Half a Cake

My college pal Jennifer had a roommate named Alice, a true Southern Belle. I had never encountered anyone like her before. She told many stories of her wonderful upbringing, and of her loving father. For instance, when she was a child she would be given half a cake on her half birthday. We had absolutely nothing in common, especially the devoted father. She was a fascinating, exotic creature, just like Vivienne Leigh in Streetcar Named Desire, my favorite Tennessee Williams play.