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Feature_article_Birthdays_and_cake

Feature Article July 17

Feature Article July 17, 2003

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Birthdays and Chocolate CakeNever does June roll around that it doesnt bring back to mind a day in the late 50s when both the end of school and my brothers birthday came on the 25th.

The Mississippi school was conveniently built about a mile out of the village. On the way home, the Black Creek runs parallel to both the Shiner road and the old K&P line. This creek was literally a treasure house for young boys. Under and between slimy boulders was the home of the multi-legged crayfish, the elusive salamander and a large collection of shells. Just how in the world could the young boys ever resist such a temptation?

On this special day, Gib had been thoroughly warned not to go wading in the creek and so had brother Terry. Since those warnings were given in the early morning, it is not likely they would remain on the mind of an 8 and 10-year-old.

It was Terrys birthday, and a party had been planned where Terrys friends, Gilbert and Snooky, would be coming for supper. A super chocolate cake had been baked, and carefully decorated, with 8 candles and rows of icing sugar flowers. The trick now was just where to hide this chocolate masterpiece so the boys couldnt find it. Soon the ideal spot was found and never would they locate it.

At 3:30 Terry and Gib came bounding in the door. Terry was wearing shorts but Gib had on long jeans and was wet to the eyebrows. Terry knew what to do before Gibs mother found out and quickly ran back into the kitchen area. Both emerged 10 minutes later in swimsuits and headed back to the creek.

After a half hour or so we decided to get the party started and came back into the kitchen. Underneath the kitchen, in the laundry room all hell had broken out. Surely a thousand demons couldnt make such a racket. I ran down the stairs and realized all the noise was coming from the dryer.

When I opened the door, and reached in my hand, long tongues of brown goo thrashed out and stuck to my arms and body. Then, thrashing like a mad octopus, the legs of the jeans emerged covered in layer of chocolate. The pockets were dripping in icing with chocolate blowing out the holes in the knees. Truly one sweet mess.

The jeans were quickly washed and hung out to dry. A new cake was baked and by 5 oclock everyone had gathered for a terrific party. But somehow the cake now had turned magically to white.

Not since that day has a chocolate cake ever appeared in this house, but the memories of the 8th birthday party sure do.

With the participation of the Government of Canada