I Love Grapes - by HosHi
It was a hot summer day.
Everyone was busy, busy, busy. Fish, beef, pork, and different kinds of meat could be seen everywhere! It was practically flooding with fruits and vegetables of different shapes, sizes and color. The place was filled with people selling various stuff. It was smelly and moist and just plain sick to the core.
This place was the marketplace.
I looked around. My mother was talking to a vendor who sells fruits. She was holding my hand tightly, as if I would evaporate in a second. I had been told that if I would let go of her hand, people would come and get me. “Big scary strangers who would pluck your eyes out!” my brother had said to me, laughing like a maniac, before we left the house this morning. Well, I’m not so sure about that. I think they just want to suck out my brain. No one’s THAT heartless.
Anyway, I noticed a girl, crying and shouting at her mother. Why was she crying? Did she lose her dolly? Hmph. I really don’t get what’s so great about those dolls. Toy cars are much better to play with.
“Mama, why is that girl crying?” I tugged on my mother’s pants. “Come again, dear?” She looked at me questioningly. “Why is that girl crying?” I repeated, gesturing to the girl bawling in the middle of the crowd. “Did she die?” My mother suppressed a laugh. “Of course not, honey. Maybe she wants her mother to buy her something. A toy of some sort, perhaps.”
“Then why won’t her mama buy her one?”
“Maybe they don’t have enough money.”
“Oh…” My gaze shifted from my mother’s eyes to the sobbing little girl.
A while later, when the little girl and her mother had left, we went past a tiny stall. And there, I saw the cutest thing I had ever seen in my entire life. They were purple, dark of the kind, and their petite roundness made them look… chewy. The way they were sprinkled with water made them look so fresh and juicy. Like if you bit into one, half the content would be deliciously flavored water.
‘I want one…’ But how will I get one? Mama is talking to some old woman wearing a ragged dress. I pulled slightly on her cargo pants. No such luck. I remember the girl earlier. Her mother had her full attention on her. ‘But why?’ Think. Think. Think. Maybe it was because she was crying . . . Or shouting. Aw, what the heck. I’ll give both a shot.
“Mama! Mama!” I cried AND shouted out. “What is it, baby?” My mother had her attention on me now. Just like I had planned.
“I want to buy something.” I pointed to the objects of my desire. “I want those. Please, mama, please!” I pleaded. “The grapes?”
Grapes… it was music to my ears… saying it tasted sweet on my tongue.
“Sorry, darling, but we can’t buy those now… We don’t have enough money.”
“But mama…” Too late. She already had her back on me.
“Mama…” I egged.
“Mama!” She wasn’t listening to me.
I tried pulling on her shirt but to no avail.
I. WANT. MY. GRAPES!
I had to do this on my own. After all, I was already three and a half years old. So I let go of her hand. I LET GO of her hand! ‘This could be fatal…’
Surprisingly, she didn’t notice. Guess she was too caught up in whatever she was doing.
‘Big scary strangers or no big scary strangers, I don’t care if my brain gets sucked out. I’m gonna get my grapes.’ I trotted down to the place where I first saw the ‘Grapes’. Or, as I like to call it, ‘my little patch of Heaven’.
So far, nothing bad is happening. I reached my destination. And they were right in front of me. Those beautiful things… Look at them. Just look at them. All of these… they could be mine. All of them!
I picked a stray grape. Just the feeling of it on my tiny fingers felt… like… like… like I could just eat it now! So I popped it inside my mouth. I chewed. And chewed. Then swallowed.
My face turned dark.
‘This… this is… this is… THIS IS DESTINY!’
Before I could devour more of the things that ALMOST made me forget about money, I heard my mother call out to me.
But I’m not done yet… I can’t leave my babies. I must have them. I will not leave this place empty-handed!
‘I have to use my think!’ I thought to myself. After a few seconds, my face lit up. So did the light bulb above my head. ‘I know…’
- - -
When my mother had reached me, I had my hands behind my back. “There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you! Didn’t I tell you not to let go of my hand?” she said, looking all worried.
“I’m sorry mama… I’ll never do it again.” I smiled sweetly at my mother. “I love you, mama.”
“I love you too…” She hugged me tight and chided me, “You promise you won’t do that again?”
“I promise.” I replied and hugged her back. Well, at least I tried to. If I let go they could- I gasped. “-No!”
They slipped from my hand! No! No! No! How will I eat my grapes now?
“What-” My mother looked at the scattered grapes on the dirty, wet floor. “Where did you get those?”
I pouted at my mother, trying my best not to cry over spilled milk.
“I took them.” I answered, not feeling guilty at all. “Mama, I want my grapes!” I couldn’t control it anymore. My voice was raspy and my tears were already falling like waterfalls. I was crying.
“I’m sorry honey… We don’t have enough money for that. I forgot my wallet at home. And I already told you, we only came here to talk to a friend and…” My mother looked at me. I was bawling, like the little girl I saw before. Tears were cascading down my soft cheeks. I was pathetic and stubborn; a sorry pile of flesh and blood.
She hugged me again, tighter this time. Carrying me, she stood up.
I was so helpless. There was nothing I could do. Everyone was stronger than I was. I can’t protect myself. I was weak. And I hated that. I WILL get my grapes. I WILL get what I want. I WILL have my way. I always have, anyway.
I stopped crying and wiped my tears. Getting upset never lasted long for me. I would always get back to life a few seconds right after I cry. And besides…
I was only acting.
I smirked.
Taking something from my jumper’s pocket, I hugged my mother so she couldn’t take a look at my face.
And I popped into my mouth what I had taken from my pocket. Then chewed. And swallowed.
“I love grapes…”
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