Preface
As the ghostwriter of the bagel stories I get many questions from readers who wonder about the bagel, his age, how he met Wallace, etc. With these and other questions in mind, I have interviewed the bagel and worked with him to write his “official” autobiography that is presented here for your reading enjoyment. If you have questions about the bagel that you would like to have the bagel write about, send me a note and I will ask the bagel for you. Grin!
When the autobiography is finished I will have it translated into Simplified Chinese using a translation app. It will be available on this page.
Enjoy!
Chris Olson
chrisolson@wallacechungbagel.com

---

Wa! It’s Me, the Bagel in Your Pocket!

---

---

Chapter One. My Story Begins

I was riding the Orionid meteor shower with the stars of Orion. We were going to visit Nessie, the friendly and large aquatic dinosaur who lived in Loch Ness, and our meteor shower skates were on their way to Earth. My star friends and I started floating softly down to Scotland where the Nessie lived in the deep waters of Loch Ness. Suddenly a breeze pushed me away from the Loch towards the town of Loch Ness, where humans watched over Nessie. The next thing I knew I was no longer a star traveler, but a bagel being dipped into a bin of oats.

It was November 28, 1998 and I had transformed from a star in a meteor shower to a bagel. I was shocked but I did not have any time to dwell on what had just happened to me. I remember a tingling sensation around my middle “O” when I was dipped into the oats. “I do not seem to be an ordinary bagel,” I thought to myself. I felt a surge of energy around my “O”, as if it wanted to travel but I had no arms or legs. I was lying on the drying rack beside other bagels. I sensed they were next to me and I wanted to see for myself. My “O” kept tingling and suddenly I could see. I had eyes! I could also hear and smell, and best of all, I could speak. I shifted my eyes to the bagel next to me and whispered “hello!” But I got no response. I said “hello” to all the bagels around me, but not one answered. I was on a rack of bagels that were mute and didn’t move, and I felt sad. Not only had I lost my star friends, but I had landed in an unfamiliar place and assumed the identity of a bagel. I groaned silently.

Soon I heard music playing and felt the rack moving to the beat. I opened my eyes to see the face of a pretty young girl looking at me, smiling. She was playing the music of Otis Redding and dancing. She picked me up and looked closely at me. I quickly shut my eyes. She ran her fingers over my sides and exclaimed, “Dad! This bagel is different! It has arms and legs! It also has eyes, and look, the oats around the “O” are moving to the music!” She took me from the drying rack and put me on a shelf, tucked behind sacks of flour and next to her radio. She was kind and I felt safe to watch and sort out what had happened to me.

I was in a bagel bakery located in Loch Ness, Scotland.The town was already magical because of Nessie living in the Loch. Star dust from an ancient meteor shower had fallen on the Loch eons ago and turned Nessie into a magical aquatic dinosaur who lived in the depths of the Loch. From my spot on the shelf I could see out the front window and saw the glistening waters of the Loch. I did not see any of my star friends or Nessie. I would look for them later.

The bakery was small and smelled of fresh baked breads and sweet rolls. The baker wore a white apron and had smudges of flour on his face and hands. He was careful and efficient as he kneaded dough, checked the ovens and brought out loaves of fresh bread for customers. His daughter helped him serve the customers waiting at the front counter. She had a lively personality and greeted everyone with an enthusiastic “Hello!” Her name was Matti and she came to the bakery every afternoon after school to help her dad. When she couldn’t listen to her radio, she wore earphones and danced to the music ringing in her ears.

As I surveyed my surroundings, my “O” continued to tingle. My arms and legs were stronger and the oats were settling into a circular pattern around the “O”, rolling and moving to the music playing on the radio. My eyesight was clearer and my nose sniffed the scent of frosted chocolate cake. Suddenly, I was hungry. Really hungry! The fingers on my hands were too skinny to hold anything. I spotted a pair of oven gloves on a nearby counter. While Matti and her dad were busy with customers I jumped to the counter and put the gloves on my hands. Then I noticed my skinny feet, now white with flour. I found dust covers under the counter and put them on to keep my feet from being covered in flour which seemed to be everywhere. I was ready to explore the bakery in search of the chocolate cake.

It was late afternoon and the sun was beginning to set over the Loch. The baker and Matti took off their aprons and turned the business sign to “closed.” They locked the door and went home. The radio played softly as the battery wore out. I was alone in the bakery. It was dark. It was scary. My oats trembled in fear. I wanted to explore the bakery and find the chocolate cake, but my oats wouldn’t budge. Without the oats rolling, my feet could not move. “This will not do,” I said to myself. “I am hungry and there is cake to be eaten,” as I rubbed my tummy. It was then that I noticed light beginning to glow around my “O”.

I looked down at my “O” and was astonished to see the glowing light getting brighter. How did this happen? Then I remembered I had been a star in the Orionid meteor shower. I had shined alongside the brightest stars of Orion. I should not be surprised that my bagel “O” shines too. My “O” was magical and I was a magical bagel hunting for the chocolate cake. I finally found it and in the glow of my “O,” I munched on cake, pondered my new life, and fell asleep next to the radio.

I awoke to the sound of the baker and Matti coming into the bakery to start baking. It was 4AM on Saturday morning. “Who starts working this early in the morning,” I wondered as I wiped the last crumbs of chocolate cake off my chin. The radio battery was completely dead now and Matti had forgotten to bring new batteries with her. Instead she turned up the sound on her earphones so music could be heard throughout the bakery kitchen. I heard the singer ask “Hello! How are you?” in a song that made my oats itch and move. My feet started tapping to the beat and I found myself dancing on the shelf beside the flour sack. I was enchanted by the voice of the singer and the words of the song. Matti was dancing and singing too. I had found a soul mate and for the first time since waking up in the bakery, I was happy.

Settling In
I grew rounder as the days and nights went by and the years passed quickly. I enjoyed the company of Matti and listening to the music she played on her radio and earphones. I really liked the singing of Wallace Chung and whenever his songs played I automatically moved to the music with Matti. I learned the bakery was called D. Mackintosh Bakers, named after the baker’s family who had started the bakery in the 1700’s. They were part of the Mackintosh Clan and had a tartan plaid that is a handsome red color. I wore the plaid as a sash over my “O”. Some days I wore a kilt too which partially hid my knobby knees.

I began to help in the bakery. At night I would sweep the floors, wash pans, and clean the counters. One day her Dad noticed how everything was sparkling clean and asked Matti how she had achieved the sparkle. Matti knew that I used my magic to polish everything. She had asked me if it would be okay to introduce me to her Dad. I said sure, as long as he will not think both of us are crazy. When her Dad asked, Matti took him aside, sat him in a chair and told him my story. I watched his reaction from behind the flour sacks on the shelf. I was ready to run out the back door if he did not believe Matti. However, to my pleasant surprise, her Dad listened calmly and asked a few questions about the Orionid meteor shower and stars of Orion.

