Donuts and Date Squares, Memories of The Little Pastry Shop

Growing up as a young boy in Collingwood, I was truly grateful that we were blessed with not one but two places where one could indulge themselves in tempting dessert treats.  Not that I didn't get more than enough at home baking with my grandmothers, but it truly was a special event when my grandma would give me five dollars and send me off downtown towards Hurontario Street to pick up "a little something" for the both of us.  Back in the day we were very lucky, for we had two tasty options.  There was the "Bayview Bakery" on the third block which was a prime source of eclairs, petit fours and other delicacies.  But, for the "donut aficionado there was one singular place to satisfy your craving - The Little Pastry Shop located on the west side of the first block between Fourth and Third Streets.  Not only did it offer up the best most delicious donuts imaginable, it also had one of the "sweetest" owners, Mr. Len Ayres.  Mr. Ayres operated this shop for many years, and after selling it also continued baking while employed by Loblaw's Collingwood in their bakery department.  Back in the day when I worked at Loblaws there, we often joked about his "old days" running his bakery.  One such story was often repeated, and I offer it here for you.  One day, long ago, my grandma gave me the customary five dollars and sent me off to fetch us a dozen donuts to have with our tea and for dessert that evening.  It was early in the morning, for you always wanted to arrive just when the donuts had been freshly made and were presented in the display with the chocolate still warm, gooey and dripping.  I got there about nine-thirty, and upon entering the shop found it strangely empty.  I stood there for a few moments admiring the other goodies, when all of a sudden a booming voice from the back rang out, "Hold on for a minute, I'm in the SHITTER!"  I almost fell over, both in horror and hilarity.  Len soon popped out of the back, and upon seeing me burst out laughing.  I too broke out in a fit of giggles, and soon I was off with our dozen donuts, and a memory that I would never ever forget.

I hope you enjoyed this story, and just writing it and re-telling it makes me laugh and smile.