Beatrice closed her fingers into a fist, homing a small piece of candy. The simplicity of the inanimate object was just a disguise, cloaking it's true meaning. The emotion tied to this small, sweet bundle of compacted sugar was immeasurable. Sighing, Beatrice opened her hand and let the candy roll off her palm and onto the dinner table in front of her. Her younger brother, seated beside her, snatched the candy up with his grimy fingers and laughed as he pulled at the ends to unwrap it.
"Give it here, you brat!" Beatrice screamed, pulling it from his hands before the wrapping had fully come off. She folded the paper neatly over the candy, smoothing out the crinkled edges. "What's your problem? Not like you were gonna eat it."
"Johnny- stop it. That's not your candy to eat, it's your sister's. Beatrice- no shouting at the dinner table, and don't name-call. Apologize at once, both of you." Beatrice's mother scolded them before Beatrice could shout some smart remark that she hadn't quite thought of yet. She grumbled before saying, "sorry", but not meaning it, of course. Her brother rolled his eyes and bitterly spat, "I'm sorry".
Beatrice looked down at the candy once again resting in her palm, her eyes glistening with sorrow. "Bea, put the treat down and eat your dinner," Her mother advised, seeing Beatrice lost in her thoughts. "Okay, Mother."
After dinner she returned to her room, her mind still absorbed by the presence of the candy. But her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when her dog, Elise, swerved into her room. "Hello!" Beatrice called to the Elise, who trotted over to her, sniffing her closed hands. She giggled and patted Elise on the head. "I know you smell the candy, but you can't have it."
The smile then retreated from her face, replaced by her usual frown. "No one can have it."
She loosely held the sugary totem in her hands. While Beatrice wasn't paying attention to her, Elise managed to part her hands with her muzzle. She yelped as Elise ran out of the room, the candy in her mouth. "Elise, come back! I need that!" She ran into the hallway and up to the door, her only way outside, which to Beatrice's luck, was closed. She sighed with relief.
In the living room, Johnny heard Elise's yips, and walked over to the door and let her out. He reached for the doorknob when Beatrice yelled, " no Johnny, stop!" Johnny, now amused, threw open the door obnoxiously. Beatrice let out scream of frustration as she chased Elise out the door. The crisp cold air wrapped around Beatrice like a blanket, making the hairs on her arms stand on end. Her breath came out like clouds in the frigid air, but this didn't stop her. Beatrice looked out into the woods for Elise, who, surprisingly, was digging. She wasn't eating the candy as Beatrice had expected. Beatrice ran up to Elise, who had placed the candy in the small hole she dug. "I don't want you to eat it, but I don't want you to bury it either!" She reached for the candy and Elise growled harshly. Beatrice retracted her hand with wide eyes. Elise pushed dirt over the candy with her nose, then Beatrice reluctantly assisted in the patting down of the dirt.
"I guess you're right." She stroked Elise's head as they both looked out into the woods.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
