Picky Eater

Picky Eater

“I won’t eat that!”

Mom looked at Mikey sternly as he turned up his freckled nose and pushed his plate roughly away.

“Why won’t you eat it, you ate it last week?”

“That was then, it’s yucky now!”

“Well, I guess you can go straight to bed then!”

“I want dessert,” he wailed.

“No dessert for those who don’t at least try the dinner.”

“Off you go, or I’ll carry you!” Mom threatened.

Because he considered himself too big to be carried, she expected him to scamper off by himself. To her surprise, he held up his arms.

“Let’s go then,” his mom said as she gathered him up.

He was very warm to the touch. She began to worry about him. She laid him on his bed and got his feet under the covers.

Once there, his mom rubbed Vicks on his chest and gave him some children’s aspirin. She kissed his forehead and left the door to his bedroom cracked and the hall light on.

About an hour later, Mikey was back downstairs, rubbing his eyes and crying.

“I’m hungry!”

“How about some cream of chicken soup and a grilled cheese sandwich?” she offered.

Mikey smiled slowly. His mom got him all cozied up on the couch with two blankets and a furry heater dog called Buddy, then went to make his meal.

When it arrived, he started to eat. He managed some of the soup and half the sandwich. Buddy finished off the rest.

Mikey fell sound asleep with Buddy cuddled into him. His mom smiled at the sight as she turned off the lights and went to bed down the hall from the living room. All was quiet, until morning.

But what a morning that was!