A Sweet Collaboration

by Traceena Lynch

Part 2: The Baker

“YOU’RE LATE!” I shout, as Kelly strolls in an hour later than expected. “No need to shout, Caleb. I would’ve called, but I forgot...” he answers, coming into the kitchen of my bakery. “Try to remember next time then,” I say, making it known that I’m annoyed. I wouldn’t say that today is a big deal but if I did that would be a lie. Today I extend my services to not just me as a baker, but extending it to becoming a cake decorator, all cakes decorated by me. The reason behind it just being me is that everyone I interviewed lacked the skills that I needed. So in normal Caleb fashion, I’ll make up for it on my own and do everything on my own.

“What is that supposed to be?” Kelly asks, looking at the cake confusingly. “A pink strawberry shortcake vintage cake.” I reply, looking at him. I show him the reference picture and his face of confusion sticks. “Is there something wrong?” I ask him nervously. I already had to redo it multiple times because it didn’t look right.

“Well, it looks rather rushed, and the shades of pink are so close you can hardly tell the difference. Also, the strips of icing that look like streamers are disconnected, as if you started one, stopped, then continued going right then and there. Now also th-” As he’s stating every single mistake I yell, “SHUT UP!”

“You asked..” he says quietly.

“I asked Kelly, my best friend, not Kelly the art critic,” I say in defeat. “Sorry Caleb, I guess I’m still in the zone. I just came from an art, show you know,” he says, coming over to comfort me. “I know you’re trying, and I’m sorry for going off, but you need to understand the design better,” he says, trying to reassure me. “Your work will always end up being this sloppy if you don’t understand what you’re doing first. The only way to understand is by starting from the drawing. You being probably the worst artist I’ve ever known is probably stopping you from understanding what you’re trying to do,” he says, explaining my errors in a better form than before.

“You really know how to make me feel better,” I laugh, knowing that he’s completely right about the drawing thing. I realize he has a point with his words, and I’ll take them into consideration for the future.

“No more of that now, help me finish setting up for the photographer. She’ll be here any minute,” I say, hoping for the best.

“Whatever you say, you’re the boss after all.”

We get to work so everything’s prepared for when she arrives. Fingers crossed the photos come out looking decent. I know she’s the best, but with how this looks, I’m nervous.