Where is the Cake?

Dolores wakes up in strange place

Dolores opened her eyes. She yawned, her mouth dry and tasted like dirt. She sat up feeling a stiffness in her back and legs. Her body felt worse every day and getting old wasn’t for the weak. The sunlight coming through the window made the room hot and stuffy. The small night stand had a clock, a picture of Harold, her husband who’d been dead for 10 years. It didn’t look right and then she looked at the bed. It had plain white sheets and a comforter on top with a yellow floral pattern. That was wrong. Her comforter was blue with white stripes. Then she looked around and noticed she had a small table in her room and a mini fridge. Across from the bed was the bathroom. She knew it was because the door was open. It had pristine white tiles on the floor and walls. It looked like it belonged in a hospital.

This was wrong. She knew it wasn’t her home and when she looked out the window there was snow. It’s the 4th of July today! There shouldn’t be any snow. She spun and felt the confusion fill her mind. Reality felt like it shifted and things had become unstable. This wasn’t home. That’s wrong because everyone was coming over to celebrate. She had made a delicious cake and added blueberries and strawberries to make it look like the flag. They were going to sit out and Bobby, her grandson, was going to grill. Then they would eat cake and watch the fireworks. None of that would happen if there was snow. Where is the cake?

She got up and saw she was in nightgown. Its pattern was faded and you could barely see the blue flowers on it anymore. Where did this come from? God it was ugly.

There was a table next to the door and it had a black phone on it. Thank God. She could call Samuel and ask him what's going on. She stood up to walk, but her legs felt shaky then she noticed the thing. What’s its name? The thing that helped her walk. Heat rose in her cheeks and she clenched her fists. Words are so hard now. They didn’t use to be. She grabbed the thingy and shuffled across the room. Her feet felt like weights that pulled her down. When did walking become so hard? She finally got to the phone and picked it up. What next and she took a moment to try to remember how to use it. You picked up one thing. The banana? God that was wrong, but she couldn’t remember the name either. She grabbed the thing and it made a horrible sound like electric bugs shrieking at her. She started hitting buttons and yelled, “Samuel” into the phone. It was useless.

Maybe she could go for help. Today was supposed to be the 4th of July. She was going to see her family and watch fireworks. Where is the cake? She had worked so hard on it. The door had a weird long handle and she grabbed it. Thing was locked! Why was she locked in the room?

She was so confused and now angry. Heat filled her chest and she could feel a vein pumping in her head. This day was supposed to be wonderful and fun. Instead she was in a strange place wearing ugly pajamas. Where is the cake? She started pounding the door and screaming for help. At first her help was clear, but as things went on they became a long single shriek. Her hands ached from pounding and she got so tired. Her face was wet from all the tears. It wasn’t fair. Someone had done this to her.

Finally she could pound anymore or even stand. Her legs felt like jello and every bit of energy ran out of her body. She couldn’t even make it back to her bed. No it wasn’t her bed, but it did look inviting. Instead she laid down on the floor which was terribly uncomfortable, but she didn’t have many options. She felt a weird warmth on her thighs and realized she had peed herself.

The door opened and a man wearing blue walked in. He looked like a smurf.

“Who the hell are you?” she yelled.

“Dolores, you know me. It’s Dean. I’m your buddy. Why are you on the floor?”he asked in a smarmy voice.

“I don’t know you. Call me Mrs. Carter thank you very much,” she said as he helped her up.

Her whole body was filled with fire and her joints ached at any movement. The floor had been a bad idea but she had no choice.

“Let’s get you cleaned up and back in bed,” Dean said as he headed to the bathroom.

“It’s the 4th of July and I made cake. Where is the cake?” She asked.

Dean looked her in the eye and she could tell he was sad.

“Mrs. Carter you had a wonderful 4th, but after you got sick. Do you know where you are?” he asked in a gentle tone.

She realized she didn’t and she began to cry, because she knew today wasn’t the 4th. She wouldn’t see her family and she wouldn't have any cake.