A PIECE OF CAKE

While my metaphor engine coughs and splutters into a sort of marmalade jelly, the rest of my brain has spent the afternoon leading me quite astray.

“You need cake!” it whispered to me at about three o’clock. Cakey, cakey, cakey, cake.

“You know what I think I need?” I said whimsically reflecting out-loud in Erica’s direction.

“Cake.”

Hmm.

I looked blankly at my monitor, and imagined that sweet, fluffy interior, a gooey, sticky chocolate filling, and the soft crunch of sugary icing on top. I pictured a succulent glacé cherry, glistening in the light, red and juicy against the delicate white frosting.

I licked my lips.

“It’s not anyone’s birthday, is it?” I asked hopefully. Erica shook her head and then sent me to the café, presumably to stop me from complaining.

So I went. The sun was still hot, and just at that angle where it danced colourfully in the fountain. The lake was silvery blue and the air was warm with flowers and bees and dragonflies.

But the café was empty. Not even Nathalie was there to not-remember my name and ask me whether I would go for a San Pellegrino like she usually does. Empty. And especially empty of cake.

I walked back.

“You’ll never guess what they had in the café!” I said to Erica, pretending to be excited while I flumped into my chair and unlocked my computer.

“Nothing?” she said, laughing.

“Nothing,” said I, doubly disappointed. “Not a thing. Even Old Mother Hubbard would have given up.”

I thought that was clever. Of course, it wasn’t; Erica thought I was being rude about Nathalie! I dug myself out of that hole in an all-too familiar fashion.

Still craving cake, I went to Stockholmhaven after work. I should have known better. Slicing into their chocolate fudge cake was like trying to cut up some bread with a fork. It was alright but it was more kids’-birthday-party-cake than homemade-bakery-wonder. I think it’s given me a headache.

It turns out my brain was more fussy than I realised. Thanks a lot, brain. And I didn’t even have the self-control to resist! I’m sure this is supposed to be easier.

Oh well.