Dave: Hey, Dan - did you know that today is Stephen's birthday?

Dan: Oh, yeah, that's right. We should make him a cake or something. (blows nose on hanky)

Dave: How about a pie?

Dan: Yeah, that sounds good. Do you have a recipe?

Dave: Here, let me check. (Takes recipe box, and thumbs through it, pulling out a card.)

Dan: (looking at card) That doesn't say APPLE PIE, it says ONION RINGS!

Dave: Oh - sorry. You see - I lost a contact yesterday and haven't gotten a new one, so I can't see very well - it looked close, though!

Dan: I don't think it would have tasted close! (digs through box and hands right card to Dave.)

Dave: Well - let's see, first we need 2 cauliflower. (makes puzzled expression)

Dan: Cauliflower? Let me see that. (Dave hands Dan the card) No - it says 2 cups of flour. (Dan blows nose again.)

Dave: Well, that would make more sense. (Hands card back to Dan) Here, you'd better read it to me.

Dan: Maybe I should just make the pie.

Dave: Not with that cold of yours - we don't want any germs on it.

Dan: Yes, you're probably right. I tell you what - I'll read it to you, and watch from a distance to make sure you're doing it right. How does that sound?

Dave: Yeah - that's a good idea. Let me start with the flour. (takes a bowl and measures out two cups of flour.) Now what?

Dan: 1 teaspoon of salt.

Dave: 1 teaspoon of salt. (uses wrong measurement and puts in one TABLESPOON.)

Dan: Uh - Dave, I think you put in a TABLESPOON instead of a teaspoon-

Dave: (moves spoons close to eye) Yeah - I think you're right. But maybe it will be ok - Stephen likes salty foods - you know: pretzels, potato chips, peanuts…

Dan: and apple pie?

Dave: Oh sure. What do I need next?

Dan: One half cup of cold water.

Dave: (pours water from kettle) One half cup of cold water. (puts in his finger to test it) Yeah, that should work.

Dan: Are you sure that's cold? I thought it just came off the stove.

Dave: Of course - didn't you see me test it?

Dan: (puts finger in water) Dave - this is still warm!

Dave: (looks at finger tip) Oh yeah - this is the finger I burned last week - I still don't have all of the feeling back in it.

SIGN: AN HOUR LATER

Dave: Dan - don't you think we ought to check the pie? I didn't hear the timer ring, but it sure smells like it's burning.

Dan: Boy - I don't smell anything. (takes out hanky and blows his nose again)

Dave: How could you, with the cold that you have?

Dan: Oh, that's right. You'd better take a peek and see how the pie looks.

Dave: Ok. (opens "oven door")

Dan: Well, what do you think?

Dave: I'm not sure - I can't see it very well.

Dan: Oh, that's right - you're missing a contact. I'd better take a look. (peers into "oven") Oh dear! (grabs hot pads and quickly pulls out the pie.) I think we burned it.

Dave: Do you think Stephen will notice?

Dan: No - I'm sure all the extra salt will cover the burnt taste.

Dave: Oh good (gets puzzled expression) -- I think.

Dan: Here comes Stephen now. Do you think we'll surprise him?

Dave: Oh, I'm sure it will be quite a surprise.

Stephen: (enters) Hi guys.

Dan & Dave: Hi, Stephen. Happy Birthday!

Dan: We made you a pie!

Stephen: You did? (looks at pie) Oh, you did.

Dave: Here, why don't you try a piece? (cuts pie and puts piece on plate. Hands to Stephen with a fork.)

Stephen: (takes a bite hesitantly, then begins to eat normally.)

Dan: So, what do you think?

Dave: Yeah, how does it taste? It doesn't taste burnt, or too salty, or anything, does it?

Stephen: Actually, I just got some medicine from my doctor, and one of the side affects is that you lose your sense of taste - I can't taste it at all.

Dan: Oh - maybe that's good.

Dave: Well, that would be a first.

Dan: What do you mean?

Dave: Well, God made us with five senses, but if even one isn't working right, it can sure made life difficult.

Dan: Oh, I see what you mean - like your not being able to see clearly right now - you couldn't read the recipe, or see that the pie was burnt. (Dave elbows him on the word burnt)

Stephen: You mean this isn't supposed to be chocolate?

Dave: And you couldn't smell it, and I couldn't feel that the water was still warm. And neither of us heard the timer ring, either.

Stephen: I think maybe this is one time that I'm glad my sense of taste isn't working quite right!