Start 'em Young

There is something superbly exciting about an ice-cream shop!
Vanilla, Strawberry, Black Currant, Chocolate Chip, Butterscotch, Caramel Crunch, Crispy Chocolate Malt, Rocky Road, Café Mocha, Rum N' Raisin...

Ummm...
Rum n’ Raisin he thinks, a Café Mocha for her.
And a Rocky Road for the little one.

A few minutes into enjoying their respective ice creams, the little one asks if they can swap the cones, for a taste.
“Of course!” she says.
“Huh?” He stares.
She gives him a look that says, ‘Trust me on this.’

The little one tastes the Café Mocha and makes a face.
Coffee is bitter.
Well, you need to grow up to appreciate it. She smiles.
Now it’s his turn. He isn’t really happy about this. A nine year-old isn’t a baby, exactly; but not all that grown up either.
Reluctantly, he gives the child a taste.
This time the face the child makes is even worse.
“Weird!”
They laugh.
The child goes back to his Rocky Road. But curiosity persists.
“Why does it taste weird?”
“It’s the rum,” she says.
He gives her a look. She stays calm.
“Isn’t it a bad thing?” the child asks.
“Yes, its supposed to be.”
Satisfied, the child goes back to the Rocky Road.

Now, she makes to take the rum n’ raisin for a taste.
“Don’t!” Shouts the child.
Huh!
“Why?” she asks.

The child says, “Because if you have it, then you cannot drive us back home.”
“Really? Why?” she asks.
“Don’t drink and drive.” the child shrugs.
“Ah,” she says. "You are so right!”
She gives the cone back.
Then she looks at him. Smiles.
His frown eases and he smiles too.

There are no guarantees in life, he knows. But this, he thinks, is how you start young with this stuff.
Values, it is called. And it goes a long way.
Hopefully.

Pic courtesy: Pixabay.com