Chapter 5:

It's Friday and the Town of Walnut Grove is all a buzz.

In Town there are tables and tables of pancakes. Even folks from nearby communities come to Walnut Grove when they heard about the pancake bake off to help the Town of Grays Corners.

There was your common pancakes to unusual pancakes. The pancakes are selling like "hotcakes" Dr. Baker, Joe Kagan and Reverend Alden are the pancake judges. They narrowed it down to just a few winners, Laura Wilder with her strawberry milk pancakes, Nels Olsen with his cheddar cheese pancakes, Harriet Olsen with her bacon and egg pancakes, Caroline Ingalls with her Maple Pecan pancakes and Royal Wilder with his extra fluffy hearty buckwheat pancakes.

After careful consideration the judges announced their decision, Dr. Baker says, "I'm going to go with Royal Wilder's extra fluffy, hearty buckwheat pancake. Those pancakes are sure to fill a man's belly before he goes out to work for the day so I vote Royal Wilder."

Royal of course smiled with satisfaction, however Almanzo felt like he might be in the doghouse. With news like that knowing how he tried to convince Laura that Royal made better pancakes.

Reverend Alden announces, "Sorry Dr. Baker but I must disagree Laura Wilder's pancakes with strawberries and milk or so heavenly they are so sweet and smooth going down. I vote Laura Wilder." With that announcement Almanzo felt much better since the Rev. and he wouldn't lie said Laura had the better pancakes.

Joe Kagan takes a little more time in reaching his decision. He takes another bite of each pancake places the folk back on the table and says, Rev. no disrespect and Dr. Baker I don't mean to disagree and if it surprises you like it surprises me I'm going to vote Harriet Olsen. What she did to her pancakes should please every man. She made a whole breakfast in her pancakes placing eggs and bacon right inside the pancake. My family has been making pancakes for generations and I never seen such a handy way to have breakfast. We are a community of mostly farmers. Stock need tending, crops need attention. A man could take a few of Harriet Olsen's pancakes in his hand and eat on the go. I love every pancake I tested here today and every one of you deserves thanks for your hardwork to help those folks in Grays Corner. That speaks well of all of you. What got me is why and how did we do it a silly thing like pancakes dividing us. We are all friends in this community. We always have been. Our preacher has a heart he wanted to help people in need and we reacted like we did. Love should have been the reason behind all this but instead we almost lost some marriages. I heard the gossip, I've seen what wrong emotions can do and it isn't pretty. I almost didn't want to be a judge cause how can a man judge what ought to be an act of love. I accepted because I thought it would give me a chance to have my say."

Reverend Alden says, "He's right, Mr. Kagan is right. I never meant to be a part of something that would result in that. Marriages in jeopardy. I publicly apologize to each one whose marriage was affected."

Charles Ingalls says, "Rev.It wasn't you it was us. You acted in love for the Town of Grays Corners. It was us that got our pride involved. It's us that's learned a lesson."

Other spoke what was on their hearts too.

Both Royal and Laura both conceded that Harriet Olsen did make the best and most practical pancake.

Royal and Almanzo offered to take the money to Grays Corners on Saturday. On the way they conversed. Royal advises his little brother, "You got a good wife, love her cooking and praise her often for it!"

Almanzo answers back, "I will big brother, I will!"

The Town of Grays Conners is very appreciative of the pancake money and all their financial needs was supplied. The men of Walnut Grove also helped Grays Corners to rebuild their Town and replant their crops.

The End