Unbeknownst to Matti, when her Dad was a young child, he had seen a meteor shower pass overhead and watched as star dust twinkled over the Loch, and he saw Nessie raise her head. Ever since that time, he has believed in the magic of the stars and Nessie. When he heard Matti tell my story, he nodded his head. He did not think Matti was crazy. He believed her and wanted to meet me.

Later, Matti stopped by the shelf with a frown on her face. She was studying me carefully. Suddenly she smiled and called me “Otis.” I was confused. “Who or what is Otis?” I asked her. Since my arrival she had been calling me “Mr. Bagel” and that was fine with me. But now she was going to introduce me to her Dad and she realized I didn’t have a proper name. “Otis.” I liked the sound of it. I felt like an “Otis.” I had oats. The name started with an “O” and it was short. I asked her what made her think of that name? She replied that we both liked to listen to Otis Redding and giving me the name of “Otis” seemed the right thing to do. I could not agree more. Otis, I am!

Otis Meets Dad and Friends
Matti wants me to make a good first impression with her Dad, so she helps me dust flour off my head and polishes my “O.” She shook out my plaid sash and straightened my kilt. I was all set to go but when I jumped off the shelf to the floor, it became apparent how small I was compared to Matti and her Dad. Once again Matti frowned and then smiled. She had an idea. She wears an apron with a big pocket in the front. She picked me up and put me into the pocket. It was perfect. The pocket was the right size for me to sit and look over the pocket edge. I could see everything as Matti moved around and I could talk to her quietly. Her apron pocket became my home during the day and before she left the bakery at night, she would put me back on the shelf where I relaxed in the soft glow of my “O”.

Wearing a clean apron with me tucked into the pocket, Matti introduced me to her Dad, Duncan. He told me that he is named after an ancestor who was one of the first Mackintoshes who started the clan in the 1400’s. The Mackintoshes have lent their name to apples and in the 1800’s a family member invented waterproof fabric. The fabric was used to make raincoats called Mackintoshes and the coats are still around today. Duncan and I had a great time chatting and laughing about our histories and experiences. He is a kind, gentle man and I am lucky to have landed in his bakery.

Duncan thinks my star friends are in the Loch with Nessie. When the weather is nice, he will help me find them. He frequently goes to the shores of the Loch at night and whispers greetings to Nessie. He has seen the water ripple and twinkle with stars so he is sure my friends are there. Until then, he is excited to teach me about baking and to have me helping him in the bakery, along side Matti. I am thrilled! Duncan has an apron with a front pocket and I can hop into his pocket to watch and learn how to bake cakes and breads, and of course, bagels.

The next day, while Matti was in the kitchen making tea, her best friend Alice stopped by to say hello. Alice lives down the street and Matti had already explained to Alice about me. Alice couldn’t wait to meet a magical bagel and at the first chance she got, she skipped out of her house and ran up the street to see Matti. Meeting Alice was fun! She has a bubbly personality and a quick wit that had me rolling on the floor with laughter. The 3 of us became friends right away, and we laughed over jokes and bakery bun puns.

Alice came by the bakery frequently and liked to dance to music as much as Matti. We agreed the songs of Wallace Chung were our favorites. Alice told us that Wallace was also an actor and dancer who she watched perform on her TV. She did not understand the Chinese dialog or lyrics, but Wallace was handsome and performed his songs and drama roles so well that Alice could guess what was being said. She invited Matti and me over to her house to watch Wallace the next time his performance was broadcast in the British Isles.

Time flew by as I learned how to bake bread, frost cupcakes, and make bagels. Duncan, Matti and I became close, like family members, and I started calling Duncan “Dad.” He showed me how he made everything and I was a quick learner. Soon I was standing beside him on a high stool in the kitchen, kneading bread and licking spoons after frosting the cakes. When Matti went to the front counter to wait on customers, I was in her apron pocket, helping her describe the taste and aroma of fresh baked raisin bread and sweet orange rolls. People noticed me in her pocket and soon the word spread that the bakery had a magical bagel that talked. People wanted to meet the bagel who had a glowing “O” and spoke with a Scottish accent punctuated with odd words from an ancient language. No one was surprised or shocked by me. After all, Nessie was a few steps away in the magical waters of Loch Ness so why couldn’t a bagel be magical too.

Becoming a Bagel Baker
I became the open secret of all the locals who lived in Loch Ness. Everyone was kind hearted and sometimes folks would stop by only to get a donut and chat with me. Dad and Matti placed a rocking chair for me on the front counter, next to the list of daily baked goods, where I could explain to anyone the taste of an item and how it could be paired with other food and wine. When a tourist wandered into the bakery for a snack, I jumped into Matti’s or Dad’s apron pocket and hid to make sure I wasn’t selected for purchase.

Learning to bake from Dad was fun. He knew the secrets to baking the best cakes and breads, and he shared his secrets with me. I learned how to sift flour, measure cream, soften butter and to encourage yeast to grow into plump loaves of bread. I learned how to spin the cake turner and frost a cake at the same time, and roll-out dough for cookies topped with cinnamon sugar and sprinkled with almonds. My favorite activity was frosting cupcakes. I always managed to get icing on my fingers which I licked off after I was finished. If the frosting was chocolate flavored, then I also licked the icing bowl clean. Grin! I love chocolate.

As I learned how to bake from Dad, I got ideas for new recipes and ingredients. At night, after I cleaned the bakery, I would work in the kitchen, trying out recipe ideas. Some ideas were dismal failures that I put into the trash bin. However, other ideas tasted good and a few were positively delicious. These I kept and the next day Matti, Dad and I would taste-test my latest creations. I added leeks to bread dough, added Scotch to cream cheese frosting, and flavored oats with apple, orange and grape juices. I enjoyed baking breads, scones and cakes, but my real passion was making bagels.

Making bagels is an art and Dad knew his ancestor’s bagel recipe by heart. His father had taught the recipe to Dad and he had gotten it from his father. The recipe had been passed on from father to son for generations and was as old as the bakery. The bakery’s bagels were the best in town and the recipe was a closely guarded secret. There were two parts to the secret. First was the bagel dough itself and how it was formed and baked. Second, the oats sprinkled onto the bagel when it came out of the oven were collected from an ancient family farm located in the Scottish highlands.

The Nightmare!
My time at the bakery was filled with laughter, baking, and dancing to Wallace Chung songs with Matti and Alice. We watched Wallace and his sister, Jackie, compete in the Amazing Race, and cheered when they won. We played Wallace’s albums while working in the bakery. Dad even moved his hips to the music and hummed along with us. Customers at the front counter could hear the music and tapped their toes to the beat. I am certain that Wallace would have been surprised to know he had fans in Loch Ness, Scotland.

It was May 5, 2014, a day I will never forget. I was helping a customer at the front counter. I had stood up from my rocking chair and showed a young woman how to pair a dessert wine with our baked almond crunch bars. She had brought her 5 year old son with her. As she and I talked, the little boy looked around for something to do. I could see him watching me with curiosity and I was careful not to leave the top counter.

