Have Some Cake

Christmas: Austin, TX > San Antonio, TX (4/12)

Austin, Texas, USA

In a musty attic, Sam Ehlinger is knelt beside a bookshelf. Dust particles dance around him through the sleek rays of sunshine protruding from the small window up above.

He pulls out a bag from the lowest shelf and rummages through it. "Geez, Christmas is the most funnest, yet stressful time of the year!" He tosses the bag behind him. "I don't know what to give my friends 'n family! All I know is that they deserve the best!"

He then halts as his eyes light up. He closes his eyes and draws in a deep breath, forming a warm smile on his face. "Mmmm! Mama's makin' her BBQ and it smells delicious as usual!" He flicks his eyes open with a gasp. "I know! All of my friends 'n family LOVE BBQ! So I should get 'em some!"

His excitement then fades; his head dips. "Aw, but how? I don't make BBQ. And I wanna give 'em the best."

Sam returns to his searching: He pulls out a box from the lowest shelf with his eyes gazed ahead. He halts his movements.

Tucked against the wall of the shelf is a slip of yellowing paper with its edges torn and jagged. With curiosity, he pulls it out and holds its up to his eyes. The sun shining behind him makes the paper glow, revealing faded cursive in ink:

To find the most wondrous BBQ,

In the whole Lone Star state,

You ought to march to your own beat.

Sam's eyes light up. He gasps. "Perfect!" He holds the paper up. "This says it can get me the best BBQ!"

He brings the paper back to his face and leans closer to it with squinted eyes. "Gotta march to my own beat..." He then peers up in deep thought. He perks up. "I know who can help!"

* * *

The back door of the expansive ranch house bursts open. Sam, now with a white cowboy hat, rushes out into the brisk winter afternoon.

Yards in front of the back door is a white vinyl cattle fence that holds a white and burnt orange-spotted longhorn contently chewing hay.

"Elly!" Sam yells at the cattle animal from afar. "Elly!" He skids to a halt beside her and holds onto the top of the fence. "Get ready, we're goin' on an adventure!"

Elly continues chewing.

Sam then unlocks and swings the gate open beside him and slips into the fenced area. He grabs a blanket and saddle from their spots and brings them up to her.

He begins placing the two items on top of her back. "We're gonna find the best BBQ in Texas!"

After securing the blanket and the two-seated saddle, Sam climbs onto of his longhorn and sits on her. He grabs the reins in his two hands and gazes ahead.

Staring back at him is the scenery of his house in the middle of the vast plains.

"All we just gotta do is..." Sam's voice fades as a blank look comes upon his face. He then transfers the reins into his one hand and pulls out the yellow paper with the other and gazes at it.

"Right! 'March to our own beat!'" Then with a flick of the reins, the longhorn lumbers past the fence.

* * *

Sam and his longhorn, Elly, wander throughout the deserts outside of Austin. The dusty grounds swirl around them as the radiant sun pierce through the pure blue skies. Little mountain ranges of dirt jut up here and there. Green, shaggy bushes sprinkle the powdery grounds. A tumbleweed rolls past them.