at the clock.
“We’ll make do with what we find,” said Taro.
They scoured the garden, each collecting a different fruit. Kiwi hesitated before a berry bush, recalling Tang’s earlier mischief. “I wouldn’t use those,” Tang advised. Kiwi took his word for it.
Back in the kitchen, they measured, chopped, and mixed with precision. “No room for error,” Kiwi said.
After anxious moments peering into the oven, they were relieved. The cake was different but looked good. “Who’s going to taste it?” asked Taro. They all looked at each other before deciding to let Blueberri be the judge.
The surprise party was a hit, and when Blueberri saw the cake, her eyes lit up. But after the first bite, her expression was unreadable.
“It’s not banana,” she said, swallowing.
“We had a little hiccup,” Kiwi admitted. “But we tried our best.”
Blueberri smiled. “It’s unexpectedly delicious. I think we have a new favorite.”
The friends cheered, and Tang breathed a sigh of relief. Another adventure, another lesson learned, and a new cake recipe for the fruitful friends.