16
Charlie
I stand in the grocery store, at the bakery counter. I stare at the wide bakery display case, indecisive. There is every kind of cake, plus artfully arranged platters of cookies and trays of cupcakes. What is the appropriate dessert to bring to Sunday dinner?
“What do you think?” I ask Sarah, who is standing beside me. “Do you think that grandpa and Rosa would like a blackberry pie, or a chocolate cake?”
She c***s her head at me, but doesn’t answer.
“You’re exactly zero help.” I squint at the board.
A bakery employee comes over, tucking her hair up in a kerchief. “Can I help you?”
“Yeah,” I say, scanning the bakery case. “Do you like the black forest cake more, or… what is that?”
I point at a beautifully decorated white-frosted cake, with strawberries arranged in perfect
