Poor But Proud

This is a contest entry for "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"  (as a part of the Writer's League Challenge) using the following prompt:

Write a story about a poor family that dines at a fancy restaurant for the first time.

294 words

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         “Now, children, I want you all to be on your best behavior. Do you understand?”

         Though all seven children had nodded angelically, Melody should have known better than to believe them. It seemed simple enough: a free all-you-can-eat dinner for eight at a fancy restaurant, courtesy of a raffle. Normally, this family ate at McDonald’s or home with their next-to-nothing income.

         Yet no sooner had they crossed the threshold than little Raina squealed, “Mama, that lady has rocks in her ears!”

         “We have bigger rocks in our garden,” Melody hissed under her breath.

         “But they’re not as sparkly,” Raina protested, rushing to the lady. “Can I touch them?” She asked innocently. The woman looked taken aback, but nodded. Melody turned red.

         As Raina was feeling the ‘big rocks’, twelve-year-old Jackson was holding a goblet up to the light for inspection.

         “Real crystal,” he breathed. “Venetian, I’ll bet!”

         Melody sighed as her children forgot the earlier lecture. Amelia was testing the flexibility of the silverware –probably twenty-carat white gold – while Ben bopped up and down on the chairs..

         “Don’t go getting any ideas, Christy. We are not getting a chandelier,” Melody snapped. “Michael, sit up straight. Laura, don’t stare. Amelia, put the fork down. Pick something to eat, everyone.”

         “They don’t have Happy Meals,” Raina whined.

         “There’s no soda,” Ben pouted. “I hate tea.”

         “And we don’t use napkins at home,” Derek objected.

         “Can’t we just go to McDonalds?”

         Melody smiled. She’d tried to teach her children that life was appreciating what you did have and overlooking what you didn’t. As she watched their fascination of wealth fade, she knew that she’d succeeded.

         “Sure. McDonald’s it is.”

         And they left the restaurant just like they’d entered: straight, tall, and proud of who they were.

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