Gold Metal Heart Button

I canned several quarts of English Morello heirloom cherries last year, and am baking 27 cherry frangipane tarts for all my very special friends. As roll out the buttery pastry, I vigorously cackle “Off with their heads!” It is most satisfying, but it startles the cat and so she scuttles off to leave me to my adventures. In order to get into the necessary special loving spirit that making 27 cherry frangipane tarts entails, I’m wearing a red leather double-breasted vest fastened with six gold heart buttons over my worn white lawn shirt. I’ve turned my shirt sleeves up to facilitate the delicate task of rolling out the crust, am wearing old patched 501 jeans, and am barefoot. The smell of cherries and almond paste fills the air.
“The Queen of Hearts she made some tarts all on a summer’s day;
The Knave of Hearts he stole the tarts and took them clean away.
The King of Hearts called for the tarts and beat the Knave full sore
The Knave of Hearts brought back the tarts and vowed he’d steal no more.”
(Anonymous)

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