Seven Scoops
.
November 23, 2009 • Shawna Petersen, Guest Contributor
Filed under Literature
I can’t believe I did that. I feel like such a horrible person, such a disgrace. I can’t tell them. They’ll never let me live it down. They will be so mad at me… I’m so upset, so guilty, that I am shaking. I can’t stop. It’s uncontrollable. But I needed it…so they can’t be TOO mad…can they? I must hide all the evidence, just in case. As I run around, hiding the evidence, I hear a door shut. They’re home. NEED TO HIDE. I run for the closet, leaving the freezer opened. Dad and Mom walk inside, my breathing quickens, I’m trying to slow it down but my heart is beating so hard that it’s making the rest of my body work harder. Mom asks Dad where I am, he doesn’t know. Well of course he doesn’t know. How would he? He has been home just as long as she has. They yell for me, I scream and burst into tears. Mom opens the closet door and asks, “WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!”
“I’m horrible! I’m a disgrace to the family! Don’t talk to me! I don’t want to hear it! Just leave me aloneeee!!!!”
“What are you talking about? There’s nothing you could’ve done to disgrace the family. Come talk to me.”
Shoot, I think. What am I going to do now? I must hide it… I just won’t talk. That’s it. I’ll zip my lips. I sit on the couch to talk to Mom and silence. Nothing’s being said. She’s staring at me, waiting for a response. What do I do?! I can’t tell her!
“What is going on with you? What did you do that you’re so upset about? I promise, I will not be mad. I just need to know what happened,” Mom said, very calmly.
Maybe I can trust her… Maybe she’s being serious. Well… If she isn’t, then I could always say that she promised she wouldn’t be mad…but I don’t want her to be mad. So, I still say nothing.
What feels like an hour goes by. Dad comes out and sits on the couch. He tells me that if i don’t say what’s going on right then, he’s going to get someone else involved. I panic. Can they arrest me? Maybe if I just tell them, they won’t get the police. Or was it someone else he was talking about? I can’t risk it. I burst into tears.
“I’m so sorry, Mom! I ate seven scoops of your delicious ice cream! I was just so hungry….. and then SNAP, CRACKLE, POP! I ate it. I’m really sorry, it’ll never happen again, I promise! PLEASE don’t call the cops!”
“What has gotten into you?!?! It’s ok! I can buy more ice cream! Calm down!”
“Oh….”
“You are not a disgrace to the family. That is a very small thing. No matter what you do, we’re here for you. You just need to talk to us about it, and everything will be ok.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Loading ...