A Slice of Pie

You have to make it pretty clear what you love as a teacher or else you end up with a bunch of Starbucks gift cards when you are a Dunkin gal.

Not that I require any gifts for any occasion, but it’s nice when I do receive one that I can put it to good use. It’s why my entire informational mentor text was all about Target. The students are now well informed shoppers and can confidently tell their family that I do have a favorite store.

My students know that my favorite color is green, I prefer Dunkin to Starbucks, I wear flip flops every day (so gifting me socks would be pointless), I don’t really drink coffee, I love dark chocolate, I strictly shop at Target, and Reese’s peanut butter cups are my favorite.

This could be why I received a bunch of Reese’s peanut butter cups on my birthday. The full size ones (although mini are okay). My students know that I don’t like Reese’s pieces or any other form of Reese’s (thanks to my opinion mentor text).

I try to make it obvious my preferences so I can enjoy the surprises. I’m glad every group of students have been able to learn these quickly each school year. However, my husband has had to work over the last few years to get it right.

It’s not that he doesn’t listen, it’s just that he likes to take it too far.

Kelly loves Reese’s peanut butter cups? Well clearly she will love the BIG Reese’s cup. That would make a great gift.

No- it won’t. The ratio of chocolate to peanut butter is off and it’s not good. Regular Reese’s peanut butter cups.

Oh she will love peanut butter ice cream!

No- I won’t. Put the cups in the ice cream, yes. But don’t have Reese’s pieces in it, then it’s just ruined.

You could call me difficult. I consider myself particular.

I’ll never forgot my 25th birthday. He worked so hard to get me a thoughtful dessert. He was really proud of himself that he remembered what I loved.

There is nothing I love more than dessert on my birthday. I was excited.

Imagine we have just gotten home after a long day of work. The anticipation of the meal and dessert were high. I don’t even remember the dinner, but it must have been good. However, nothing beats dessert. He clears away the dishes and walks around the corner and presents a peanut butter cream pie.

My heart sunk.

My mind began to race with a thousand thoughts. I quickly schooled my face into a forced smile and a feigned excited expression.

How could I tell him that I really don’t love pie nor do I want it to be peanut butter flavored. Chocolate cake. Vanilla cake. Just.Cake!

So I tried to keep it happy and cut into a slice. I take my first bite and then I cannot hold it back any longer. It’s a whipped cream pie and the dessert I like the least is whipped cream. He must have seen my hesitation after I swallowed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“It’s just, that this is a whipped cream pie,” I reply.

“Yeah- it’s peanut butter cream because I know how much you love Reese’s peanut butter cups.”

“I do love them. But I don’t particularly love peanut butter flavored things and I really don’t like whipped cream.”

“How can you not like whipped cream?! Everyone loves whipped cream!”

“Yeah- well most people like bacon and I don’t. I’m sorry.”

I really did feel badly. I didn’t want to be ungrateful, but I also wanted to be honest. I mean, I was turning 25. We have a lot of birthdays left to celebrate together, I would hate for there to be any more confusion and disappointment in the future.

Happy Pi day!