And then it happened. Suddenly, when his mother looked at our selection of cakes, the little boy jumped up and with one hand, snatched me off the counter. I was stunned and did not dare move. The boy looked at me intently, turning me over, trying to move my hands. I was wearing my plaid kilt and sash, and I probably looked like an animated doll to him. The boy sniffed me and suddenly his eyes lit up. He was hungry. Very hungry! I screamed and kicked with all my might. Matti turned around in horror as the boy’s mother took me out of his mouth. She gave me to Matti and apologized profusely with tears in her eyes. She was embarrassed and mortified to think how her son had come so close to taking a bite out of Master Otis, the magical bagel. The boy started crying and everyone in the bakery shook their heads in disbelief. How could this have happened? Is the bagel okay? Who will make our bagels if Otis and the baker leave Loch Ness because of this incident? A local news reporter stood in the corner, taking notes for a story on the nightly news.

I had shut my eyes, silently said goodbye to my star friends, and then I blacked out. I don’t remember anything after seeing the boy’s lips. Matti ran with me to the back room and examined me closely. She started sobbing when she saw my oats had stopped moving and I was laying very still. Matti bit her lip as tears slid down her cheeks. Dad ran over to help. He looked me over carefully and rubbed my tummy. A faint glow appeared and a couple of oats moved. I opened my eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. The nightmare was over. It was a good sign and Dad was sure I would be okay and only needed time to recuperate. Matti gently tucked me into my bed on the shelf. She filled a glass with water from the Loch, hoping the magic star dust in the water would help to heal me. I had been traumatized but with bed rest and star dust, I would recover.

Chapter Two. A New Chapter of My Life

The story ran on the local Loch Ness news TV channel and was front page news in the Nessie Tribune. A large photo of Otis sitting in his rocking chair on the bakery counter accompanied the story, along with smaller photos showing Otis kneading dough and icing cakes. The reporter interviewed the baker about Otis being a magical bagel, the work he did in the bakery, and how he was friends with everyone. The baker said Otis was the most talented bagel baker he had ever met, and described the new bagel recipes Otis was creating: peanut butter for children and Scotch soaked oats for adults. The TV news video featured recent clips of Otis, the baker and Matti when they announced new bagel flavors available for their customers.

Matti recorded the news program and saved newspaper article clippings for Otis. The bakery began receiving cards and bouquets of flowers with wishes for him to get well soon and how he was missed. Matti showed Otis the cards and put some of the flowers into a vase next to his bed where he was recuperating. Alice came over and sat with Otis, reading to him and playing ballads sung by Wallace Chung. She brought her knitting needles and while Otis lay quietly with star dust swirling around him, she knit him a scarf and mittens.

A few days later Alice surprised us and said she was moving to Edinburgh to attend college. We were sad Alice was leaving home  but happy that she would be living her dream. Alice always wanted to study history and become a professor. She was very smart and we all thought she would make a very good teacher. We hugged and with tears rolling down our cheeks, we wished her well. We made her promise to visit whenever she came back home. 

The bakery was quiet after Alice left. Matti and I missed Alice and her updates about Wallace. Dad understood our sadness and said he would buy us a new TV so that we could watch Wallace concerts and dramas when they were broadcast in the British Isles. Before Alice left home she gave us the list of TV channels that showed Wallace programs. When the new TV arrived, Mattie and I immediately turned on the channels and there was Wallace, dancing and singing. We thanked Dad for the new TV and the 3 of us watched Wallace perform. We were devoted fans of Wa!

In the Spotlight
One day a tourist walked into the bakery asking about the bagel. They had heard on the international news about the bagel and hoped that Otis was feeling better. Dad and Matti were shocked to learn that the local news story had been picked up by international news wires. They searched the Internet and discovered there were lots of articles about Otis and their bakery. The articles had been translated into different languages, including Chinese. Soon everyone knew about Master Otis, the magical bagel who baked in Loch Ness, Scotland at D. Mackintosh Bakers.

Matti and her father looked at each other. While it was nice to have their bakery mentioned in the news, they were worried about Otis. They needed a plan that would keep him safe in the future while giving him freedom to be himself, nurture his baking talents and share his outgoing personality with people. Otis was feeling better and wanted to go back to work in the bakery. Matti wondered how they could prevent a horrifying accident from happening again. Her Dad started thinking out loud, wondering what made Otis look like a normal bagel while other features made Otis magical, not to be eaten. Otis was fearless but the incident with the child proved that he was vulnerable.
 
The bagel’s short height, delicious bread fragrance, and oat sprinkles made him a target for hungry tummies. His white gloves and foot covers, and cute plaid kilt and sash, made him look like a toy doll to young children and animals. Only when Otis spoke and moved did the “real” magical bagel appear to dispel all notions of food and eating.  Matti and her father agreed the height of Otis, his fragrance, and oats could not be changed. However, his clothes could be tailored to banish all thoughts of food.

Dad wondered if the current president of the Mackintosh raincoat company, Bonnie, could assist them. Dad was a cousin and knew Bonnie was also a chemist, like her great, great, grandfather. Dad thought Bonnie’s chemistry knowledge and clothing design experience could hold the answer to keeping the bagel safe in the future. He told Matti about Bonnie. Within minutes he was chatting with Bonnie on his cell phone. Bonnie was excited to help out and the next day Matti and Dad drove to Glasgow to have lunch with Bonnie.

Photos of Otis, the bakery, and the story of the horrible incident were shared with Bonnie. She was sad about what happened to Otis and was intrigued by the magical O and the challenge of keeping Otis safe from hungry tummies and curious humans. She agreed the right piece of clothing could keep Otis safer in the future. Not only could clothing make Otis unappealing to tummies, but the clothing could emit a smell that could deter young hands from carrying him off to a toy box.  She drew some quick sketches on a napkin and described some odors that might be effective. Matti and her Dad were thrilled with Bonnie’s enthusiasm and ideas, and asked her to proceed with production at her earliest convenience. They smiled and chatted all the way home to Loch Ness, excited to share the news with Otis.

I was able to sit up in bed and felt much better now. My oats were moving around my magical O and the glow was brighter. Matti was by my bedside, telling me about the news articles being translated into Chinese, and how flowers arrived everyday with well wishes for me. She was feeding me a piece of chocolate cake when Dad walked in. I grinned. I loved the attention. Dad pulled up a chair next to the shelf where I was sitting in bed.

Chapter Three. I am Master Otis, the Bagel Baker

Until the coat was made by Bonnie, I needed to be protected as I worked in the bakery. Dad and Matti were busy baking and couldn’t watch me every minute of every day. We decided that I should stay away from the front counter for the time being, and only go out when I could be inside the apron pocket of either Dad or Mattie.

