Pickles & Mischief
The entire color drained from her face. Penelope drooped her mouth in horror as the potatoes began to turn an unappetizing shade of green. It seemed the butter was gradually separating from the potatoes, leaving a greasy film at the top of the food bowl.
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“Make sure to add a large helping of pickle immediately after you achieve the smooth texture and add your dollop of butter!” She recounted Kimberly’s words and that giggly laughter that resounded every time she was enjoying herself.
How could she not have known? Kim never wanted the best for her but she hadn't expected her to stoop so low either. She wiped the grease from her glove to her forehead in an attempt to wipe off the sweat that suddenly began dropping from her forehead.
“Penelope!” Penny dropped the cover of the food bowl to the floor in shock as she heard her name ring out. She didn't know how to salvage the situation. There were barely enough potatoes to make another dish and she was certain that there was no other way to make the one she just made edible.
When she heard footsteps, tears seeped from her eyes. She was certain it was Mrs Georgina, the woman who picked her from the streets when she was barely 4 years old and groomed her till she was 17.
Many people asked her to be grateful to Mrs. Gee as she was called, but Penelope wished that the woman in dark sunglasses had never smiled at her that summer morning because that was the beginning of her misfortune.
A dark-haired boy sauntered into the kitchen, he took one look at the food bowl and opened his mouth wide.
“What on earth? What happened, Penny?”
She was sobbing profusely now, rubbing constantly at her eyes that seemed not to have the ability to hold water anymore.
“Kim…Kimberly…” she was stuttering and he could barely understand her so he held her in his arms and rubbed her back till she calmed down.
“What's wrong with Kimberly?”
“She asked me to make the mashed potatoes and specifically requested that I add some pickles to it. It began to dissolve like this a few minutes after the pickles were added”
Jonathan, Mrs. Gee’s first son, and Penny's only confidant, walked up to the bowl. He dipped a finger into it and screwed his face when he put his hand to his mouth.
“I'll tell ma I did it”
“No one's going to believe you!”
“I'll tell her I added the pickles after you were done, and make sure you don't say otherwise, okay?” Before Penny could agree, he was walking out again.
It didn't take 3 minutes before Mrs Gee herself rushed over to the kitchen.
“Oh Jonathan, I was patiently waiting to take a bowl of this to your grandmother. Hurry up to the market Penelope so you can make me another dish. Quickly!”
Penny hurried out but not without catching a wink from Jonathan. If Jonathan had not saved her like that, she would have been thrown in the cellar and left there for days, either without food or with the spoiled mashed potatoes as her only food.
Kimberly walked in when Penelope was almost done with the second bowl of potatoes. She looked around disdainfully, running her eyes over Penny who completely ignored her.
Penelope initially wanted to confront Kimberly concerning the pickle idea but Jonathan talked her out of it.
“If you do, Kimberly would make a fuss and mom would know I lied about putting the pickles in myself. Just keep a close eye on this new dish you're preparing”
Kimberly muttered something about hastening up then walked out looking rather disappointed. She was the major reason Penny had received several scoldings from Mrs Gee and whether Kim knew it or not, Penny disliked her.
Jonathan rushed into the kitchen when Penny was packing the last of the potatoes into another food bowl.
“Hey, you good? Just saw Kimberly lurking around. Seems she's looking for some mischief to cause”
“She just left. She needs me to wash some clothes but I'll do that after this food has been delivered safely to your ma. Here” she handed the food bowl to Jonathan who took it to his restless mother.
“Here you go, ma”
“My dear, thank you. This one is pickle-free, I guess?”
Jonathan laughed, an obvious look of embarrassment on his face.
“You must know, my son, that pickle is the most wrong ingredient for a mashed potato, and if you must use it then it must be in its barest quantity. I'll be off now”
“Alright ma, say hi to granny for me”
Penny and Jonathan slapped their palms together high in the air in excitement as Mrs Gee stepped into the sunlight.
Kimberly Is so mean abd this makes me wonder why she would cause harm to another person's child just because that person is an orphan.
I'm glad Jonathan likes the poor girl. And for Kimberly, tell her the earth is in constant rotation:)
This was a nice read Iskawrites.
It’s very hard to believe that someone in the disguise of goodness have evil personality inside. That poor girl might have suffered it whole life. But good to see that she has a confidant too who can resolve issues for her
Some pickles almost caused the poor girl to receive a reprimand, fortunately the boy was her savior and everything happened well for her. I imagine the unpleasant taste of the pickles with the potatoes puree.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Good day.
A clever story in response to the Pickle prompt. You manage to take a mundane ingredient and create a drama around it. We have a villain and a hero. We have a potential tragedy, and a redemption--all around a simple pickle ingredient.
The story is well written. One word of advice: watch your commas and periods. Although these seem inconsequential, they are notice when the reader goes through your story. In such a fine story, the absence of appropriate punctuation is an unnecessary distraction.
Thank you for sharing this with us, @iskawrites.
Very nice story, I would admit the first line alone dragged my interest deep into the story. And it was worth the read.
Penny is lucky that there is at least one person in the house who comforts her. Just knowing that there is one person who got your back when others are against you is indeed a good hold on confidence and hope.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story.
She was saved at last. I enjoyed every read of this story.
There are many interesting dynamics in this story, @iskawrites. Somehow it reminded me of the story Oliver Twist. Orphans often seem to not get the best treatment!
Poor Penny. I am glad that Jonathan came to her rescue. There is no better feelings than having a kid growing under his or her biological mother. The bond and spirit of forgiveness can't be replicated under another circumstance.