Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: QUESTION (S) (05/30/19)
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TITLE: Just One More | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom
06/06/19 -
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Sighing, Mommy pushed the chopped vegetables into the salad bowl. “I’m ironing. What are you doing?”
Wrigley crumpled her eyebrows and pursed her lips. “The iron board’s not out and you got a knife.” Wrigley tapped her finger against her chin. “Doesn’t look like ironin’.”
“You’re right. I was being facetious. I’m really making dinner.” Mommy wiped her hands with a dish towel.
Tapping her finger on her chin again, Wrigley said, “What’s fa-sea-jits?
Mommy rubbed her fingers in little circles on her forehead. “It’s a way big people make jokes. Kind of like sarcastic or sardonic, but more funny than mean. Usually sarcastic is trying to be funny in a almost mocking way, while sardonic is funny in a skeptical way.”
Tapping her chin again, Wrigley said, “So it’s not lyin’? Cuz tech-nickel-lee, it wasn't funny.” While her finger kept tapping her chin, Wrigley stared at Mommy.
As Mommy squirted dish soap into the sink of hot water, she sighed again. “It’s something your Grandma used to say whenever anyone asked what she was doing, especially when it was obvious what she was doing. I guess it was her way to get little girls to stop bugging her with questions.”
“What little girls used to bug her?”
“Me and Aunt Jaci.”
Suddenly, Wrigley squeezed her knees together and started wiggling.
Mommy asked, “Do you have to go potty?”
Wrigley shook her head but started bouncing harder.
“Are you sure?”
“No, I gotta go. Now!” Wrigley turned and ran towards the bathroom. Behind her, she heard Mom shout, “Don’t forget to wipe. Front to back. And flush the toilet. And wash your hands. With soap.” As Wrigley reached the bathroom door, she heard Mommy mutter, “Maybe now I can get some peace!”
Soon Wrigley was skipping back to the kitchen and climbing up on a big stool. She tapped Mommy’s belly. “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!”
Bending over, Mommy poked a finger into Wrigley’s arm. “Wrigley! Wrigley! Wrigley!”
Tapping her chin, Wrigley asked, “Are you bein’ fa-sea-jits, sor-ry-don-cal, or sar-cars-tick?”
Once more, Mommy sighed, “I’m not sure, anymore.” She pulled out a chair and plopped into it.
Tap, tap, tap. “I think you was being sar-cars-tick cuz you were mocking me.”
“Sorry, Punkin, I’ve had a really long day. Why don’t you go play?”
“But, Mommy! I have a ‘portant question." Wrigley looked at Mommy, stuck out her lower lip, and gave her the best puppy-face-look ever.
Mommy chuckled, “Okay. Just one more.”
Wrigley grinned. “Will there be potties in heaven?”
Mommy plopped her head down on the table. “I don’t know.”
“But why not? Mommies know everything.” Wrigley tilted her head and blinked her eyes three times really fast.
Groaning, Mommy lifted her head. “Because no one has gone to heaven and come back to tell others what it’s like.”
“Na-huh. Jesus been to heaven and come back. So why didn’t he tell everyone?”
Mommy plopped her head on the table again. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. Mommies don’t know everything.”
Tap, tap, tap. “That’s fair, I guess.”
Mommy smiled at Wrigley. “You said you’d go play if I answered one more question.”
Frowning, Wrigley crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. “But it doesn’t count cuz you didn’t know.”
Wiggling her pointer finger, Mommy said, “Just one more!”
Wrigley nibbled on her lower lip. She thought and thought. It had to be the perfect last question. “Why’s the sky blue?"
“Because that’s the way God wanted it.”
“Oh. Okay.” Wrigley tilted her head. “I think Daddy's home!”
She sprinted to the door, hugged him, and said, “Daddy, can I ask you a question?” She wasn’t positive, but she thought she heard Mommy laughing in the kitchen.
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I thought maybe in a few places "she" or "her" could have been used in place of Mommy or Wrigley since they were the only two characters. Using "said" caught my eye - I don't think you overused it though; I think I'm just overly sensitive to it.
A delightful (and realistic) story!