The Birthday That Wouldn't Be Forgotten

Every year as a child Ida’s mother would make her famous chocolate cake for both of Ida’s sisters, but when her birthday came, all that she got was a rice cake with more of a chocolate scent than a flavor, and the same lecture as the year before.

“I do declare my Ida Claire,” her mother would start in her southern twang, “If you would stick to your diet, you could enjoy my cake too. I just care about my Ida Claire,” she would continue, as if to make Ida feel as bad as she possibly could. “I wish you would show me that you care about yourself as much as I do, but you never can seem to lose a single pound.”

Ida grew up with two older sisters, both of which were drop dead gorgeous. They had perfect hair, beautiful eyes, and a smile that got them anything they wanted. Even as they got older neither one of them had to worry about their weight. They were always able to eat whatever they wanted with no thought of fitting into their swimsuit, or prom dress, or wedding gown. Ida, however, was the complete opposite in every aspect. Aside from having different hair and eye color, she was also short and round.

Ida followed in the shadow of her sisters everywhere they went. Strangers would approach the three girls and tell her mother how beautiful her two sisters were, and then look at Ida and say, “Oh and you’ve got the cutest pudgy cheeks now, don’t you?”

Ida’s mother had her counting calories at the age of seven, reminding her that every morsal of food put into her body equated to another pound that she would gain. Food had been Ida’s worst enemy as a child, but as she ventured into adulthood it had become her evil best friend. It was her go to in emotional times, resolving her issues temporarily, followed by extreme guilt her mother had ingrained within her.

She always sensed that her mother somehow enjoyed not having to make the chocolate cake for her birthday as she did for her sisters. It was as if she wanted to torture Ida for not being as pretty, or as skinny as the other two. This year however, Ida would be making the same cake for her mother, and she was going to be sure that this would be a special birthday for everyone to remember.

When her sisters began to plan her mother’s birthday, Ida immediately insisted on baking the cake. Maybe it wasn’t the best way for Ida to therapeutically confront the matter, but regardless, she felt that she had secretly found a suiting way to internally experience a bliss in seeing her mother and both of her sisters devour the cake.

“We’ve never known you to be much of a baker Ida.” Her oldest sister remarked, “Being that you can’t eat sweets and all.”

“I can eat sweets,” Ida responded, “I just choose not to.”

This was entirely false, as she chose to eat them more than her sisters knew, but that wasn’t any of their business now that she was grown. She then added, “There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”

On the day of her mother’s birthday, Ida rushed home with all of the necessary ingredients. As she baked the cake, she enjoyed every second of the process, including licking the mixing spoons and bowl, which her mother never allowed her to do as a child. The best part however was adding the chocolate sprinkles. Ida gave an evil snicker as she gave the cake its final touch.

It was a small party which only included her mother, both of her sisters, and herself. As she arrived, she realized that for the first time in her life she was happy that they were all together, and she was eager to enjoy this experience.

When it was time for cake Ida happily started to pass out slices, assuring her mother that she would not be having any, as she did not want to add any calories into her body. Little did her mother know, it wasn’t the calories that she was avoiding.

Twenty-two minutes and thirty-four seconds later, Ida sat in secret anticipation conversing with her mother and sisters as they ate her cake. Her mother’s eyes were the first to widen, and Ida smiled in amusement. The show she was anticipating had begun. Her mother stood up immediately and dashed to the bathroom. It was only three seconds after her mother had gotten up that her sisters both opened their eyes just as wide as their mothers. The chocolate laxative sprinkles she had added as her special touch had hit their stomach, and she sat wondering if there would be more excitement if her two sisters could not hold it until their mother was done.

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