Simon was an apprentice baker working for a small franchise operation on the high street called Creamy Creations. He liked the work and got on well with his supervisor Anthea. However, the shop was struggling to make ends meet in the current economic climate especially as it was situated opposite a very popular artisan bakery.

Patti's Cakes was an award-winning patisserie and Patricia herself a local celebrity. The two bakeries were bitter rivals with Anthea more than a little jealous of Patti's success. So, late one Friday afternoon just before closing time Simon was surprised to see Patti's assistant Kelsey walk somewhat hesitantly into the shop.

Kelsey was about a year or two younger than Simon and quite good looking. They often saw one another when arriving or leaving work and would nod or smile briefly at one another. Anything more than that would be almost certainly draw the ire of their respective bosses. Consequently, this was the first time they would actually get to talk with one another.

"Hello, what can we do for you?" Simon asked.

Kelsey took a moment to compose herself before explaining that they'd been preparing an order for an important customer and she realised that they were one pie short. She'd wanted to bake another one but unfortunately the ovens had already been turned off. Therefore, with no time left, she realised that the only option was to buy a pie.

Simon was just about to fulfil Kelsey's request when he turned to discover Anthea standing behind him. She gave him a mischievous smile before heading into the back room and returning seconds later with a cream pie in hand. Rather than placing it in a cake box and putting it on the counter Anthea instead approached Kelsey.

"Here's your pie" Anthea stated.

And with that Anthea took the cream pie and smashed it into Kelsey's disbelieving face. Simon was gobsmacked at his supervisor's actions and went to assist poor Kelsey, but she would have none of it. She clawed the cream from off her face before glaring at him and stomping out of the shop to the accompaniment by Anthea's laughter.

* * *

Simon had kept an eye out for Kelsey since her pieing the other day in order to apologise for his supervisor's behaviour. Unfortunately, he didn't catch sight of her all day and was tempted to go over to Patti's during his lunch break, but he knew Anthea would never forgive him if he does. So instead Simon bided his time.

Anthea had already gone home, and Simon was just locking up when he heard a cry from the bakery opposite. There didn't appear to be anybody around, but the front door of the shop was ajar. Simon made his way across the street and tentatively peered inside. The lights were off, and he couldn't see anything within, so he stepped inside.

"Is there anyone there?" Simon called out.

Suddenly Simon felt movement from behind him and spun around, only for his world to go completely white. It took him a moment or two to realise that he'd been hit in the face with a pie. Clearly Kelsey had taken her revenge upon him which he thought was somewhat unfair as it had been Anthea who had pied her not him.

Intending to give Kelsey a piece of his mind, he wiped the cream from out of his eyes only to discover his true predicament. Kelsey was standing in front of him with a big grin upon her face and had not one but two pies in hand. Even worse her boss Patricia was standing beside her and was also holding a pair of pies.

"This is for humiliating my assistant" Patricia stated.

And with that Patricia smashed one of her pies into Simon's face. Rather than simply releasing hold of it, Patricia instead ground the dessert over his face until he was completely coated with the cream filling before dropping the case on the floor. Then Patricia and Kelsey double-teamed him as they delivered a pie to either side of his head.

As they celebrated their action, Simon took the opportunity to escape. He fled the shop only to a halt immediately outside as to his dismay the formerly empty street now seemed filled with people. Some of them turned to point at him and almost all of the began to laugh, especially when Kelsey came up behind his and deposited her final pie on top of his head.

* * *

The following day Simon described to Anthea what had happened and expressed his desire for some immediate revenge. He was somewhat surprised when his supervisor advised against it, before explaining that it would be better to wait until the pair dropped their guard before seeking payback. Instead he and Anthea bided their time and plotted.

For a week Simon ignored Kelsey and Patricia, pretending not to notice them when arriving or leaving the bakery. He also learnt to ignore the sniggers of customers who'd seen or heard of his humiliation. But by the end of the week he was mightily relieved that they could finally be able to put their little plan into action.

"Tomorrow's the day" Anthea declared.

Arriving earlier than usual Simon went over to Patti's Cakes and taking a piece of dough stuck it into the keyhole. Then before Patricia and Kelsey turned up, he and Anthea completed two dozen cream pies, having baked the crusts the previous day. So, they were prepared and waiting when their targets arrived.

Kelsey got there first and was unable to put her key into the lock. He boss arrived shortly afterwards and the two of them tried unsuccessfully the open the bakery door. Meanwhile Simon and Anthea surreptitious made their way onto the street. Simon had two pies and threw one of them at Patricia. Unfortunately, it missed, striking the door instead.

"What the...!" Patricia exclaimed.

Patricia turned to confront Simon only to be hit in the face with a pie thrown expertly by Anthea. Kelsey looked shocked to see her boss treated in such a disrespectful manner especially when it happens again. But she had little time to contemplate the situation as moments later Kelsey suffered a similar fate as Simon nailed her with his second pie.

Patricia and Kelsey cleared the cream from off their faces and looked retrieved to see Simon and Anthea disappearing back into their shop. Their relief was short lived as Simon and Anthea re-emerged half a minute later carrying a long trestle table between them which was laden with a score of cream pies.

Simon and Anthea began to unload pie after pie against Patricia and Kelsey and soon the pair were completely covered in creamy pie filling. They pleaded for mercy but neither Anthea or Simon yielded to their calls and they continued their bombardment until there were only half a dozen pies remaining.

"Serves you pair right" Anthea taunted.

"But you started it" Kelsey responded.

Simon realised Kelsey had a point and so spun round and smashed his next pie directly into his boss's face. Whilst supervisor and assistant were preoccupied, Patricia and Kelsey took their opportunity to act. Patricia dashed forward and grabbing a pair of pies from the trestle table sandwiched Anthea's head between them.

Meanwhile Kelsey moved and picking up a pie struck Simon in the face with it. There was a scramble for the final two cream pies but eventually Anthea took one and deposited on top of Patricia's head whilst Kelsey grabbed the final one and thrust it into Anthea's face. As the fight came to an end the four heard laughter and realised, they'd acquired an audience.

* * *

The pie fight between the bakeries was the highlight of the local news especially as one passer-by had managed to record the end of it on their phone. It also brought the two shops together as ever before such that when one of them had an order they couldn't fulfil; they'd refer the customer to the other and vice versa.

And that wasn't the end of the improved relationship. Simon asked Kelsey out and she said yes. Anthea and Patti also became friends and would frequently go out for lunch with one another. In fact, it was on one such occasion that the pair of them came up with the idea for a charity fundraiser for the local children's hospice.

So, the following month the four of them stood in the centre of a large marquee. Beside them were tables stacked with cream pies and they were surrounded by an expectant crowd. Patti started the fight by throwing a pie at Anthea and Simon reacted by flinging a pie at his girlfriend. And once again battle was joined between the two bakeries.

The end.