His seven-layer cake only had six layers. There was something about that idea that put him mildly out of humor. Giving in to the fact that it was already purchased and sitting in front of him, he cut into it with the plastic fork that had come with the slice and let it past the threshold of his mouth. All the while, as he ate, there was a distinct feeling that the missing layer had somehow influenced the cake itself. Taking a second bite he came to the conviction that it had in some way chan...