Eye Of The Beholder

Eye Of The Beholder

“’Nilla, I want ‘nilla,” Jewel yelled, pulling out of her mother’s grasp and running into the Ben and Jerry’s shop. Chasing her, Brooke managed to grab her before she careened into the line of waiting people.

“Jewel, stop it!” Brooke hissed. “If you behave, you can have ice cream… but only one scoop.”

“Two! I want two!” she demanded, stomping her foot.

“No, it will ruin you dinner,” Brooke replied. Seeing Jewel’s face start to scrunch, she added, “but I’ll let you ride on the little carousel horse afterwards.”

“Horsies?” she asked.

“Yes, horsies, and I’ll let you pick out which one you like the best. They have a brown one, a black one and a white one,” Brooke said with feigned enthusiasm.

“Well,” said Jewel, “OK but you promise.”

“I promise, cross my heart,” Brooke said. Taking her daughter’s hand, she noticed something amiss. After a moment, she asked, “Jewel, where are your earrings?”

“I didn’ like ‘em so I threw them away,” Jewel answered in haughty reply.

“Jewel! Mommy just bought those for you. They were gold.”

“I didn’ like ‘em!” was the adamant response.

With a silent sigh, Brooke gave up.

“It looks like you have your hands full,” a masculine voice interrupted her thoughts.

Looking around, Brooke saw an older man standing at the front of the line.

“Why don’t you take my place? You look like you could use a break. Kids are, by nature, demanding and selfish and it looks like you have one that’s learned early,” he said with a laugh in voice.

“Excuse me?” said Brooke with indignation. “My Jewel is an angel. I’ll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself!”

Grabbing Jewel, she marched out of the shop, dragging her daughter’s struggling form. “Some people have no manners!” she exclaimed.

Notes

Word Count: 300 exactly

An entry for April 28 "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"  [13+]
Prompt: Write a story that involves a horse, an earring, and an ice cream cone.

Thank you for taking time to read my words. I would appreciate it if you took a moment and left a comment. Your reaction, impressions, criticisms, - yes, even praise are all equally welcome.

Ken