Ice Cream Lady

We could hear the carnival-like music from blocks away. The ice cream lady! My two cousins Andreya and Aaron, and I, dumped our bikes in the street and ran up to the porch. I rang the doorbell dingdingdingding! Monga opened the main door and talked through the screen.

"I told you kids to stay outside!"

"The ice cream lady is coming!" Andreya announced.

Our feet practically danced on the scratchy brown turf. Monga never wanted to spend money on anything fun, but we never quit trying. Monga stood staring stoic behind the screen door. With every second she spent like this, the ice cream lady got closer and closer. Her music crescendoed with our anxious hope that Monga would be moved by our antsy youth and pleading eyes.

"She's getting closer! Hurry up, Monga! She's gonna go by us!" Andreya insisted.

The ice cream lady turned onto our street and was heading our way. Her music at full forte, picking up tempo with our anticipating hearts.

Monga turned and walked away.

The three of us stood on the turf. I curled my toes in on it and felt its roughness. Aaron, resigned, went to the street, hopped on his bike and rode away past the ice cream lady. Andreya rang the doorbell again. One hard ding.

Monga returned to the screen door. I thought she'd come to kill us for ringing the doorbell again, and I shot Andreya a look that said so. Monga had her wallet! She fumbled a bit for change she dug out with her fingers. Disbelief expanded my eyeballs.

Andreya said, "Now Aaron's not gonna get anything. He shouldn't have ran off." This made me feel bad (not bad enough to turn down the money).

The ice cream lady rounded the corner, her music in a slow, steady decrescendo. Monga opened the door a crack and held out the money.

"Well, hurry up and get me a fudgesicle. She's getting away."

I took the coins and turned towards the ice cream lady. I heard the door lock behind me. Felt Monga staring at my back, awaiting her frozen treat. I wanted to lose the money, or take the fudgesicle and run. But, I was the good kid. So, I bought the fudgesicle and delivered it to Monga through a crack she made in the open door. Then, she shut and locked it. I stood there with my toes crunching the turf.