
“Tommy,
I want you to go to the shops and pick me up some butter,” Mama said.
“I'm making hot rolls and stew for supper.” She handed her son a few
coins and sent him on his way.
He
passed by a shop that sold ice cream. Pictures of chocolate, vanilla and
strawberry ice cream cones were painted on the window. Tommy's mouth
drooled. It had been such a long time since he'd had ice cream. He felt
the coins in his pocket. “I could tell Mama I lost the coins and buy
myself an ice cream cone.” He stood at the door, ready to turn the
handle. “No, I'd better not. I'll get ice cream another time,” and he
went on his way.
The
bakery was Tommy's favorite shop. He gazed through the window, seeing
iced cherry cakes, flaky pastries filled with cream cheese and nuts,
chocolate cakes covered with thick, gooey icing and apple struedels. “I
could tell Mama I lost the coins and by myself a struedel.” He stood at
the door, ready to turn the handle. “No, I'd better not. I'll get a
struedel another time,” and he went on his way. He passed by a toy store
and wanted to buy a yoyo, but kept walking. Soon he came to the grocers.
He went inside and walked past rows of sweets. “No, Mama said to get
butter.” He was almost to the back of the shop when he saw a man with
balloons. He was standing by the fresh vegetables. Tommy ran over to
watch. The man made him a balloon animal and did all sorts of tricks.
Tommy was so excited her ran home to show his mama.
“Where's the butter?” She saw his empty hands. “Did you buy yourself
some ice cream? Did you buy a struedel, or perhaps a yoyo?”
“No,
Mama. I wanted to, but I didn't,” Tommy said.
“Oh, so
you used the coins to buy this balloon.”
“No,
Mama. There was a man at the grocers and he made these balloon animals
for the children. I've still got the coins.” Tommy pulled them out of
his pocket.
“Did
you forget something, Tommy?” Mama held the bowl of hot rolls in her
arms.
“Butter? Oh no, Mama. I'll run to the grocers and get some right now.”
Tommy dashed down the road to the grocers. He didn't stop and look in
any shop windows. He was back home before the rolls got too cool.
That
night they feasted on hot rolls with creamy butter and a big bowl of
stew.
“Tommy,
because you were such a good boy today, Mama's going to take you for an
ice cream cone.” Mama took Tommy's hand and they headed for town.
Tommy
was so excited when he turned the door knob and went into the ice cream
shop. As he licked the dripping ice cream, he felt glad in his heart
that he'd done as his mama had asked.