With Matti and Dad protecting me, I devoted myself to becoming the very best bagel baker I could be. Dad had taught me his baking secrets and I had created new bagel flavors, but I wanted to improve my bagel baking skills. I watched videos of bagel bakers in other countries make bagels unique to their cultures and tastes. I participated in group chats about making bagels and soon I was being called a Master Bagel Baker. I had fun and met bakers around the world who shared my passion and baking interests. We exchanged bagel recipes and posted photos of our latest baking triumphs. Matti was by my side and became an official bagel recipe taster. Whenever a new recipe was posted, we made it and Matti tasted it. Her tasting reviews were honest and fun to read. We made a good team!

Soon an official letter arrived at the bakery, addressed to me. Matti opened and read it aloud.  I was surprised to learn that I had been inducted into the International Association of Bagel Bakers. I blinked and asked Matti to read the letter again. It was true. The members of the association had voted to include me in their Bagel Hall of Fame, and I was being made an honorary member of the association. At their next meeting I would be given the official title of “Distinguished Bagel Baker.”  I was speechless by the honor and humbled by the admiration of my fellow bagel bakers.

Mackintosh coats to the rescue!
t took months of research and testing before Bonnie and her company’s chemists and tailors succeeded in creating odor coats that synched with my magical “O.” She is on her way to the bakery right now to deliver the coats. I am excited to put on the coats and try out the sprays. Matti has cleared an area of the bakery where I can test the coats without getting flour on them, or accidentally spraying any cookies on the cooling racks.  Dad is helping Bonnie bring in 2 big boxes. When she opens them my eyes become as wide as my O. She takes out one of the coats and explains how the spray works. Not only does the coat communicate with my magical O, she refined the coat’s voice recognition software so it recognizes only my O’s voice and no other.

I put on the blue coat and it fits perfectly. It is comfortable and there is a lining with a zipper so it can be removed when the weather is warm.  There are a dozen coats of different colors and styles. One is a dark blue and is my favorite for going with Matti and Dad when they walk around town. I wear the white coat in the bakery. Bonnie styled it so it looks like an apron. White flour will not show on it and it hides my magical O. There’s a traditional tan and Mackintosh plaid coat for rainy days, a heavy wool coat with a fur collar for cold, snowy days, and a soft, knit sweater coat for cool, Spring days. Each coat has removable electronic panels so the coat can be cleaned.

Matti wants to see the coat in action and Bonnie suggests that I wear the white apron coat outside to try out the spray. I tell my magical O to command the coat to spray an orange odor around me. Within seconds I smell like an orange grove. Matti and Bonnie smell the orange spray too, and we all laugh and clap our hands with delight. Bonnie’s work is brilliant and the coats are everything that she promised and more. Whenever I feel threatened, I can tell my magical O to command the coat to spray an odor around me. I can ask for odors to deter different types of threats. For example, if an animal sniffed me then my O could command the coat to spray lemon odor. Or if a hungry tummy got too close, the coat could spray skunk odor. I am thrilled with the coats and thank Bonnie again and again for her creativity and hard work.

Falling into the water over Wa!
The spray coats helped me to settle into a daily baking routine without bothering Matti or Dad. They put a coat rack next to my bed on the shelf, and that is where all my coats are hanging. Meanwhile, I had fun baking and I added new flavors of bagels to our list including coconut mango and rum raisin. The Nessie Tribune reporter and I became friends, and he stops by to chat and munch on cookies. He writes stories about our bakery and the international awards I receive. His stories are always picked up by the local TV station and are published by news outlets on the Internet.

When I was inducted into the Hall of Bagel Fame, the Loch Ness TV station invited me to be a guest on their daily morning show to talk about being a bagel baker.  It was during a commercial break that I found out from one of the show hosts that Wallace Chung had won awards for his Sing for Life album and that he was the male lead in a new drama called “My Sunshine.” The host was a fan of Wallace Chung and told me the drama was being aired throughout Asia and was very popular. Several broadcast companies aired the drama and the TV station had it scheduled to air next month!

When I told Matti the news, she couldn’t believe her ears. Matti opened her laptop and searched for information about the drama. And there it was! The drama was being aired in Hong Kong and other locations in Asia, in Chinese.  However a team of translators were busy making a version of the drama with English subtitles. The local TV station would be airing the version with the English subtitles. Matti and I joined hands and danced in a circle, excited and elated to know that we would soon be watching our favorite singer perform as an actor in a drama.  Matti took a big red pencil and circled the date on the calendar hanging on the bakery wall.

Matti and I will never forget the day in 2015 when we watched Wallace Chung perform the role of HeYichen in the “My Sunshine” drama. We had watched teasers about the drama storyline and listened to the theme song sung by Wallace. However, nothing could have prepared us to watch the entire drama unfold with Wallace going from a stern, obsessed attorney to a loving husband of the girl for whom he had yearned for over 7 years.

Matti and I were smitten with Wallace’s superb acting and gorgeous facial features. We learned that his fans called him “Wa” and we were not the only ones who watched the drama multiple times to enjoy Wa’s on-screen presence. We had “fallen into the water” over Wa and there was no turning back. We shared our hopes and dreams about meeting Wa someday. We learned as much as we could about him, his drama work, awards, and lifestyle.

Chapter Four. Eight Years Later. . .

Matti and I never stopped admiring Wa and his work. We became members of the Wallace Chung North America LM group, a Facebook group with thousands of Wa fans located across the globe. We shared our passion for Wa and his talents, and made new friends too. Wa starred in numerous dramas, and we watched every one of them several times. Matti liked the modern day drama stories while I liked Wa performing in costume dramas, like the Sword & Brocade. We watched Wa participate in dance contests and reality programs, and we enjoyed his personality and wit during TV interviews and product endorsements.

My baking reputation spread and I was asked to speak at baker meeting Summits and to judge bagel bake-offs which were televised across the British Isles and on YouTube baking channels. I was happy to share my knowledge and expertise with other bakers. The International Association of Bagel Bakers made plans to recognize my talents with an award, but the worldwide Covid epidemic disrupted meeting plans and the Association cancelled their annual meeting.  It was not until the Winter of 2022 when the Association announced it would hold its next annual meeting in July 2023 in China. At that time I would be inducted into their Hall of Bagel Fame, made an honorary member of the association, and given the title of “Distinguished Bagel Baker.”

I was asked if I would be the keynote speaker at the meeting. I was elated about sharing my baking knowledge and I was thrilled about visiting China. I jokingly wondered aloud to Matti if I could meet Wa while I was there. She smiled and asked if I would need someone to carry my suitcase. Of course I would need help and I grinned! 

The meeting planners sent me the details about the meeting, the hotel where I would stay, when I would be speaking, and who would pick me up at the airport. Matti would go with me to make sure I arrived safely. I would take several of my coats and Matti would wear tops with pockets where I could be safe. We got our passports updated and made sure Matti and I could go through the airport security without any problems.

