 Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ Dark Brooding Girl ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
19. Fruitcake
Setting: Magnolia Elementary School; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Christmas 2099
(198 words)
Normandie’s eyes lit up as she looked around the gym. There were holiday decorations, holiday-themed games, and prizes everywhere. Her gaze wandered to the snack stand. All the holiday treats made her mouth water! Sugar cookies, gingerbread, peppermint bark, hot chocolate, and fruitcake. So many fruitcakes!
Mama Alma’s chocolate flan sat among the traditional holiday offerings. Normandie squirmed, suddenly self conscious. Chocolate flan was so different from the other treats! What if her classmates didn’t like it?
She joined the line for the nearest game, hoping to distract herself. The object of the game? Knock the icicles (bottles) down with a snowball (baseball) and win a prize. After several failed tries, she lined up for Pin the Nose on Rudolph instead. A teacher blindfolded her, spinned her, and pointed her in the direction of the board. She placed her sticker, and -
“We have a winner!”
Normandie’s prize was a cookie and hot chocolate. She stood at the back of a long line. “Is all this for snacks?”
The boy ahead of her nodded. “You gotta try the chocolate flan!”
Others chimed in. “It’s the best thing here!”
“I’m going back for seconds!”
“At least it’s not another fruitcake!”
__________________ Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led
If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true... |