It was 4 days into Teresa’s 3 week visit to a friend in San Francisco and 2 days into Maria’s sudden departure to attend a family wedding when Johnny developed a hankering for a piece of cake. The hankering soon became a longing, which escalated into an obsession. So by the 6th day into Teresa’s 3 week visit to a friend in San Francisco and the 4th day into Maria’s sudden departure to attend a family wedding, Scott’s patience was wearing thin. It had become impossible to balance Murdoch’s monthly ledger while listening to Johnny sound more desperate than a man in a desert with an empty canteen.
Closing the ledger, Scott calmly suggested that Johnny go into the kitchen and bake himself a cake; the task is not that difficult. Words were exchanged and soon the bet was made. A silver dollar if Scott could produce an edible cake.
Once in the kitchen the brotherly banter continued.
“The cake should be chocolate, Scott.”
“The cake will be yellow.”
“The frosting should be chocolate.”
“Yes.”
“It should be 3 layers.”
“It will be two.”
“Maria makes 3 layers.”
“Do you see Maria standing here?”
A few hours later as Johnny was enjoying his second piece of cake, Scott was laying a shiny silver dollar on the saloon counter and taking his first sip of a nice cool beer. He paused to watch the bartender struggle with the latest purchased painting that would add sophistication to his establishment.
Scott smiled and set down his beer. “Henry, let me hang that picture for you.”