Mrs. Milberry's Pastries

Ryan woke up with excitement. Today was his special day; he has been waiting four years for this. He looked at the clock and it was earlier than he expected but he got ready, took a shower, brushed his teeth and put on a new blue button down shirt, black slacks and brown shoes. Then he grabbed his gown from the hanger and pulled the long gown over his head. He grabbed the cap, place it on his head then stared in the mirror with a huge grin on his face.

He was thinking he cannot believe this day is finally coming. He thinking about all the double shifts he worked non-stop every weekend to pay for tuition and finally being done with all his exams. He took off and walked down his apartment hallway to the stairs and on his way down he ran into one of his neighbors Mrs. Milberry. “Congratulations! Make sure to take pictures and upload them.” Stated Mrs. Millberry. “I will!” Ryan stated. “Oh! Ryan, come by my apartment after the graduation ceremony and when your day is over. I’ll have something baked for you.” Said Mrs. Milberry. Of course! Ryan replied with anticipation. Ryan never had any of Mrs. Milberry’s famous pastries. He has lived in the apartment complex for two years and never visited her Bakery. He thought about how he never had the time but always told her he would come by to try some of her pastries and baked goods. Everyone in the neighborhood always said her desserts and pastries were to die for.

The bus finally arrived at the stop a blocked away from his apartment. He looked at his watch and acknowledged he would make it to the graduation ceremony with more than enough time to get a quick snack on the way. He texted his mother and asked if she was on the way to the ceremony. She replied yes, I cannot believe it for once your grandmother is ready and on time for something. She seems very proud and excited for you. He replied with smile and thumbs up emoji.

Ryan walks into the Gymnasium, he recognized some of his former classmates and they informed him on what to do first. He was able to grab his name tag for the staff announcer to read and walked back by his college program section with other future graduates. He stood by Jimmy even though he felt like it might be a bad idea because Jimmy talks non-stop through everything. Sometimes during lectures Jimmy would talk so much, Ryan would miss some important information necessary for exams. But today Ryan was okay with that because Alaya was on the other side of Jimmy.

“Hi Alaya, how are you? Are you excited for today?” Ryan asked. “Yes I am still waiting on one of my teachers to post the grades for one of my classes. I do not understand why it’s taking him so long to post it.” She replied. "I think you will be fine; you probably will get the grade you wanted." Ryan stated. He thought about how this might be the last day he will ever see her and thought maybe he should ask her to hangout. “Here we go guys!!!!” Jim interrupted. Staff announced that all the students should walk forward and down the hall to the gymnasium. As Ryan was walking towards his seat he saw his mother and grandmother. Yelling and cheering his name. The gymnasium was full the student’s family and friends.

After the ceremony, Ryan went back to his mother’s house for dinner. They talked about what his plans would be now that he has his business degree and discussed the drama going on with her next door neighbors. He also did some cleaning and things his mother is unable to do around her home. “Ryan, before you go can you please grab the big brown trunk in the basement for your grandmother.” She asked. “Really? That thing is like a hundred years old and super heavy.” He stated. “Yes I know. I do not know why she wants it. She said there are a few things she needs to get and clean out.” His mother replied. “Okay.” Ryan sighed. Ryan was exhausted he was able to catch the last bus home. He was tired but happy as he walked up the stairs in his apartment building. Mrs. Millberry opens the door while he is on his way to his studio apartment and states. "Ryan! I have your graduation gift.” He goes to her door. Ryan thanks her and states she did not have to do this. Mrs. Milberry replies “It’s no problem I would love for you to try my famous Triple Chocolate cake. I heard from many customers it is to die for.” Ryan takes the cake thanks her and heads to his apartment.

Ryan enters his apartment, sets the cake that is in a magenta box down on the table and kicks off his shoes. He sits in a chair in front of the table and begins to eat the cake. Oh my goodness, he was thinking this cake is so good, wonderful, amazing and how he has never tasted anything like this. He understood the rave from all the other neighbors. He was so impressed and obsessed with chocolate flavor he finished the entire cake. After he was done eating, he felt complete, full and exhausted from his wonderful day. He went to lie down on his bed and went to sleep.

