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Fudgesicles for Breakfast, a slice-of-life flash which I haven’t done in a while, is rated PG, according to my standards.
Fudgesicles for Breakfast, by Deanna Schrayer
Cindy rolled her suitcase in to the living room. “Okay guys, you can have one more dip in the pool before we leave but we have to help Daddy finish packing first,” she told the twins.
The toddlers, Ben and Kaylee bounced up and down on the luxurious couch and squealed with joy.
“Ben! Kaylee!” their dad yelled, “How many times have I told you? Don’t. jump. On. the furniture. It doesn’t belong to us!” Brent sighed, forced himself to gather patience and hugged each of his children tight as he moved them from the couch to the floor, where they took off running towards the condo door.
“No, no, no,” Cindy called to them, “don’t y’all dare open that door, we aren’t ready to go just yet.”
Ben and Kaylee whined a bit but they shuffled back from the door, deliberately stopping where the tile met the carpet. They sat down on the tile and spread their legs out in front of them, their shoulders and legs touching as if they were one person instead of two. They looked for all the world like a golden statue that had been placed in the condo as decoration. Ben and Kaylee stared at their parents, ready to jump up and go to the pool at the sound of their mother’s ‘okay’.
“What’s all this stuff still doing in the fridge?” Brent said, his voice muffled as he buried his head inside the refrigerator.
“What stuff?” said Cindy, “I thought I’d gotten everything we couldn’t take with us.”
“A pack of bacon, not even open, why did we even buy this stuff if we weren’t going to eat it?”
Cindy held her temper, (for Brent was famous for complaining about wasting money), and walked over to join him at the fridge. “I’ll take care of it honey,” she said as she nudged him out of the way, “you go on and take the bags to the car.”
“But what are you going to do with all this?” he asked.
“I’ll drop it off at the front desk, I’m sure they’ll know someone who needs it.” Her usual answer to the seemingly rehearsed question.
Brent began gathering the suitcases, “Ridiculous!” he said, “Every time we take a trip we end up feeding other people instead of ourselves.” His usual remark to her answer.
Cindy said nothing, only scanned the contents of the fridge and put the bacon, a pack of cheese, and several other unopened packages into a grocery bag. She felt a twinge of guilt when she opened the freezer and discovered they still had a whole box of fudgesicles not even opened. She knew Brent was right, that she always overloaded on groceries when they stayed somewhere more than a few days, but she’d never admit that to him.
“Mommy, when we go swim?” Kaylee asked. Ben followed her lead, “Yea, go swim Mommy!”
Cindy looked to her beautiful little babies and had an idea. “Soon sweethearts,” she said as she took up the grocery bag, “Let’s grab our swim bags and go downstairs. We have to stop by the front desk first.”
The twins jumped up and ran to get their Superman and Cinderella backpacks from the living room. They bounced up and down as Cindy opened the door and held it for them.
They stepped out of the elevator on the first floor to see Brent waiting to go back up. “Daddy!” Kaylee yelled. She hugged his legs and told him, “We going swimming!”
“Hey,” said Ben suspiciously, “How you get here Daddy?” He looked back at the elevator as if expecting a robot to jump out of it.
“Hey you two,” Brent said. He tousled Ben’s hair while he gently pulled Kaylee off his legs. “I’ve got to go up and make sure we’ve got everything and then I’ll meet you at the pool, okay?” The elevator had closed. He pushed the button to bring it back down.
“Ya!” Kaylee screamed.
“Shhh,” Cindy said, “there are people still sleeping here. Come on, let’s go take this stuff to the front desk and then we’ll go to the pool.” Ben was inspecting the elevator when it opened. He jumped back as if he’d been burned, yet still he stuck his head inside as if looking for a secret.
“Watch out buddy,” Brent said as he pulled Ben away from the elevator and stepped in, “that thing can bite you.” To Cindy he said, “I’ll meet y’all out there in a few.”
“Come on kiddies,” Cindy said, walking towards the lobby.
Ben and Kaylee squirmed and bounced as Cindy sat their things down at a table by the pool. When she didn’t immediately begin blowing up their arm floats, the twins looked at her askance. “What you doin’ Mommy?” Kaylee said.
“Well, before we go swimming,” Cindy said as she took out the fudgesicles, “I thought we’d have a treat first.” She grinned at her kids, a sneaky smile as if she were allowing them to do something naughty.
Ben and Kaylee squealed with delight and immediately began clambering into a seat. “Ya for Mommy!” Kaylee said, and Ben followed up, “Yes! Mommy’s the best!”
Cindy got them each settled with the ice cream, not bothering to give them napkins since they’d be getting in the pool anyway, and sat back with her own fudgesicle. She watched her happy children and a surge of love came over her as if she were standing on the beach and was suddenly splashed by a huge wave. She took it all in, giggling at them as the chocolate dribbled down their chins and onto their stomachs.
After Ben and Kaylee had eaten half their treat Cindy helped them into their swim gear and they ran and jumped into the shallow end of the pool. Cindy was grateful they both had learned to swim as babies. She sat back and watched them as she opened her second fudgesicle.
Brent walked in and waved to the kids on his way to join Cindy. “Oh wow, you guys look great out there!” Kaylee sat on the steps leading down into the pool and watched Ben as he dove into the water, letting out a big ‘Woooohoooo’ in the air.
“Hey beautiful,” Brent whispered in Cindy’s ear and gave her a peck on the cheek. He sat down opposite her and looked from the package of fudgesicles to her playful eyes. “Fudgesicles for breakfast?” he squinted at her.
“That’s right,” Cindy smiled, handing Brent one of the quickly melting treats, “Fudgesicles for breakfast.”
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Yes, this is semi-autobiographical. Ah, how I miss those days! (My sons are now 13 and 15).
