I should have known the day was ruined already the moment I stepped into the bakery. Everywhere smelled of vanilla and sugar.
I walked majestically to the cashier. "Birthday cake for Ada," I said, resting my arms on the counter.
I watched as the cashier punched her keyboard while staring at the computer screen. Without glancing at me, she walked into the back. A few moments later, she reappeared with a large pink box. "Here!"
"Thank you." I said. Grabbed the box without opening it and rushed out.
Ada's birthday was already in full swing and I have wasted much time in traffic trying to come pick up her birthday cake. Mama was already bugging my phone with calls.
I jumped on the next available bike and instructed the bike man to speed home. I didn't want to be the one who would ruin Ada's fifth birthday party.
Ada was my niece and Mama's who had come to spend the summer holidays with us. Mama had thrown her a surprise birthday. Knowing Ada's love for pink and Disney princesses, Mama had ordered a pink princess cake days before and had sent me to go pick it up.
The bike man stopped at our gate. I could hear the loud music playing. Kids were screaming, running around with sticky hands, while the adults tried but failed to maintain order.
I paid the bike man and stepped into the compound. My eyes scanned every corner for Mama.
"Zerah! What took you so long?" I finally heard her call from behind.
I turned to see her dressed in her apron and head tie. Her clothes were stained with oil and spices. "Sorry, there was traffic."
"Just bring the cake!"
I marched with her to the center of the room. I could see the wide grin on Ada's face as she saw her cake.
"Alright, everyone! Time for the birthday girl to cut her cake!" Mama announced.
Gradually people gathered.
I gently dropped the cake on the well decorated table and lifted the lid.
Suddenly there was silence. I looked at Ada, her smile was gone. It was as if she had seen a ghost. Mama gasped loudly. I heard someone choke on their drink.
I looked from their faces to the cake. "What?" I yelled, as I saw black-and-gold cake before me. Boldly written with golden icing letters on the cake we're
“FINALLY DIVORCED!”
I blinked. I blinked again. No. No, this wasn’t happening.
"Zerah?" Mama called, her eyes still stuck on the cake. "What's this?"
I opened my mouth and shut it. Opened it again but words weren't forthcoming.
"Zerah? Nobody's getting a divorce here so do you mind explaining?" Mama called out again.
By now I heard Ada whimpering. Her face buried into Mama's laps. '"That's not a princess cake?!"
Mama looked at me with anger in her eyes "That's not a princess cake Zerah." She roared.
I swallowed hard. I could feel the eyes of the guest move from Mama to me. "There must be a mix up somewhere. I... I... asked for her cake and they gave me this."
"Did you check to see if it was the right one?" My elder sister and Ada's mum asked.
"No."
"Sort out this nonsense." Mama asked. Then she picked up Ada and walked into the house.
Without thinking, I grabbed the cake and dashed out.
Luckily, there was a bike man passing by. I quickly flagged him down and jumped on the bike.
"Tina's Bakery!" I yelled.
He blinked. "Three hundred naira. madam."
"Just go!"
The bike man zoomed off as I clutched tightly to the birthday cake on my lap. It was almost getting late. I prayed the bakery wouldn't be closed by now.
Luckily I got to the bakery on time and they were still open. I jumped down from the bike.
“Wait for me.” I said to the bike man before walking into the bakery. The smell of vanilla and sugar welcomed me again.
"I ordered a DIVORCE cake, not a princess cake!" I heard a woman in her forties rage at the cashier who looked like she was about to melt in the face of the furious customer. "Do I look like a five-year-old?"
Immediately the cashier saw me, she took a deep breath. "Thank God!" She said ignoring the angry woman.
"I think there was a mix up with my cake." I said, keeping a mean face.
"I'm sorry Ma. Both orders had the same name and I didn't check. It was an honest mistake." She apologized and snatched the black-and-gold cake from my hands and swapped it with the right one.
I turned to leave but the divorce lady held my hands. "Wait, did you open my cake?"
"Yes, and on a birthday filled with kids I muttered.
She blinked. "You mean a room full of kids saw ‘FINALLY DIVORCED’ on a cake?"
I nodded. "It's not something we wish to experience. Is it?"
She wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry.!"
"It's fine." I replied before taking one last angry look at the cashier. She had this sorry look on her face.
I turned and walked out of the door. It was a race home for me. The bike man sped like he was in an F1 game. I got home to a half filled party. Some guests had left before I could return with the cake. I couldn't blame them, it was already late.
Ada, the celebrant, had already slept. We quickly shared the cake amongst the remaining guests and apologized to them for keeping them till that hour.
Exhausted, I sat down on a chair, staring at the guest leave. Mama placed a plate of cake in front of me and sighed.
"Next time, Zerah, check the cake."
I stabbed my fork into the soft pink frosting and muttered, "Next time, Mama, someone else is picking it up."
Sending Love and Ecency Curation Vote!
Please Vote for our New Proposal! 🙏
Great story, @zerah ! Fabulous pacing, good dialogue. What a terrible mix-up! Thank goodness you were able to swap cakes and put things right in the end. What would have elevated this story even more is if you had edited it for punctuation (for greater clarity) and grammar (primarily to keep your choice of tense consistent). Loved the read!
😂😂 thank God everything was later resolved.
I can imagine what the adults would be thinking seeing a divorce cake 🎂 😂