THE LAST PIECE OF CAKE

Everyone eagerly wait's for that month of a year when they happily celebrate, relax and have fun with their family. Christmas day is obviously one of them.

After staying away from home for a long time. I was very excited to go back home, accept gifts from my parents, spend lots of time with them and most importantly gulp delicious sweets. Mom was expert in baking the traditional milk cake, which was my most favourite.

After a long journey I reached my sweet home. Dad was already waiting for my welcome. He saw me and gave a warm hug, kissing my top of head.

"How was the journey?" He asked cheerfully.

"Very safe but tiring!" I sighed.

Dad burst out laughing. I was looking for mom right behind him. He noticed it and said, "your mom is busy is in the kitchen, preparing your favourite cake"

"Seriously!" I exclaimed. I was about to run towards the kitchen to meet mom and take a bite of the cake but I realised something and stopped, turned towards dad and wished him, "merry Christmas dad!" Handing him a small gift, that was a beautiful photo of me and dad printed on a big mug.

He took it and replied, "aah! Merry Christmas child! So my daughter started gifting me stuffs now"

It was the first thing I gifted dad from my salary. I smiled and excused him heading towards the kitchen.

"Mom!" I called her she turned back and I saw a bright, old face with white hair and a wide smile.

"Jennie!" She exclaimed.

"How are you child !" She asked as I went into her arms.

"I am super fine mom. What about you?"

"You didn't inform me that you will be coming" She said.

Meanwhile dad entered kitchen and I gave him a strange look. Dad looked at me too and assured mom, "she informed me, it was supposed to be your surprise"

Mom smiled, "oh I see, i loved the surprise"

I smiled too and changed the topic, "mom! Your milk cakes are not less than a surprise. Even if I knew that you will be preparing the cake, it's aroma is seems more delicious, every time you take the freshly baked cakes out of the oven"

Mom laughed, "I know! Afterall it's my hardwork and secret ingredients that make the cakes so yummy!"

I nodded.

Mom asked dad, "John will be arriving this eve right?"

Dad and I exchanged tensed looks.

Dad was unable to answer her question. I interrupted him and said, "I called John, while traveling, he said that the work load is too much today, after all he works in a food factory mom!"

Mom angrily said, "it's Christmas, how could he be busy!"

I assured her, "mom, it's Christmas, people demand for more products in fact this month he has to work double"

Mom stopped whisking the batter and said fiercely, "he doesn't even calls me, Jennie! It's been 8 months, I haven't talked or seen him"

Dad consoled her, "don't worry, you should be happy that your son is working so hard"

Mom almost started crying, "I thought I would meet him atleast today!"

I hugged her, "mom, try to understand, he can't come. He told me that he will be coming within a week. Once he arrives, school him"

Mom wiped her tears, "definitely, let him come. Just wait and watch"

I wished her merry Christmas and went to my room and rested for a while.

In the evening, I dressed myself and went to the dinning room. Dad and mom were decorating the Christmas tree. I joined them and we enjoyed that moment laughing and criticizing each other's artistic minds.

Mom asked us to sit around the dinning table and she went inside and brought turkey, wine glasses, and the most awaited dish, the milk cake. She decorated the cake very well. It looked more tempting and I felt like grabbing the whole cake. I controlled myself and we had dinner. Later mom served me the big piece of the cake and I enjoyed it a lot.

As we were enjoying ourselves, a local begger peeped in our home through the main window. He begged us to give him something to eat.

Mom ignored him. Dad was about to give him some money but mom stopped him. She never liked beggers who were physically fine, yet begged to people and asked for money Instead of working and earning.

The begger glanced at our dinning table and said, "oh milk cake! Ma'am a piece of it is remaining, please give that to this starving person, atleast"

Mom looked at the begger and said, "that piece of cake belongs to my son John! He will be coming this week. I have to save the christmas cake piece for him"

The begger laughed loudly, "John! Your son! Isn't he the one who died in an accident 8 months before?" He asked.

Dad and I got tensed and tried to divert mom's mind. She turned red with anger, "you begger! How dare you talk so bad about my son"

The begger kept laughing and data went to him and scolded him to leave. He left the place empty handed, continuing his laugh.

Mom sat on the chair, sobbing loudly, "why did he say that my son is dead!"

I tried to calm down mom and showed her a text on my cellphone and lied to her that John messaged me that he will be coming within 2 days.

Mom was somewhat convinced with the fact. I took her to the room and asked her to rest.

I came out and told dad, "mom is unwell"

Dad nodded and said, "but the begger didn't lie! John is never going to come back, how long are we going to hide this fact from her?"

I completely understood what dad meant. I tried to console him too, "I know dad, but mom is suffering from Alzheimer. She will get a lifetime trauma if we tell her that her son is dead! Please try to calm yourself down"

Dad nodded, meanwhile mom called me in her room and said, "keep the last piece of the cake in the fridge, John will have it once he is back home" I felt sorry for her but I nodded and went to the table and kept glaring at the last piece of the cake which was never going in John's stomach.