Eat It And Have It

“There’s a whole world going on around you and you’re wasting time on Facebook and tic tack!” Her mother would scold. Charmaine wished that what was happening was a Tik Tok prank.

She had been scrolling through her social media feeds, oblivious to the myriad characters who hung out around the old cinema and throngs of people hustling towards the pedestrian crossing, a crossing that never allowed quite enough time for one to cross safely.

She did not look up as people shouted and grumbled at a man who had moments earlier left the bakery that was near the bus stop. The man seemed distressed but peculiar characters were not something unusual in this part of town, so people eyed him warily, ignored him, avoided him.

“I don’t feel right….I don’t feel…right…” he stumbled, crashing into Charmaine, causing her small fifteen-year-old frame to spin, staggering into the road and dropping her phone.

Charmaine scrambled to get her phone, checking it for damage. Finding it only mildly scuffed, she turned her attention to the person who had knocked her.

“Why don’t you watch where you’re fucking go - “ she noticed he did not look right. He was melting.

Jeremiah pressed the stop button on one of the bus’ columns. The ‘bus stopping’ sign sprung to life and he swung out of his seat and swayed down through the bus to the exit.

Leaving the bus, Jeremiah peered into the bakery his eyes searching for someone. He barely noticed the commotion a few metres down the road. A big grin spread across his face.

Thirty minutes earlier: “I - I can’t do that…I can’t…” Petra was shaking her head. Louise waited for her to stop shaking her head and calm down. “He won’t die. Not really.” Louise explained cryptically. Petra did not look convinced.

“Look, you won’t even know -“ “but you’ve told me! The cake will kill him!” Petra blurted. Louise looked to the counter on the main bakery floor. No one had heard them.

“Perhaps you’d like to shout that a little louder”, she chided. Petra opened her mouth and quickly clamped it shut, looking down at her hands. Louise took a deep breath.

“This is your chance Petra.” Louise paused, letting her words sink in. She could see from Petra's expression that she was not convinced.

“It doesn’t seem…right…? Death by cake. Chocolate cake at that! It’s not right..” Petra offered.

Louise stood up, her frustration rising. She turned away from Petra, needing to compose herself, to control her emotions. A nervous Petra stood up behind her.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know…I mean…” she trailed off not sure what she was trying to say. Louise turned to face her.

“I wish I had had this opportunity. I wish there had been someone like me to advise my younger self, to tell that young and naive girl what love looks like and how to keep it!” The intensity of her glare scared Petra a little. Seeing Petra’s fear, Louise immediately softened.

“Petra”, Louise caressed her face gently, feeling the scarred skin on the left side of her face. Petra recoiled from her hand, uncomfortable at Louise’s touching her disfigurement. “This”, she touched the scar again, “could be a memory, a bad dream lost in a…new past.”

A thought hit Petra; “If I can’t remember what happened now, how will I be able to change what happened then?” Louise smiled, “intuition.” Louise looked to the bakery floor again. A downcast Jeremiah had just entered. She turned back to Petra, “it’s time.”

Jeremiah frowned as he looked to the corner of the bakery. A teenage couple were sat making eyes at one another. A murmur of envy flickered in him quickly replaced by irritation at the canoodling couple sitting in his normal spot. The irritation towards them turned inwards, him knowing his frustration was foolish and petty.

Glancing furtively to the couple once more, he made his way to another seat a few tables down. He did not notice Petra approaching him, his mind still lingering on the disruption to his normal routine.

“Hello Jeremiah, how have you been?” He looked to see the nervous, smiling Petra. A moment and then recognition.

“Petra? Petra! What are you doing here?”, he stood up and hugged her, genuinely happy to see her. Petra was a little taken aback, pleasantly so. Jeremiah let go of her and stood grinning.

“How long has it been? Ten years? Twelve?” Jeremiah guessed. Petra shook her head gently.

“It’s been sixteen years. How have you been? What have you been up to?” She asked politely. Jeremiah shrugged his shoulders. “You know, same as everybody else. Working, paying bills, normal stuff.” He smiled again.

“What about you? What have you been up to? Married? Kids?” He was interested, trying to move the conversation off of the topic that was his life. Petra was smiling now, her smile tinged with sadness. “No, no marriage for me. No children.” They fell into an awkward silence.

“So…so what brings you here?” He broke the silence. Petra took a step back, making a show of the apron she was wearing. “I work here. Part-time.” Jeremiah was a little taken aback.

“Really? How come I’ve never seen you? I come here quite regularly.”

“I’m usually in the back…I bake, make the pastries, that stuff.” Petra explained almost apologetically. Silence again. This time, it was Petra’s turn to break the silence, springing to life animatedly.

“I should get you your tea! It’s green tea right?” Before he could answer, Petra had turned away and was heading to the counter. He stood for a moment watching her as she busied herself making the tea. He was suddenly conscious of the fact he was standing in the middle of the bakery and returned to his seat.

A few minutes later, Petra returned with the tea. She also had a plate with a piece of chocolate cake on it.

“Here you go. I - I brought you this piece of cake because…it was your birthday last weekend -“

“How’d you remember that?” A shocked Jeremiah interrupted. She smiled bashfully.

