Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: CANDY (04/28/16)
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TITLE: Only Butterscotch Kisses | Previous Challenge Entry
By Francy Judge
05/05/16 -
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Melissa heard the dog’s muffled snoring. Every few minutes Monty’s paw flinched. She snapped his picture to use for a future painting she planned to paint and hang in Shari’s bedroom. It would match the animal theme.
Melissa pealed the golden wrapper off a hard butterscotch candy. “Mmm. So good... but this is my last one. Tomorrow I’ll empty the candy jar in the trash.” She didn’t want to end up like her mom, taking insulin every day. As she scrolled down, checking her email on her phone, Lauren called. She wanted to read and ignore the call, but she was curious. Her best friend always had a good reason to call instead of text her.
“Hi. What’s up?”
“Why are you whispering? Is Shari sleeping?”
“Yes. I just got her to nap after thirty minutes of reading. I can quote the entire ‘Hungry Caterpillar’ if you’d like.”
“Maybe next time. I have to tell you about Jenny.”
“What now? Is she asking all the moms to bring homemade gluten-free, peanut-free muffins to Mommy and Me class at church?”
“She didn’t yet, but start searching for recipes. I think we should have a talk with her. I found out she lets her seven-year-old son watch the Simpsons cartoon.”
“Are you kidding?” Melissa couldn’t stop coughing.
“Are you okay?”
“I almost swallowed my butterscotch. Wow! That show is so inappropriate for a child that age.”
“Don’t eat those around Jenny. She’ll rattle on for fifteen minutes about the effects of sugar in your body. As I was saying, can you believe she lets her son watch that trash? I know it’s true. Tyler had a play day with her son, and he told me every detail of the episode they watched.”
As Melissa listened, Monty barked at her.
“I’m sorry. I can hardly hear you. Monty won’t stop barking.”
“She needs to stop worrying about food, and spend more time with her...”
Monty pulled on Melissa’s hem and barked higher for a boxer.
“I have to hang up. Monty won’t stop. I’ll chat later.”
Monty barked and ran down the hall, back and forth.
“What’s wrong with you today?” As she followed him toward Shari’s bedroom, she noticed butterscotch wrappers scattered across the floor.
Shari wasn’t in her bed. Melissa’s heart raced. “Shari!” She was sprawled out on the floor with her face down, her doll still in her arms. Melissa turned her over to see blue. “Lord, please no.” She cried and was about to try CPR, her lips over Shari’s tiny mouth, when she smelled the sweet, creamy scent—butterscotch.
Melissa pushed her fist upward to Shari’s little ribcage again and again. The sucker flew out of her mouth. Shari coughed and cried, but she was alive.
“Oh God, thank you!”
Shari sat up, still teary eyed. “Mauwa?”
“Only more butterscotch kisses.” Melissa kissed her all over as Shari giggled.
“Mauwa!”
Monty laid his head on the ground, looking exhausted from being a hero. Melissa gathered every piece of candy she could find as Shari toddled behind her, picking up wrappers, and tossed them in the trash. “No mauwa, ever!”
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