Hello, and welcome to Drabbletober. This is episode 10, for Thursday the tenth of October 2024.
Would You Like A Flake With That?
by Elizabeth Guilt
The kids tumbled giddily from the car.
"Let's get ice creams!"
Dad bought 99s for the family, and they raced onto the beach.
Elderly ladies strolled along the promenade, nibbling at melting vanilla. Teenagers dared each other into waves that washed off the last streaks of chocolate.
"No, thanks," said Henry.
His date stared. "But... We're at the seaside!"
He eyed the jagged purple rocks, and the seething yellow-grey sea.
"I don't like it here."
"Because you haven't had an ice cream, silly!"
Sweet cherry slid down his throat, so cold it numbed.
He smiled, and walked towards golden sands.
If you live in the UK, a trip to the beach can often be a collective delusion. I've eaten ice cream on days when I've had to shield it to stop the wind whipping my flake away, and also when I've had to race the tiny pits that formed as raindrops splattered into my scoop of vanilla.
There's got to be some kind of explanation.