10 Tale# 10: Ice Cream

Cristal, a 7 year old girl, was merrily playing in her front yard. Its noon and it's pretty hot, but Cristal didn't bother to go inside; even though sweat is trickling down in every part of her body, her summer wear wet, and her toys– hot to the touch. But she didn't care, not at all.

Why would you go inside when you can get cozy in your own pool? She thought to herself as she tried to lay down in her inflatable pool. She didn't care about the heat or the fact that she's alone in her swimming pool, all she wanted was to cool down in her own swimming pool.

Speaking of cool down, Cristal bolted upright when she heard a familiar tune. The tune that indicates that her favorite of the day is coming. The sound of the tune grew louder and louder until Cristal can't stop herself but to sing to the melody.

Mary had a little lamb,

Little lamb, little lamb

Mary had a little lamb,

Its fleece was white as snow.

She repeated it over and over again as she watched the truck grew bigger into her view, until she can recognize every part of it. The signboard in the top, the sliding window at the right side and a menu at the side of it. The pastel white color of the truck blended with the colors of different kinds of ice creams painted all over it.

Cristal wiggled and jumped in her pool, excited to get an ice cream for herself. She got out of her pool quickly, not bothering the sizzling hot ground or getting her toys crushed beneath her foot. All she wanted was an ice cream. She bolted from the door to the living room and to the kitchen, searching for her 'Work from Home' mother. She forgot to wear a towel or a robe to dry herself first so that no water would leak from her clothes, all she wanted was to find her mother and get herself an ice cream.

When she found her mother in the garden, she paused for a moment to appreciate the environs. Her mother looked like a goddess while tending to the flowers of various kinds; her smile so beautiful and her face so pretty. Cristal can��t help herself but to admire what's in front of her. She got back to herself again when she heard the tune of the ice cream truck.

Cristal walked to her mother whose still watering the plants. She slightly tugged at her shirt and stared at each other's' eyes. Her mother was confused at first but smiled when she also heard the tune. They smiled and walked side by side into the kitchen to get the fee. Cristal giggled excitedly as she watch her mother rummaged through one of the cupboard drawers. She can't wait to get an ice cream.

"What are going to have for today sweetheart?" her mother asked while pulling a red ribbon from the drawer.

"I want a vanilla ice cream, with chocolate syrup and two wafers sticks on top." She eagerly replied.

Her mother handed her the fee and swiftly ran through the doors, only to see that she'll be the first one to buy an ice cream. She knocked to the side windows and giggle gleefully once it slide open and revealed the ice cream man. The ice cream man is old, has wrinkles on his face, and his teeth isn't complete anymore. The ice cream man gave her a smile and asked, "What can I do for you little miss?"

Cristal handed her payment as she pointed the ice cream she wanted from the menu. The man turned to his back and placed Cristal's payment in a jar, then started to prepare her order. When it's done, he handed the ice cream to Cristal and smiled again. Before Cristal could leave, he said to her, "What pretty little heart you gave me little miss."

She gave him a smile and replied, "Thanks, it's from my pet."

"I know." Said the ice cream man.

He then turned back again to look at his jars, all full of different parts. From limbs to organs, from bones to teeth. He then looked at the jar where he put Cristal's payment: her pet's heart, now together with its other parts, limbs and organs, bones and teeth.

As soon as he turned to the window, he saw a long line of children waiting to get an ice cream. All holding a bloody part whether from their pets, siblings, parents or even from themselves.

You may be wondering, what made this children do those things just for an ice cream?

Well, let's just say, its taste was bewitching that money isn't an enough payment for it.

The ice cream man smiled again, this time, wider; revealing his bloody teeth. He looked at the boy in front of his window and asked, "What can I do for you, little man?"