Ni hao China!
Matti and I decided to arrive in China several days before the meeting so we could recover from jet lag. The flight from Scotland to China was uneventful. I spent time reviewing my speech notes and dozing in Matti’s pocket. She watched a Wa drama on her iPad.  A limo was waiting for us at the airport and took us to the hotel where we stayed in a 2 bedroom luxury suite. I took one look at my bed and fell fast asleep in it. Matti fell asleep in her room. We both slept soundly and woke up not knowing what day or night it was. Thankfully the front desk helped us get oriented. After a few cups of coffee and a hearty meal, Matti and I were ready to venture out of the hotel.

We were in Shanghai and the baker meeting was being held in a conference room located in the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center. We walked around and found the room. I tested the microphone and Matti made sure there was a tall chair that I could stand on while giving my presentation. The meeting was being live streamed and recorded. I was the keynote speaker for tomorrow morning. Our hotel was close by and we could walk to the conference room.

There were several restaurants in the Center and we looked at the breakfast menus. We decided to have a cup of coffee in the Center and while sitting we both noticed a series of posters announcing a Wallace Chung concert. We looked at each other. The concert information was in Chinese. Matti turned on her phone and her Chinese translation app. The translation said the concert was going to be held tomorrow evening, July 29th, in the Sports Center. We both sat motionless, our minds whirling with the possibilities of attending the concert. What are the chances that we can get tickets? The concert is also being held on the 30th. Maybe that would be the best time to attend.

We quickly gathered more information about the concerts and when the ticket offices opened in the morning. Matti could buy tickets while I was giving my keynote speech and accepting the awards. The hotel concierge would help Mattie get the tickets because she did not speak Chinese.  The people attending the baker’s meeting all knew me and would make sure I was safe in one of their pockets.  Matti and I agreed we had a plan that would work and we walked back to the hotel with big grins on our faces. 

Neither Matti or I slept much that night.  I had to focus on the bagel bakers meeting but my heart was jumping with joy about the Wa concert. Matti and I walked to the Center. She left me in the meeting room to go buy the concert tickets. One of my best bagel baker friends arrived early for the meeting and we chatted while walking down the hallway towards a small snack bar.  Suddenly, I saw a notice about Wa’s concert practice being held today. I said to my friend that I have always wanted to meet Wa and I wondered if our schedules would permit it. My friend suggested that I write a note to Wa, asking if he had time to meet a fan from Scotland. He told me he would deliver the note to Wa. I quickly wrote the note and my friend carried it away to the concert rehearsal hall.

I walked back to the meeting room to find several bakers getting ready to tour the Center’s main baking kitchen. I hopped into a baker’s pocket and together we all walked to the kitchen for the tour. It was fascinating to see such a large kitchen bakery. They made all the food in the Center and had a whole room full of ovens for baking fresh breads and pies. The Head Baker led everyone out to the dining room to sample some freshly made cupcakes and cookies. I was sitting in a tall chair munching on a chocolate cupcake when I saw him across the room. It was Wa!

My friend had done more than deliver my note to Wa. He had found Wa and personally described how I was a Scottish bagel who was a fan and who really wanted to meet him. He explained how I was a special bagel with a magical “O”, and how he was sure Wa and I would enjoy each other’s company. Wa was fascinated by what my friend said and was curious about meeting a bagel who had human qualities and magical properties too. He suggested to my friend that they go through the dining room as a shortcut to reach the meeting room. As they began to cross the room, my friend yelled out “There he is!” and pointed to me! Wa stopped in his tracks and that’s when our eyes locked. I saw Wa and Wa saw me. It was fate.

Chatting with Wa
I have finally done it. I have met my idol and he is sitting next to me. Wa is looking at me with great curiosity. I grin and tell him very quickly how I became a bagel with a magical “O” and who lives in Scotland, and who is a world famous bagel baker accepting an award in China. We shook hands, exchanged autographs and took selfies with each other. We would have chatted all day but Wa had to go back to his concert practice.  He asked me if I would like to see the concert practice. Naturally I replied “Yes!”

We started to walk down the hall but I couldn’t keep up with Wa. His long legs took great strides and I had to run to stay beside Wa. Wa noticed I was running and out of breath. He suggested that he carry me but Wa’s shirt pockets were too big and I could not see over the pocket edge. Instead, Wa quickly took a sandwich bag and offered it to me as a carrying case and when they reached Wa’s dressing room he would change his shirt to one with a smaller pocket. I thought this sounded like a good idea and hopped into the bag.

Wa carried the bag carefully. He walked into a hallway where someone asked Wa what was in the bag. Wa held up the bag and smiled. I heard someone sneeze and at the same moment the bag broke open and I fell out of it. I was shocked and my magical oats immediately took charge of protecting me. I was not wearing one of my Macintosh coats so the only protection my magical oats could give me was to get away from danger. I fell onto a table and my oats rolled me to the floor, where they became wild and rolled me out the door. Before I knew it, my oats had rolled me down the sidewalk and under a tree where I sat silent and frightened, hoping Wa would find me.

When Wa saw the bagel drop out of the bag he was stunned. He started to run after the bagel as it rolled out the door. Wa is a fast runner but the rolling oats were faster. The last time Wa saw the bagel, he was rolling down the sidewalk. Wa knew he needed help to get the bagel, so he ran back to the dining room to find the bagel’s baker friend. As Wa began to tell him about dropping the bagel, Matti appeared with the concert tickets. She saw Wa and the baker talking anxiously, and did not see the bagel anywhere. She introduced herself and Wa described what happened to the bagel. They ran outside to where Wa last saw the bagel, down the sidewalk that ended at the base of a tree. There they found a couple of oats but the bagel was no where in sight. Matti began crying because she knew the bagel was vulnerable without his coat.

Wa felt terrible. He was sorry the bagel fell out of the bag and he promised Matti that he would find the bagel. He reasoned the bagel could not have gone far. He was going to organize a large search team and he was sure they would find the bagel safe and sound. Matti and the baker would continue looking around the tree to find any clues as to where the oats may have rolled the bagel.

Wa went inside and told everyone about the bagel’s plight. Dozens of people offered to join the hunt for the bagel and they left to find Matti and the baker. Wa was torn between joining the hunt or continuing with the concert practice. It was a heart-breaking decision. His concert dancers advised Wa to continue with the practice and the concerts. They were sure the search teams would find the bagel and when the concerts were finished, Wa could apologize to the bagel and help him over the trauma.

Chapter Five. Rolling Oats and Geese

I pleaded with my magical oats to take me back to the Sports Center, back to Matti and Wa, and my bagel baker friends. But my oats had other ideas. My oats took me on a wild journey up hills and down dales. They rolled me onto a boat to cross a blue ocean and to land on an island paradise. I met owls and deer, and a loving pair of geese who flew me past fluffy clouds and moon beams. I slept on the back of a goose, dreaming of Mattie and Wa. While I slept the geese flew right over Scotland, on their way to North America. They were Canadian geese and I sobbed when I learned about their flight path. I was homesick and tired, and wondered if I would ever see Matti and Wa again.  When the geese heard my story we were halfway across the Atlantic ocean. They thought the best place for me was New York City where I could phone Matti and tell her where I was.

