I can’t believe this is happening again, the first time I did this it was a nightmare, cake flying everywhere, screaming pre-teens, a punctured bouncy castle. It was just a birthday party! With 12 year olds! Aren’t they supposed to be huddled together in someone’s basement, drinking soda and eating candy while playing video games! Or out on a lacrosse field, shooting wildly away at a goal, or even just sleeping! That’s what I did when I was their age. I’m pretty sure they aren’t supposed to be wreaking havoc in some poor sensei’s dojo! Honestly, I know that I was at least more mature than that!
But now I’ve been lured in again. This time, though, I’m going to devise a plan of attack. All I have to do is call up my good friend and chef, James Martin.
When James finally arrives, he starts on the cake that will be served to the kids during the party. It really is quite fantastic. Three feet tall, a layer cake, of course, melted fudge in the center of the red velvet cake. There is chocolate and vanilla icing coating the whole outside, and he decorated the top with drizzled caramel.
Meanwhile, I work on the trap to protect the cake from any mischievous, hungry little hands. I must say, I think that I did quite a good job. At first glance, all you see is a cake sitting in the middle of the room on a circular table, but, surrounding the cake is a glass case that is nearly invisible from every angle. Around the table, I have set a trip that will make the whole floor, except for two very narrow walkways, retract, letting the person who tripped it tumble down into the foam pit that I put in for taekwondo lessons that were fairly difficult. In addition to this, I have a very loud Klaxon alarm put in, so that the person couldn't get out and get back without me knowing.
Finally, after hours of preparation, the kids started to arrive.
The first kid to arrive is one of my own students, Ethan. He’s only ten, but he is the best student in my class, at 2nd degree black belt. However, there is a little damper to his level of skill, just because he is so small for his age.
“Hi, sensei Zack!” Ethan said.
“Hey Ethan”, I replied, “I have a little job for you, is that okay?” I asked.
“Sure, what is it?”
“When other kids get here, we are going to play a game called catch the cake, I need you to make sure that nobody gets to the cakes before I’m ready, okay?”
“I’ve got it” He replied.
I smiled as he ran away. Excited little kids are always funny. I turned back around and started greeting other kids and their parents as they got here. After a few minutes, everyone arrived.
“Alright kids, quiet down!” I yelled over the sound that all the kid are making “It’s time to play a game that I’m calling, catch the cake. Do you see that big cake over there? Well, there are traps all around it, the first person to get through and hit the glass wins, and gets the top layer of cake, go!”
All of the kids immediately rushed for the cake, and everyone except the two students that are mine fell right into the foam pit. The two that didn’t, Ethan and Grace, just strolled across the walkways and tapped on the glass, effectively winning the game. James cut off the top layer and sliced it in half. The kids ate the cake, the birthday boy opened his presents, and then they left, the party was over.
