Flash Fiction |
Peanut Butter Thoughts Standing in front of the frozen food section, trying to decide what I would eat this week, when a tap came from my side. Thinking someone ran their cart too close, I turned to find nobody, until I looked down. There was a small boy standing there. “Hello?” I asked, assuming he needed help reaching something a parent sent him for. “Hello,” he said, smiling! But then he just looked at me. “Can I help you?” I asked, “Is your mother nearby?” I added, realizing that he was quite young, four or five at the most. “She’s over there,” he pointed to the produce section. A woman was collecting a bag of green beans, one at a time. I remembered my husband doing that, I would grab handfuls, but then I don’t cook, and you aren’t supposed to eat peanut butter sandwiched for every meal. Hence, for me now, frozen dinners. Still nothing from the child, so I figured I’d get the conversation going. “Do you know who I am?” I asked. “Are you Mrs. Santa Claus?” he asked, quite seriously. Suddenly my white hair, my wrinkled face and my favorite, I might add, red coat, came to mind. I guess I could look like Mrs. Claus to a child. I looked down at the boy, I could see he was serious. I felt I had an obligation. “You can’t tell anyone!” I said quietly. “I left my summer coat at my friend’s house, I had to wear this one.” The smile on his face made my day, “Are you just visiting here?” “Just checking up on the boys and girls for you know who...” I said. “I won’t tell! I promise! I’m being good!” off he ran. Suddenly, I decided on a peanut butter sandwich for supper! Chunky too! |