“I always remember birthdays…your birthday. Anyway, I’ve missed quite a few of your birthdays!” She sat with him. It was her break and they could catch up, reminisce.

Sixteen years earlier: Jeremiah was frantic. Michelle was looking a little guilty. Petra did not want to see him. There was a lot of people milling about. Whatever had happened was the talk of the party. Throughout the house, clusters of teenagers chatted and giggled, gasped and pontificated about what had happened.

“What happened? Michelle?” Jeremiah was looking at Petra’s friend for an answer. Michelle shifted her weight from foot to foot, not meeting his gaze.

“It was just a joke. A bit of a prank…” before she could explain any further, the room to the door Petra was sequestered in opened and Jane came out. Michelle looked to her hopefully but was cut short with a withering look, Jane unimpressed by her ‘joke’.

“I going to take her to the hospital. She’s okay but the burn quite is bad.” She explained. Jane turned to go back into the room but was stopped by Jeremiah.

“What the hell happened? Petra got burnt?! How?” Jane turned her ire to Jeremiah.

“Maybe if you had come with her she wouldn’t have got burnt by her", she looked at Michelle, ‘friend’!” Jane spat before disappearing back into the room.

A moment later, Jane opened the door and escorted Petra out of the room, shielding her like a bodyguard. Jeremiah called out to her; “Petra! Babe, you alright?” He gasped as she turned at the sound of his voice, her tear-stained face contorting furiously in pain and anger. Her jaw on the left side of her face and neck were covered with gauze.

“Stay away from me! This is your fault! You wanted Michelle, you can have her now!” Jane pulled her away and pushed through the throng, out of the house.

In the bakery, Petra was asking the questions. “What happened with Michelle? Thought you two would…” he looked at her.

“What? Get together? We did for a bit after you left for uni.” Petra waited but Jeremiah had finished. He was not going to add to the story. She prompted him.

“And?”

“Nothing. Fizzled out after a few months.” He smiled ruefully. “Truthfully, I was missing you. Michelle was too…much.” She could feel her face getting warm, blushing a little as she suppressed a smile.

“What about you? Thought you would meet someone in uni.” Petra shook her head slowly and absentmindedly touched her facial scar. “No, I just studied. I missed you too,” they both fell silent, lost in their separate thoughts and memories. Petra looked at the cake. Jeremiah had not touched it.

Petra looked back to the counter, looking at Louise. An imperceptible nod; do it.

“Don’t…you want the cake?”

Sixteen years earlier - before the party: Petra was red in the face with rage. Seeing Jeremiah smirking was only making her rage worse.

“I knew you liked her!” She screamed. Jeremiah was laughing, Petra’s jealously massaging his ego. “Of course I like her but not like -“ she would not let him finish.

“You know she flirts with everyone? Why do all you boys fancy her?!” Petra demanded.

“I don’t fancy her. I just said she had nice legs.” Jeremiah explained unhelpfully. Petra’s anger had risen to such a level that she was unable to speak. She stormed off as Jeremiah tried to suppress a giggle.

“Where are you going?” Petra slammed the door behind her not answering. A grinning Jeremiah waited. He would let her calm down he thought, arrive at the party a little later.

Jeremiah eased the fork out of his mouth, savouring the last mouthful of chocolate cake. A satisfied smile spread across his face. An apprehensive Petra watched him.

“That was delicious! Not too sure my waistline would appreciate that on every visit!” He grinned at Petra. Noting her expression, “what’s the matter? Is there cake on my face?” He began wiping his mouth furiously.

“No, no nothing. I have to return to work.” Petra said quietly. Jeremiah looked at his watch.

“Oh, I have to go myself!” He handed some money to Petra, “will that cover it?” She nodded. They both got up.

“It was good to catch up,” Jeremiah spoke truthfully.

“It was. Hope to see you again.” Petra agreed. Jeremiah left the cafe.

Sixteen years earlier. Again - before the party: Petra smiled, watching her boyfriend’s smirk. He would love to get a rise out of her. She nodded, moving closer to him.

“She does have lovely legs. Michelle has enviable legs.” She leaned close to his ear. “I hear they are always open.” She turned away. The smirk had gone from Jeremiah’s face. Petra chuckled.

“Shall we go?” She held her hand out to him.

In the bakery, Petra was not feeling good. Jeremiah had just left but Petra was not thinking about him. She felt very odd.

“Lou - Louise…what’s happening?” She was scared. Her hands were melting away. A motherly smile from Louise did nothing to calm her.

“It will be better,” Louise told her.

Jeremiah entered the bakery and made his way over to Petra. She beamed at him happily, getting up to greet him with a kiss.

“How is the most beautiful woman I know today?” Jeremiah asked, his gaze lovingly fixed on her. Petra giggled. She could not believe it had been sixteen years and she was still so in love with the man and him with her.

“Happy as always to see you. I ordered you a tea.” She indicated the mug. He had a thought.

“I feel like some cake. Want a cake?” He enquired. Petra lifted her shoulders, thinking.

“Why not? How about lemon drizzle?”