Good morning one and all. I don’t know about you but for me, this is going to be at least a three coffee morning. Sleep was an elusive creature and at the moment my eyes feel weighted. So an artificial prop of caffeine will keep the eyes open until I manage to wake up. But before I hit the caffeine, lets see if we can wake the brain up a little but with a writing prompt. Everyone ready? Thenstart your timers!
That turned out better than I thought it would. Not spectacular, but I am a little more awake and my brain does seem to be functioning. Perhaps I’ll only need two coffees.
Tuesday, June 15th: He placed each of the candles carefully into the top of the cake.
He placed each of the candles carefully into the top of the cake. In his head he counted as the base of each candle disappeared into the fluffy white frosting. When he was finished, the entire top of the cake was covered with candles and the ones on the outer edge flared out, leaning away from the center.
Carl walked in and studied Sam’s handiwork.
“Looks good huh?” Sam said. He smiled, proud of his accomplishment. “I didn’t they’d all fit on there. But I got them in the end.”
“And you didn’t think using just the big numbered candles was a better idea?” Carl asked. He pointed to the fat number 1 candle and two zeros.
“You only turn 100 once,” Sam said.
“Technically you only turn any age once,” Carl said. “Well it’s done now. Best not light it until we get into the room.”
“But I have to bring it lit into the room,” Sam protested. “It’s a birthday cake.”
Carl sighed. “Fine but place it on the trolley, then light it and then wheel the trolley in. Don’t carry the lit cake.”
“Sure.” Sam said. Carl left and Sam looked back down at the cake. He could hardly wait to see it lit up. He took the cake to the tea trolley and placed it on top. The raise edge blocked it from view and Sam didn’t think it looked impressive enough. He returned to the kitchen for a tall cake stand. He placed the stand on the tea trolley and then placed the platter holding the cake on top of the stand.
“There,” he said. “That looks better.” Feeling pleased with the presentation. Sam made sure to put the long lighter next to the cake and then he wheeled it into the hallway outside of the dining room. There he began lighting all 100 candles. He was somewhat surprised by how hot the candles got and he frowned as by the time he finished lighting all of the candles the ones he lit first burned lower than the others, giving it a slightly lopsided look. Deciding that he should serve the cake soon, before the candles burned too low, He used the front of the cart to push the swinging doors open. The bump cased the platter to shift and Sam put out a hand to stop it from sliding. He avoided the burning candles but grabbed the round cake by the side, his hand sinking into the fluffy butter cream.
He left his hand there as he rolled into the dining room. At his entrance the entire room burst into a chorus of happy birthday. Same rolled the cart up to the wizened old man who’s birth they were celebrating. As he stopped the cart, Sam pried his hand from the icing, taking much of it with him. He closed his icing coated fist and tucked it behind himself hoping no one would notice. His hand print was clearly visible as the chocolate of the layered cake peeked through where his hand removed the white icing. As he sang along with everyone else, Sam decided he would cut those pieces first.
‘Maybe no one will notice.’
The singing stopped and everyone clapped. The candles were burning quite low at this point, the flames of the lower candles eating into the sides of the taller ones. Mr. Carlson eyes his cake with a degree of skepticism. He muttered something under his breath and then gulped in air, preparing to blow out his candles.
Ten til Midnight 