Talking To David

Flash Fiction

Talking to David

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought you’d be angry...” David said, quietly.

“Well, yes, I can see you thinking that. Am I scary when I’m angry?

“Yes, and no…”

“Oh! Well… how big is the yes part?”

“Well, usually if you’re angry you talk in a different voice.”

“I do? What do I sound like?”

“Like my teacher when kids get rowdy in class when she’s trying to teach us something.”

“Do you do that?”

“No. It’s usually Billy or Jeff, sometimes Linda…”

“Loud Linda?”

“Yes, that’s why we call her Loud Linda…”

“Well, do I sound angry now?”

“I guess not, so you’re probably going to tell me I did something new wrong.”

“New wrong?”

“You know when I get older and do something I haven’t done yet, but I’m not supposed to do it, I just didn’t know that yet.”

“Huh… like what?”

“Like when I was playing with the washing machine buttons because I could reach them.”

“Ah… I remember that. I had to rewash the clothes because I didn’t know if they had gotten washed or not.”

“What is rewash?”

“Never mind, what is the other thing?”

“When I do things I know I shouldn’t do, or not do things I am supposed to do.”

“That makes sense…”

“Mom?”

“Yes…?”

“What was what I didn’t tell you?”

Mom laughed. “I’ve forgotten!”

“Me too! You’ll remember, you have a good memory… Let me know when you remember. I think I’ll go clean my room.”

Mom laughed again, but this time she covered her mouth so David wouldn’t hear her. She had even forgotten what she was going to speak to him about when they started this conversation! Instead, she got busy making his favorite food for dinner, just because he was so darn wonderful.