The geese landed in Central Park in New York City. They tucked me into their goose nest and watched over me. I was careful not to attract any attention for fear of being eaten. I found clothes and shoes that fit me, and hide my magical “O” and wild oats. The geese asked the resident swans for advice about finding a phone I could use. They said people forget their phones all the time and they had several phones in their nest. The swans brought out a phone with a working battery. I dialed Matti’s cell phone number and when I heard her voice I started crying tears of joy. I told her where I was located before the phone battery stopped working.  The swans did not have any other phones with working batteries but they reassured me that before long someone would leave their phone next to the pond, and I could use it to call Matti again.

Matti and Wa Travel to NYC
Matti shook her phone trying to reestablish the call with the bagel, but it was no use. She redialed the number but got a message saying the phone was out of service. She and Wa were in Loch Ness, Scotland looking for the bagel. The search team that Wa had organized never found the bagel or any clues as to where it went. Matti was devastated. For two nights, Mattie sat in Wa’s dressing room during the concerts, heartbroken. She could not bring herself to join the concert audience with her best friend missing from her side. Wa tried to console her but it was difficult when he was sad too. After the concerts, Wa and Matti made a methodical plan for finding the bagel. They would search until they found the bagel, no matter how long it took.

Matti told Wa the whole story about the bagel and his magical “O”. She described how the bagel came to live in Loch Ness, Scotland and became an acclaimed bagel baker. Matti thought the bagel would try to return home to Scotland. The bagel didn’t speak Chinese and he wasn’t wearing a Macintosh coat when he dropped from the bag. However, the bagel had baker friends across the world and the bagel was smart. Wa had lots of fans and he thought they would be willing to help look for the bagel.  Together they wrote announcements about looking for the bagel and soon millions of Wa fans were on the lookout for the bagel.

The bagel was spotted by a fan in Zagreb and Dolac market. The fan sent a photo to Wa and Matti recognized the bagel sitting at a table. She and Wa flew to Zagreb but got there too late, the bagel had already left. They flew to Scotland hoping the bagel had made it home. It was then that Matti got the phone call from the bagel saying he was in New York City. Matti ran to find Wa and told him about the phone call. Whey were standing in the bakery where the bagel story began and Wa was talking to Duncan about the bagel being a baker and dancing to Wa’s songs. Duncan became upset when he heard about the bagel getting lost, and wanted to join Wa and Matti in the search. But Matti thought it would be best if Dad stayed home and kept baking, incase the bagel made it home.

Wa and Matti booked a flight to New York City, and they studied maps of the city trying to guess where the bagel might be. Matti kept trying to call the bagel’s phone number but it never responded. She had recorded the call, like she did for all phone calls, and Wa had listened to the call. Now, he put the recording though a voice analyzer in an attempt to identify anything unusual about the bagel and his surroundings. He was surprised to hear, very faintly in the background the sound of water and honking. He asked Matti to listen and she too heard water splashing and honks. They didn’t sound like car horns honking. Her face suddenly brightened and suggested that the honks could be geese. They looked at the city maps again and saw Central Park with its water ponds. Wa was certain that when the bagel called Matti he was in Central Park.

The flight from Scotland to New York city seemed to take forever. Both Wa and Matti rushed off the plane, grabbed their luggage and went through U.S. Customs.  They hailed a taxi and asked the driver to take them to the Central Park Pond. It is a big body of water but they had to start somewhere.  When Wa saw the size of the pond he suggested to Matti that they first go to the hotel to change into walking shoes and learn more about Central Park. Their hotel was next to Lincoln Center. Wa wanted to see the famous stage. Matti had always wanted to watch a live ballet performance. Maybe he and Matti could get tickets and attend one night to relieve their anguish over the bagel’s disappearance.

They walked for several hours around the Central Park Pond. There were geese and swans honking at each other, so Matti and Wa felt they were close to the bagel. But they didn’t see him. They decided to come back the next day and continue looking. Wa mentioned to Matti about a ballet performance at Lincoln Center and wondered if she would like to join him to watch the dance. She declined saying she was bone-tired and wanted to soak in a warm bath and sleep. Wa understood and changed into clothes suitable for an evening at Lincoln Center.

Wa walked to the Center and found his seat in the performance hall. The chandeliers glowed, the red velvet seats were comfortable and he had a front row seat so he could stretch his legs. The seats filled up quickly with people and he wondered if anyone in the audience had seen the bagel. He jumped up and without giving it further thought, he asked the crowd about the bagel. Someone in the third row said he saw a bagel talking with swans over in Central Park. Wa was excited and asked the man to join him behind the stage curtains so he could get more information. The lights dimmed a couple of times and an announcer advised that everyone take their seats because the performance would soon begin. Wa and the man scooted behind the curtain. They were talking when Wa heard someone on stage ask about Wallace Chung. Had anyone seen him? Wa turned around to face the stage and from behind the curtain saw the bagel!

Chapter Six. Wa and Bagel Together Again

Wa could not believe his eyes and he ran onto the stage. Through tears of joy he saw me and waved as the audience burst into cheers and told me to turn around. It was then I saw Wa running towards me. Wa and I hugged on stage and the audience clapped and whistled as they witnessed our happy reunion. Our friendship had endured months of anxiety and difficulties but now we were together. We looked at one another and promised we would be together forever. Wa and I bowed to the audience and thanked everyone for their support. We wished them a happy evening enjoying the ballet and then we walked off the stage together.

Wa did not have a pocket for me to jump into so Wa took short steps and held my hand as we walked out of the Center. It was then when I asked Wa about Matti. Wa explained she was in the hotel room. Wa matched my walking pace so I did not have to run to keep up with him, but my pace was very slow and it would take an hour before we reached the hotel. Wa saw street vendors and had an idea. He stopped by a vendor cart that had t-shirts displayed. The vendor helped Wa find a shirt with a pocket that fit me and Wa changed into the shirt. I jumped into the pocket and looked over the edge. I could see everything. It was perfect.

Wa quickly walked to the hotel and opened the door to the suite of rooms. There was Matti, sitting at the table, studying the map of Central Park. She looked up and saw me. I jumped out of Wa’s pocket and into her arms. We hugged and shrieked, excited to see each other. Wa joined us and the 3 of us burst into a happy dance of joy.

Wa ordered room service for dinner and while we ate in the suite, we shared our adventure stories. Wa apologized for dropping me out of the bag and I regretted not being able to stop my wild, rolling oats. Matti called Dad in Loch Ness to tell him that we were together again. Dad was very happy to hear the news and wondered when we would be returning to the bakery. He wanted to meet Wa in person and celebrate with us. At 2:00 in the morning Matti could hardly keep her eyes open. Wa and I were still telling stories but when we looked at Matti, we thought we should all get some sleep.

