Inspired by a Tumblr post
It was not her worst idea.
That would have to have been the Corned Beef Soup.
Reasoning that her boys needed something hot, protein-rich and filling, she'd scoured the empty cupboards and fridge for something to make a meal. One carrot, two sticks of celery and two tins of corned beef later, she had a pink monstrosity that smelt as awful as it looked. Virgil, the most adventurous of her grandsons in the food department (read the too-soft-hearted brother, who hated saying no) had taken one look, one smell and had bolted. If he wasn't willing, then none of the others would be.
She sighed. Today was a special day for Gordon. Not one of the outstanding occasions that they all tried to mark, but a personal triumph that he usually kept alone. But this was his tenth year, and a cake was needed to mark the occasion.
Why did she always decide to cook when they were low on stock? Of course, she had the basics there – flour, spices, eggs and butter – but lacked anything to give it that something special. Digging deep now, standing on the ladder to reach the back of the cabinets where the boys his things from each other (and her) in the hope to find something special.
Nope. No marshmallows, no chocolate, no cookies.
Just one solitary tin of cream of tomato soup.
Hmm…
Virgil, in passing by, watched with growing alarm as his Grandma, with seeming abandon and too much enthusiasm by half, dumped the tin of soup into the cake mixer then turfed the results into the prepared tin and then the oven. He disappeared sharpish before she caught sight of him, memories of the last time still haunted him.
The result at least looked like a cake. Like one of Lucy's spice cakes that she would smother in frosting. Hmm…frosting. That was something she could make, mainly because there was a tub of vanilla frosting in the cupboard. Placing the cake on a board to cool, she went in search of Gordon.
Virgil, having fled the kitchen, had made a beeline for his wingman. Both Scott and Alan were out on rescues, so they weren't a worry yet, so Gordon was the person to prewarn. Gordon, sitting in his room watching Buddy & Ellie's newest episode, thanked him for the warning and told Virgil he'd hide just as soon as the episode had ended. The cake would need time to cool anyway. Virgil disappeared to his studio, safe in the knowledge that Grandma wouldn't come for him there.
The episode was just wrapping up when Sally poked her head around Gordon's door, and she watched fondly as Gordon just stared at the screen, lapping up his favourite program. So when Gordon looked up and almost jumped a mile, she couldn't help but snort at his response. So much for fleeing then. They might hide from Grandma and her cooking, but they would never run away.
Like a lamb being led to the slaughter, Sally led Gordon back to the kitchen, and he sat on a stool and watched morosely as she iced the cake. At lease the icing would be edible. She cut him a huge slice, saying she'd made it especially for him, and he gave her a sickly grin. Over his Grandma's shoulder he could see Virgil had ventured out, and he was standing there with a huge grin. It was usually Virgil that she experimented on after all.
Gordon took it like the man he was – and cut himself the smallest piece he thought he could get away with. Tomato soup cake? Whatever was she thinking? He ate the small morsel, while Sally looked on, hoping for praise, or at least that he wouldn't throw up.
He eyes widened in surprise, and he drew in a deep breath. Then he finished the cake in two more bites.
And helped himself to another slice!
Sally was beside herself with happiness that something had finally worked! Virgil's eyes were popping out of his head, and he hesitated on the stairs. It could all be an elaborate hoax on Gordon's part – wouldn't be the first time. But he couldn't help himself, and before he knew it he was in the kitchen, plate in hand and eating…oohhhh.
They finished the cake between them before anyone else could get a look-in. And when their brothers came home, neither said anything about the weird cake Grandma had made, saving it up for a future prank.
A future very tasty prank.