Today, there was a customer who sat down with our cake book. He and his son took a look at all the decorated cakes that we have.

When I sat down to take their order, the first thing he asked me was how long it was before a cake could be made. I told him it took three days. He rubbed the back of his neck and asked me, What if my son and I wait? Could you do it? We'd wait. I told him that, unfortunately, the toys for the cake he wanted were unavailable and even if they were available, I still can't make the cake at that short a notice.

He forced a smile and said It's my son's birthday yesterday and I promised him the Spongebob cake. I took him to see The Lion King on Broadway yesterday, and then we had dinner in Manhattan. I didn't think he'd remember. But when he woke up today, he said to me, Dada, where's my cake?

I looked at the little boy and told him, Sorry, sweetheart. I can't make your cake. Then his father tousled his hair. See, man, they can't make you your cake. I already told you they can't. You heard it from the lady.

I'm sorry, I told him again. And the kid looked at me and said Please?

It broke my heart. If I could make him a cake, I swear I would. And as I sat in front of them, completely at a loss for words, his father told me, Maybe I'll just let him choose one of the cakes you have here now. I forced a smile and quietly made my way into the counter.

When they came up to my register and got an Ube Macapuno cake, I couldn't help myself from getting carried away in the moment. I opened the box to show Owen (That's the kid's name, btw.) his cake and he started jumping up and down. He was so happy. I stuck in a toy that said "Happy birthday" and asked him if he wanted to blow a candle. I didn't even wait for him to answer; I made my way to the candles and stuck one to his cake, grabbed a lighter, sang a quick "Happy Birthday" and watched the little boy make a wish and blow his candle.

How easy it is to get your heart broken when you're a kid. How painful it must be for a parent to not be able to give your child what he wants. Sometimes things just don't work out the way you want.

Here's to everyone who ever asked for what they want and didn't get it.

---------------
Today, one of the hobos who hang around the store came in and handed me $20. Seriously. The hobo came in with a smile on his face and gave me $20. I wish I knew why.

The irony is that I live in a perfectly nice house, have a perfectly nice job and lead a perfectly normal life, but I can't spare him $20. He, on the other hand, has no place to go, is undoubtedly unemployed and he managed to give me $20.

What does it mean?

---------------
Because I had $20 (Thanks, of course, to the hobo.), Mai and I decided we'd have a bit of fun by (1) buying fried dumplings from a nearby Chinese take-out and (2)buying some scratch lottery ticket things.

She was gone for about half an hour. Fifteen minutes before I was to leave, she comes back to the store with four tickets and a lot of dumplings. I started scratching the ticket when Emilee asked me to do some last minute work. After I did, I stayed at the store so I could finish scratching my ticket.

Ralph was looking over my shoulder and said, Ay, day, talo na yan.

Shush. You're cursing my ticket. I snapped at him. Then I softly said, We get what we deserve.

I continued scratching until I found, luckily, that I formed 5 words which meant I won $10. I started jumping around excitedly at the store. I thought I won $10. Frank took my ticket and said he'd have my money in three minutes.

He came back, holding up two bills in his hand. I thought to myself, Why in the world will the deli man give him two fives instead of one ten? Then Frank shouted, Kitten, di lang $10 napanalunan mo! $25 ang nakuha mo.

I won $25 sa scratch. $25! Wow! I've never won anything in my entire life.

Here's a picture of my winning scratch thingy.


I won! I won! I won. *sigh*

I can't get over it. :)

---------------
There was a passage from The Alchemist that spoke of how luck is on your side when you are starting to follow your heart's dream.

I've got a feeling luck is on my side now. The question is whether I know what my heart's dream is and whether I'd have the courage to run after it.
kitten posted @ 10:38 PM