The next morning, Ryan wakes up from the loud cars and horn noises outside his apartment building. He takes off his outfit that he had on yesterday and headed to the bathroom to take a shower. As he walks towards the bathroom he notices what it had looked like a brand new chocolate cake in the magenta box. What is going on he thought? He was going through his actions yesterday and he confirmed that he definitely ate that entire cake yesterday. He continued to walk to the bathroom and took a shower. He thought whatever, maybe I dreamed I ate the entire cake. After the shower, Ryan got on his computer and uploaded his pictures from yesterday’s ceremony. He read all the congratulations comments and smiled at all the support he received. Then he began searching for jobs and internships. He found several jobs he liked and applied. After applying to a bunch of jobs he began to start up an appetite. Ryan fixed a sandwich and then after the sandwich he began to eat the cake. He thought again how amazing this cake was. He could not believe he never stopped by Mrs. Milberry bakery. He totally agreed this cake was to die for. Once again, Ryan finished the entire cake. He could not believe how good the chocolate cake was. Ryan could hear the mailman talking to one of his neighbors through his window. Ryan goes downstairs to check his mailbox. He heads back upstairs to his apartment and closes the door behind him and walks towards his bed. While walking towards his bed he realizes there is another cake in the box. He is in shock. Well since it’s here I can eat one more piece, he thinks while watching him and his grandmother’s favorite game show. Ryan once again is thinking about how amazing the cake is and finishes the entire cake again. He stuffed and begins to rub his belly. He begins to fall asleep.

A few hours later, Ryan wakes up again. There is another cake in the box. There is no way there is another cake. He runs to the door to make sure the door has been locked this whole time, which was. He stares at the cake and he feels like it is talking to him and thinks about how the cake tastes on his tongue. NO! He thought. There is no way I can eat this cake again but he thought why not, he just graduated and this is suppose be a happy time. He thought he should enjoy it while it lasts and he thought he deserved it for all his hard work he did over the last 4 years. Ryan finished the cake. Once again, and got super tired and slept for another few hours. He woke up again to a brand new cake. He was obsessed he thought how could this be real. He stood up and felt nauseous. He ran to the bathroom and threw up. He looked at the clock through his bathroom door on his night stand. It was 4am. He had realized he had eaten the cake at least 9 times before rushing to the bathroom. He could not believe this. He opened his apartment door to the hallway and grabbed the box. He banged on Mrs. Milberry’s door. Mrs. Milberry looked out the peep hole then opens the door. “Hi Ryan! Did you enjoy your cake?” She asked. “WHAT IS THIS!!!” Ryan yelled. “What is what?” Mrs. Milberry asked. “I cannot stop eating this cake and I have become ill.” Ryan replied. “This is my famous triple chocolate cake I heard it was to die for from all of my customers. I can take the cake back if you do not like it.” She responded. “WHATTTT! Just take the cake!” Ryan replied. He shoved it in her arms and walked away. He ran into his apartment closed the door and ran to the bathroom. He threw up again and he fell back asleep next to the toilet holding his stomach.

The next morning, Ryan woke up from in his bed to his alarm. He looked at his phone, which had missed calls and messages from his mother, which asked was he excited about graduation day. He looked startled at the message and thought the whole cake incident was a crazy, insane dream. He looked at the calendar on his phone it was graduation day. He was in disbelief. He got ready put on his blue button down shirt, black slacks and brown shoes. He looked in the mirror smiled then put on his cap and gown. He headed down the hall to the stairs and walked passed his neighbor Mrs. Milberry. “Oh Ryan! Congratulations make sure to upload pictures.” Mrs. Milberry stated. “I will!” Ryan replied. “Ryan on your way back stop by my apartment I will have one of my baked pastries for you.” She stated. “WHATTT!!” Ryan replied. “I will have my triple chocolate cake waiting for you it will be a graduation gift. All my customers say it’s to die for!” Said Mrs. Milberry.