You can order practically anything over the internet these days, but it isn’t always the best option, as demonstrated by one woman who recently purchased a cake online that turned out to be a fail.
A photo of the sweet treat designed for Reddit user SsikMeImDyslexic’s dad has recently racked up 51,000 upvotes. The October 10 post shows a chocolate ganache cake with blue icing that says: “Happy Birthday Grampa.” In the caption, she states that she asked for “some basketballs for decoration.” However, the cake decorator took this too literally and wrote, “with a couple of balls” in white icing.
In the comments, the woman said: “When I opened the box, I was crying, laughing so hard. Not the balls we wanted, but the balls we got!”
Many users were perplexed by how the error occurred. She explained: “I wrote, ‘Please write, “Happy Birthday Grampa” and, if possible, decorate with some basketballs.’ [I don’t know] if it got transferred on a note or what, but I’m not upset with the result.”
This photo of the chocolate cake has left thousands of Reddit users in hysterics.
Reddit/u/SsikMeImDyslexic
Users came up with theories for what was behind the error, with some speculating a language barrier, and others assuming it was intentional—including the original poster. She said: “Either someone wrote it down on a note, and then someone else copied it verbatim, or they were like, ‘Ehh, f*** this, let’s have fun.'”
According to a 2022 YouGov survey, a majority of 1,000 Americans (54%) said they nearly always thank God for being alive on their birthday. Half of the participants said they spend time with their families on their birthday, and 34 percent said they eat cake on their special day.
While this cake didn’t turn out how it was supposed to, it certainly put a smile on the family’s faces. In the comments, the woman said: “[The] cake was from a local bakery and was incredible, balls and all. I should’ve picked up on the red flag that they didn’t show it to me before they handed the box over, but I had a crazy toddler with me. A memorable birthday for my dad.”
“I would seriously have worried that my grandfather would have laughed himself into cardiac arrest, having seen that cake and hearing the story,” said one comment with 5,600 upvotes.
“The cake decorator knows this isn’t what you asked for but doesn’t give a f*** anyway,” said another.
“This cake place did you a huge favor. This will be a story that is told repeatedly! I love harmless mistakes—they make for a great laugh. I once ordered these personalized air fresheners with mine and my [boyfriend’s] pictures, and they sent us someone else’s by accident. That was 2 years ago, and we still have the mistake ones in our cars and get a chuckle every time someone asks us about them!”
Newsweek reached out to u/SsikMeImDyslexic for comment.
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