Puleeeeeze!

Pleeeeeeeeez! His eyes were sugar glazed as he leaned precariously out of the shopping cart. She thought about the possibility of a screaming child and the embarrassment made her sweat. She maneuvered the rickety three-wheeled cart around the corner into the ice cream aisle and mentally made plans to come alone next time.

Boats

He was glad they wouldn’t go out today. The sea was choppy and the old boats were damp with overnight rain. The sodden wood smell was something that would unmistakably remind him of his father forever. He sat in the land bound hull and cried for the first time, overcome with memories. Then his toddler son clambered in beside him with his tangled reel of fishing line and he smiled through his tears.

Fried Fish

He hauled it to the last stop of the day. His arms ached maneuvering the hard turns and the diesel stench had built swarming his head and making his eyes water. He tricked his senses by dreaming of the fried fish dinner and the soft-armed hugs waiting for him at home.

Two Scoops

Her patience was everlasting. She never questioned what she did for the family business, what was expected of her and how she delivered what was required. But now her mind conjured its own wishes and dreams. Motivation would push her to success she could never have imagined. For the moment though she perfectly balanced two scoops on a sugar cone.

The Floaties

She tried to feel her god given strength of responsibility. At least she didn’t have to watch them swim anymore. The noise alone had left her buzzing and weak. She wondered if making lunch was a good idea now before they got cranky. But first she scooped up the floaties and with expert passive aggression punctured one with her fingernail.

The resort had forbidden it

She snuck out driven by curiosity. The resort had forbidden it but to come this far and not adventure through the truth of this country seemed remiss and stung her sense of responsibility. Though her eyes saw one thing, others around her saw something else, a stranger oblivious to their ways. She blithely drifted and rounded the corner narrowly escaping danger.

The Fat Man

He perched precariously and settled into the uneasy balance. It was the perfect view, pleasing to the eye on many levels. He skipped his regular lunchtime risking the noonday sun to take it all in. On Monday he’d be back at his office desk.

Night Calls

He was ready for that Saturday night.

Cherry Ice Cream

He had never seen her focus so intense. What began as a shrieking discovery had become serious. She stared at the creature, willing it to make a move. Her breath measured as she tried not to disturb it. But the time moved too slowly and she impatiently made a grab for it. He caught her hand and distracted her with the promise of cherry ice cream.

Geometry

She pretended it was no big deal but her heart sank. Her wonder with nature took a turn as she made the connection to man and animal. She picked up the offending material, that potential fish killer, so benign on land, so lethal in the ocean, and gripped it so tightly it cut her hand. Thus began her lifelong passion as keeper of the seas.

38DD

They thought they were so smart and little bit cheeky. It had been confiscated and no one person would take responsibility for the naked girl. The teacher kept her stern face on but inside she giggled at the thought of seeing this same picture, or variations of it, repeatedly over her 30-year career. She made them stay in for recess.

The Warrior

The past was difficult to imagine. He absorbed the two dimensional description of his ancestors, their pride, courage and valour. Looking at his people’s history, where he came from, overwhelmed him with a sense of cultural duty. He would transform his superficial life and adopt the confidence of a warrior.

401

He had done it a hundred times with tunnel vision. The mind numbing commute had thrown him into grayness daily. Today his haze of thoughts dissipated and he took in his keen surroundings. It unexpectedly cleansed his consciousness and he smiled in the stillness of it. He walked in the door beaming and it was returned by all.

Condo Heaven

She bravely smiled and tried hard to accept her new home. The appliances were shiny and new, the wall to wall carpet was white and fluffy, the bathroom had modern fixtures. This impressed everyone. But the sink was in the wrong place, her bed faced the bathroom door and she had to crane her neck to see blue sky. Most of all, she missed her garden terribly.

The Spoon

His eyes glazed over as he sat at the table alone. His siblings long excused, were off and playing Wii while he felt chained to the dining chair. “There are starving children in Africa,” he was reminded. Contemplating this, he wondered if oversalted, stinky, cold soup could possibly be appealing to anyone. After making a long list in his mind, he squeezed his eyes shut, put the bowl to his mouth and gulped it back. He licked his lips and felt grateful for the first time.