ama welcomed the lull from an early session of baking which she managed to get done before the weather turned hot. Soon the two of them began chitchatting over a piece of newly frosted cake. Miss Hattie took a sip of coffee to wash down the last forkful & mischievously looked across the table. The eyes on her broad, round face twinkling, she pronounced in all seriousness, "Pauline, this cake is musty!" Mama naturally became guarded & somewhat defensive. After a tense moment, I saw her features relax and then she said in a slightly exasperated tone, "How can it be? The oven is still hot." Remaining deadpan long enough to delight in seeing Mama squirm, Miss Hattie paused theatrically. "As I said before, this cake is musty." Finally, trying to suppress a sly, ungovernable grin, she broke into hearty laughter and concluded, "I MUST have another piece."