He walks around the cafeteria, taking the many wondrous smells that reach his olfactory senses. When a smell captures him in a trance, he locks in on the source with his eyes, giving a piercing gaze to see whether or not it is worthy of consumption. This is the daily advent to his dining hall experience.

Today is no different. Once again, his nose is treated to a smorgasbord of amazing scents, each coming from a different direction. He is unable to decide between the sweet tangy flavors of the crisped barbequed mesquite chicken, the savory smells of the hickory prime ribs in the back, or the cheesy heart-attack waiting in the triple cheese pizza, just to name a few. Off in the distance, the many dressing offered by the salad bar call out to him, each with their unique signature taste when topped off on a salad, He mentally salivates just thinking of the many options available to him at the salad bar. The plethora of choices racks his head as a result of the explosion of flavors and tastes offered.

But wait. Off by the baked goods section, right by the desserts, a distinct, unmistakable aroma captures him. It easily rises above all others in the area, its potency unrivaled. Letting his nose lead him to the spring of the scent, he follows this trail with eyes wide shut. Finally, the nose knows enough to bring him right in front of it. Slowly opening his eyes, he is enveloped in a bright sanguine wave of color.

The source of his joy: Red Velvet Cake. The wonderful icing on top of it is decorated ever so delicately with a simple whirl to top it off. Bits and pieces of nuts are sprinkled on top to add even more flavor to the cacophony of wonders present in this little delicious piece of heaven.

With each scoop of the cake, a party rapidly descends upon his tongue. There is no other feeling to properly describe the joy that sweeps him up in a wave of ecstasy. He understands the potential dangers of indulging himself with each successive bite; the fat, the calories, the overbearing amount of death compressed into each delicious portion is too fantastic. But it matters not, for this is his joy, his happiness in this present moment.

It’s his second time partaking of this amazing delicacy. The first time.. well, the first time was quite a wondrous occasion in itself, and this piece of cake, truth be told, isn’t that invigorating. It is merely the past association of which the cake is tied to that so regally entertains him. But that was then. And this is now. But no matter when he is in time, this baked good definitely will always capture his undivided attention.

12.11.08, 4.45pm – 5.05pm.