Perfect Timing
I'm Julian Johnson, and I love cake.
My mommy, Charlotte Davis, brings me a small cake every day after work.
My daddy, Peter Johnson, buys a full set of ovens and baking tools. For my sake, he then patiently learns how to bake cakes.
I use to think I'm the luckiest kid in the world.
That is, until the day my parents get divorced, and the man who comes to pick up Mommy turns out to be the bakery owner, Larry Patterson.
Daddy suddenly whips around and glares at me with bloodshot eyes.
"This is all your fault! If it weren't for you and your constant cake cravings, your mother never would've had an affair!"
He stretches out his burn-scarred hands and shrieks hysterically, "My hands have never been free of wounds, all because I kept making cakes for you. But how do you two repay me? You're both convinced that whatever comes from outside tastes better!"
Daddy strikes me hard with the baking tray. I bite my lip tightly, not daring to cry out.
That night, Daddy brings home a little boy, Dustin Decker.
Despite the pain racking my body, I drop to my knees and plead for Daddy to forgive me.
"Daddy, I'm sorry. Please don't abandon me. I promise I'll never eat cake again!"
Daddy slaps me several times in fury. Then, still not satisfied, he throws me into the large oven.
"Don't call me that! I'm not your father! If you love cake so much, then stay in there and think about what you've done! You and your tramp of a mother both deserve to die!"
After Daddy slams the door and leaves, Dustin skips cheerfully over to the oven and smugly presses the switch.
"From now on, your daddy is mine!"
The oven starts up.
The temperature climbs around me, and yet I smile.
Maybe this is for the best. At least Daddy can finally be happy now.