We had just moved from NY to Fl. Daughter’s b’day. Our first celebration in Fl. Impulsively – and at the last minute - we decide to get a frozen ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. Only one left. White icing. Asked them to write a birthday message. Real simple: Happy Birthday Patty.
Pay first. OK. The girl behind the counter (collage age) takes the cake out back. After a long wait she returns, a bit shaken and pale. Looks up at me, smiles weakly, and says
That’s Patty with a P and an H, right?
She had written “Happy Birthday Phatty”. in deep, blood red letters on the bright white icing.
I just looked at her. After a very painful second or two, she says “So, I guess there’s no H in Patty”.
My one-word resposne: “Right”
Well, she immediately offered to remedy. Went back, then returned with “Patty” correctly spelled amidst a big red smear. Looked like someone had tried to rub out a dark red wine stain in a white carpet. But - no more cakes in the freezer, folks at home waiting impatiently – so it went home. She begged me not to call the manager, afraid for her job, and gave me a coupon. A coupon.
The cake was a hit, the story was the highlight of the evening, and it’s still talked about in family get-togethers...
