Vincent Shany

Maybe Two

Maybe Two The air was thick with moisture, the humidity was near unbearable. He trudged his way down Main St. looking for an oasis of fresh, or otherwise, cool air. That's when he spotted that new little bakery shop with the pretty owner's face painted on the front window and door. He tentatively pushed on the door only to be met with a rush of chilled air. The little drops of sweat that had formed on his face were now shimmying and shrinking at a torrid pace. There she stood, the face on the window, smiling the most welcoming of smiles as I smiled back. "Can I help you on this fine day", she said invitingly. Just a few more steps and I was face to face with," give me a sec to read her name tag", Lilly, yes Lilly. "Hi Lilly, you have a beautiful little shop here, loving your Air Conditioning!" Lilly was eager to engage in conversation as she had been open and ready for business for two hours without a single customer. My eyes shifted to the left where they beheld a glass display case filled with the most magnificently decorated cakes and muffins I had ever seen. Not just your average ornate pipping and floral arrangements, but wonderfully sculpted fairies and sparkling magic wands casting sugar dust spells. "I must say, those look too good to eat, I would be consuming a work of art". Flattered, Lilly then said. "I insist you try my wares, first customer of the day gets a free cupcake of their choosing". I wasn't sure if Lilly could tell I was down on my luck of late as I keep myself as well-groomed as a person who lives in a shelter can. But maybe I was just projecting my own insecurities on her kind gesture. It was the beginning of the month so I still had a few bucks to shell out for a cupcake, but still felt really at odds with the whole first customer of the day thing. As I reached into my pocket Lilly started to say no but caught herself and realized that I had caught on to her very charitable ruse. That's when I saw it, right in mid-pocket reach, the biggest, darkest, most elegant chocolate cake in the world!!! It stood a full foot tall with tiny white pearls separating each tier. Lilly caught the direction of my gaze and promptly informed me that cake had been ordered and was to be picked today. She must have seen the disappointment drain out of my withered face as she then said, "wait right here". Lilly was a true artist and had sculpted that cake to perfection, taking off an evening slice here and one there. She hurriedly retrieved her canister and lo and behold a perfect-sized slice of chocolate cake sitting on top of several broken pieces. A smidgen of chocolate icing remained in her piping bag as she delicately applied some along with a few tiny white candy pearls. She came out of the back carrying a pink box, with her picture on it, you know, the one on the front window. She presented it to me and said, "I don't usually sell my cakes by the slice, so let me see, that'll be one slice of chocolate cake, $2.99, no tax. Let me tell you, that slice of chocolate cake was not only the best I had ever tasted, but it was also a magical one. What is now a lifetime later, Lilly and I will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary, with what you may ask? Why, not just a slice of Lilly's chocolate cake, but maybe two!!!