“Dessert island” or “Let them not eat cake”

Kristi Sakai

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Our son, Kito, who is on a gluten-free diet, has been obsessing about sponge cake. Thinking about it, longing for it, and talking about it endlessly.

To satisfy my son’s cravings, I drove 30 miles one way to a store that carries gluten- free cake mix. I carefully mixed up the batter, adding a couple of other “Dessert island” or “Let them not eat cake” special ingredients: applesauce to make it moister, teeny GFCF chocolate chips for a little extra pizzazz, then yummy homemade frosting.

Tom and Kaede, my other two children, were finishing up their lunch and started begging for the cake immediately, so I gave them each a slice. A few minutes later I overheard Tom “whisper” (for Tom that means talking loudly) to his sister, “Boy, it DOES tastes BAD, doesn’t it?” Kaede, seeing that I’m paying attention, perks up (with a dramatic smile and a little too much enthusiasm), “It’s GREAT, Mama!” Tom, “She’s lying.” Kaede, “I am not!” Tom, “No, she really thinks it tastes horrible.” Kaede, “I do not!” Tom, “I’m telling the truth! You shouldn’t lie, Kaede.” She turns to him and hisses, “I just said it doesn’t taste really horrible.” Me, “Hey, cut it out!” Thoroughly annoyed (and my feelings hurt), I send them each to their rooms to “think about why what you said wasn’t nice.” Plus, I was hoping that Kito hadn’t heard this exchange and decided he hated the cake too before he even tried it.

No such luck. I cut him a piece, slathered it with frosting, and brought it to him in the living room where he met his recent obsession with, “I don’t feel like eating cake right now, Mom”, all the while closing his eyes and hoping I’d go away.

I was still fuming when Tom came out, pleading, “It wasn’t THAT bad, Mom. Not really.” I wasn’t satisfied. “Try again.” Then I turned to Nobuo, my husband, “You try—THE CAKE OR TALKING TO TOM?!” A mini-lecture ensued, “You hurt Mama’s feelings.” Then we sent him back to his room to think about this. Tom came back out almost immediately, “It’s not your fault it tasted bad. If I was on a desert island … and there was nothing else to eat….I could eat your cake.” I said firmly, “Just go take your shower.” I made sure he’d shut the door and then Nobuo and I burst out laughing.

p.s. I suspect the chickens (my personal garbage disposal system) are going to have cake tomorrow.

Kristi Sakai is the mother of three children with Asperger Syndrome, author of Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family
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Courtesy of AAPC