The next morning, Wa and I woke up before Matti, and we were chatting over coffee. We discovered we had a lot in common when it came to music and magical “O”s. His concert series theme was based on a magical “O” that could transport his fans to listen to his earlier songs refreshed with new interpretations. I was fascinated with the transport idea and showed him how my oats could make my magical “O” glow. I told him what it was like to be a star traveller in a meteor shower and he told me about wearing a concert outfit covered with stars and constellations. Each of us felt the pull of a magical “O” that brought us together. Was the “O” fate?

Loch Ness
Matti was quieter than usual when she joined us for lunch. She had spoken to her Dad again and he told her about the bakery and the tourists who were ruining the quiet ambiance of Loch Ness. Even Nessie noticed it and moved to a deeper part of the loch for peace and quiet. Dad could not blame Nessie for moving but he missed chatting with her at night when the moon was full and stars were twinkling. He really missed Matti and wondered if she could come home soon.

Wa and I looked at each other. We were sitting in a hotel suite located in New York City. We enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the big city. Every day brought something new to explore when we stepped out the front door of the hotel. Museums, ball games, concerts, and theatre plays. The city was alive with energy and we basked in it. Matti came with us but Wa and I could tell that she missed Loch Ness. Together we decided to go back to Scotland.

Our flight arrived at the Glasgow Airport on time and Dad was there to greet us. He cried tears of joy when he saw Matti. He gave me a bear hug and then turned to Wa, who was grinning. I introduced both of them and they shook hands before hugging each other. I could sense they would enjoy each other’s company. Matti sat in the front seat while her Dad drove us to Loch Ness. They chatted and laughed while I pointed out sights to Wa. We drove by golf courses, herds of sheep, and fine Scotch distilleries. Wa marveled at the landscapes and the fresh water streams cascading over moss-covered rocks. He was excited to see old castles and I told him we could tour a few.

When we arrived at Loch Ness I could immediately see what Dad meant by the town being overrun with tourists. Some of the shops that sold meats, household goods, and clothing now catered to tourists with maps, postcards and knicknacks. There was even a bagel doll dressed in a kilt and sash. I groaned when I saw it. Dad opened the bakery door and the smell of fresh baked goods greeted us. My tummy rumbled and I saw Wa lick his lips. Dad chuckled and took us into the back room where fresh cupcakes and scones were waiting for us. He made coffee and we all sat around the table munching contentedly.

We asked Dad about the town and the tourists. It was sad to see the change. Dad told us the bakery was a tourist destination because of my story. The bakery sold a lot of baked goods and Dad was so busy baking that he had hired a helper to work out on the counter. When Matti heard that she shook her head. I looked around the familiar room. There was the shelf where I slept next to the radio where we listened to Wa sing. Next to the cooling racks were the bowls and spoons I licked after icing chocolate cupcakes.

Matti and I gave Wa a tour of the baking rooms and showed him everything we remembered, and how we fell into the water for him.  Wa was humbled by our stories and grateful for having us as loyal fans. He never realized there were so many fans listening to his music and watching his dramas across the British Isles. Wa asked Dad if he could autograph the photograph of Wa by the radio. Dad beamed a broad smile and gave Wa a pen.

Dad closed the bakery early so he and Matti could go home and catch up with one another. Wa and I got a suite at a nearby Inn overlooking the Loch. When nightfall came we walked down to the Loch under a full moon and I showed him the star dust twinkling in the Loch. He scooped up some Loch water in his hand and saw the tiny swirling stars and looked at me. I put my feet into the Loch and star dust twinkled around my “O”.  It was fate that we met. We shared a love of life, music and an enduring friendship, and that was magical.

Chapter Seven. I Retire from Baking

Going back to our room I was quiet. Wa noticed and asked if everything was okay. I said everything was fine, but it wasn’t. I realized that I had a choice to make and my decision would upset my friends. When we were in the suite, I told Wa that I wanted to retire. I did not want to be a baker anymore. He was surprised at first but as I explained to him how I was looking for a new life with new interests, he nodded. He understood and asked if I could wish a new life, what would it be? I took a deep breath and said my new life would be in China where I could be his close friend. Wa grinned and his eyes lit up. He clapped his hands and tapped his feet in a happy dance. He was ecstatic! 

I did not know that Wa dreaded leaving Scotland, to return to China without me by his side. Even with long video chats and rambling messages, Wa knew he would miss my presence. He was not looking forward to wearing a shirt with a pocket without me sitting in it, chatting and peeking over the pocket edge. My wish to join Wa in China was the best wish he had ever heard and he wanted it to happen. I hugged him. It was settled. I would retire and go to China with him and manage his household. I would help backstage at concerts, ride in his van to drama sets, and be in his pocket at outdoor events.

The next day we told Matti and Dad about our plans to return to China together. Both were sad to learn that I was retiring from being a baker but they understood my wish to explore new interests and challenges. Matti looked wistfully at Wa and sighed. She really liked his company. Then she looked at both of us and realized that we were meant to be together. I told her that as soon as I got familiar with Wa’s household and Wa had finished his professional obligations, she and Dad should visit us in China. Until then, we can video chat and send messages to stay in touch.

Home to China
Wa booked our tickets to China and we said our tearful goodbyes to Matti and Dad. On the plane Wa told me about his multiple residences. As I listened, I wondered what I had gotten myself into as his “household manager.”  While I knew he had a couple of homes, I was surprised to learn that he had several residences. One in Hong Kong, one in Taiwan, another in Shanghai, one in Beijing, and another one outside of Beijing. It made sense for him to have multiple homes to be close to his family, recording studios, production company, and drama sets. The homes in the cities were large apartments overlooking cityscapes. The home outside of Beijing was a comfortable residence located inside a gated, private community. It had a large backyard and the neighbors respected Wa’s privacy. It was quiet and peaceful, and this was the home Wa preferred for relaxing and getting away from work. Wa thought I would like to live in this home.

He was right. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had arrived “home”. The house has an open front porch that is inviting and comfortable. Going up the front steps I noticed the rocking chairs on the porch and the hanging pots of flowers. Wa had called ahead to tell HeiHua that we were on our way.  Wa explained that HeiHua was a large panda plushie who was a companion and lived at the house. She was magical too. She could talk and dance and when Wa was home, he enjoyed her furry companionship. She had an easy-going personality and sometimes she accompanied him on trips.

Wa told me that years ago he introduced his fans to her during a concert which made HeiHua blush at all the attention. Afterwards, plushies looking just like her became the favorite dolls of Wa fans everywhere. Recently Wa worked with a doll studio to create a cape that has panda ears and black and white fur, just like HeiHua. The cape is cute and cloaks Wa dolls, including a doll of Wa himself. I looked at Wa and tried to imagine him wearing a panda costume cape and grinned. This I would have to see and take a photo to send to Matti!

