The meal had been delicious, and we all eagerly awaited dessert. Grandma's cream pies had always been the highlight of a holiday dinner. Granted, she had abandoned the more arduous meringue and whipped cream toppings for the simplicity of Cool Whip
™ a while back, but it didn't take away from the perfect melding of richness with sweet always found inside.
From the first bite of the chocolate cream pie, we noticed something was not right. While the flavor was off, we couldn't place this overpowering sharp taste that had replaced the velvety chocolate taste. Still, we ate every bite out of politeness and said nothing. Her suspicions were instantly in play when no seconds were requested. Grabbing a slice for herself, she spit it out at the first bite.
Her Appalachian twang asked an unknowing crowd, "What the hell is wrong with this pie?" Going to her dry goods cabinet, she noted that the cocoa powder was not up in front; in the place where something recently used would and should be was cinnamon. While we shared a quick laugh, you could see in Grandma's face a loss of confidence and the fear of an aging mind.