Settling into My New Home
HeiHua was everything that Wa said she was and I immediately liked her gentle demeanor. She showed me the bedroom where I would sleep. She asked if it was okay and I said it was perfect. It had a window looking out to the backyard, a closet for my magical coats, and a soft bed and pillows. It was comfortable, quiet and was across the hall from Wa’s bedroom. HeiHua’s room was next door so if I needed anything, I could ask her. We each had our own bathrooms which was good because I had seen Wa shower and shave in the hotel suite and I had to tip toe through the puddles on the floor afterwards.

After I unpacked my belongings, I looked for HeiHua to show me the rest of the house. She and Wa were out in the backyard, swaying back and forth in the swing, chatting and drinking tea. When I went out they scooted over and made room for me on the swing. I sat between them and almost fell asleep from the rocking motion. I was startled when Wa suddenly stopped the swing to answer his phone. As he walked towards the house, HeiHua said that I would soon get used to Wa. I looked at her and blinked. I guessed that Wa had not told HeiHua our story or about our friendship.

After dinner we watched a Wa movie and later I went to my room to settle down for the night. It had a desk and a new laptop computer was sitting on it. I pulled up a chair, put a couple of pillows on the seat, and sat down to start the computer. The household record files were stored in the computer and I started going through the spreadsheets to learn how the house was organized, maintained and managed. It wasn’t long before my eyes were closing. I shut down the computer, hopped into bed and fell into a sound sleep.

The next morning I found Wa and HeiHua eating breakfast, chatting about household chores and Wa’s schedule. He was due to travel to Shenzhen for his next “O” concert coming up in September. He wanted to be sure that HeiHua and I would work together to manage this house and his other residences. I told them I had begun to study the management spreadsheets and found everything well organized, thanks to HeiHua. I thought together we could manage his households and Wa would not have to worry. Wa breathed a sigh of relief and HeiHua smiled and blushed at the compliment.

But, before I could get settled, Wa wanted to know if I would like to come with him to Shenzhen to help him at the concert. He had noticed how efficient I was and careful with details, and he thought I could help him keep track of things back stage. I told him I would be the happiest bagel in the world to help him at his concert, as long as he did not drop me again. We both laughed and hugged. I would go with him to Shenzhen and be in the stage wings, cheering him on.

That evening I asked HeiHua for a notebook. I wanted to keep a diary with handwritten notes about my days with Wa, the adventures we had, and what happened at the house. As I started writing, Wa knocked on the door and sat down to chat about the concert. I chewed on my pencil, looking at Wa thoughtfully. I did not want to disrupt his privacy with the stories. I decided to ask him if it would be okay for me to write about our adventures and share the stories with HeiHua and Wa fans around the world.

Wa was surprised at my idea and wondered if anyone would be interested in reading what we do, let alone what happens around the house. He thought we lived a fairly normal and quiet life that his fans would find boring. I suggested we could try a few stories to find out what his fans thought. If they liked the stories then I would continue writing them.

It only took a couple of stories about our first adventure to learn that Wa fans liked to read about our exploits. It was fun to see the number of views rise every day and to read the comments from fans. Wa was surprised and happy at the results. I continued writing and publishing daily adventure stories for everyone to enjoy.

A 24 hour day is not enough time!
The concert in Shenzhen went smoothly. I helped organize the costumes and stood in the stage wings when Wa performed. I kept a towel ready for him to quickly wipe off perspiration. I had tears in my eyes when he sang “Why Love” and everyone joined in singing it with him. It was a beautiful moment that I do not think anyone who attended will ever forget.

Yikes! Would you look at the time! It is 3AM and I am trying to write the next adventure story. I can barely keep my eyes open. Wa and I are back home after a long car ride home. Wa and HeiHua are sleeping and the house is quiet. I thought this would be the good time to write a story about our ride home which included a flat tire that Wa had to change. I am discovering that there are not enough hours in the day for me to accomplish everything I want to finish, especially the stories. It is difficult to write a story from my notes at the end of a long day when I am tired. I only want to go to sleep. I think I need help but HeiHua is just as busy as I am. I wondered how I can continue.

I was catching up on Wa fan comments made in Facebook groups when I read a post written by a new member of the Facebook North America Wa fan group. She introduced herself as being a retired librarian and management consultant. She was looking for a creative project to work on for Wa fans. She had written a lot over her career and excelled at written communications. I smiled when I read her posts. I wondered if she would be interested in the bagel adventure stories.  I sent her a message and after chatting online and exchanging ideas, she agreed to help me. Her name is Chris Olson and she lives on the East Coast of the United States.

Chris is very organized and together we make a good team. It did not take long for us to establish a regular routine for writing and publishing stories about Wa and myself. I send her an outline with a photo of Wa, and she writes the story, and translates it into Chinese. She processes the photo and then posts the story on different social media channels. She has accounts with Weibo and Red, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Everyday she posts the latest story and thousands of Wa fans around the globe read them. She does not speak Chinese but she has several translation apps to help her understand what people say in their comments. Wa fans are very kind and understanding, and together she and I have made friends across Asia, North America, and of course Scotland. Chris has visited Scotland and Loch Ness, and she knows Matti. She has also visited China and Hong Kong! I smiled when I learned about her travels and the “adventures” she and her husband encountered along the way.

It was Chris who suggested that I write my autobiography. She thought that Wa fans who read the adventure stories would enjoy learning more about how I became a magical bagel and a close buddy of Wa. I asked Wa what he thought and he liked the idea. He knows we have had some comical adventures and he was sure his fans would like to read about them. As Chris and I sit here, putting the finishing touches to my autobiography, she thinks with careful editing my life story would make a good children’s book. Matti agrees. I wonder if Wa will draw illustrations for the book, he is a good artist as we all know. I am sure his fans would like to read the book to their children at bedtime. Any proceeds from the book would go towards a favorite charity of Wa.

What you think Wa? Are you interested in working with Chris on a children’s book project? You can reply privately to Chris using this blog. All conversations are confidential.

---

Acknowledgements
Thanks to the Wa fans who inspired me to continue writing about the bagel. I have met new friends, learned more about a culture that has always interested me since high school, and rediscovered my wild imagination and creative writing.

Special thanks to the members of the North American Wallace Chung Facebook Fan Group who are now my friends and fellow Wa fans. So many members wrote comments and posted photos of Wa that inspired me to write bagel stories. I appreciate the time and patience of everyone who answered my questions and forgave my inability to write in Chinese.

And finally, many thanks to you, Wallace, for allowing me to put a bagel in your pocket and imagine the stories the bagel could tell peering over the edge of your shirt pocket. Until I started writing, I had no idea how a bagel with a magical “O” and rolling oats could be such an interesting character. I hope we are able to work together to bring the bagel story to life in a children’s book. The bagel and I, along with your fans around the globe, hope it happens!