Runner Up: Jennifer A. Daniels
Hartselle, Alabama
Congratulations, Jennifer!
Jennifer’s Bio:
“My name is Jennifer Daniels. A native New Yorker from Westchester County, I have been in the South since 1991. I now reside in Hartselle, Alabama and am married to my husband Alex of 14 years. I am a stay at home mom to my 5 toy poodles and spend my time gardening, folding socks and saying no to cookie dough ice cream.
Writing is my biggest passion. My earliest writing originated in elementary school when I had to make up stories from lists of words in spelling class. I have always kept a journal and recently just started a blog. I am most satisfied with what I write when it comes from the heart and it just flows. If I try to force it, it will undeniably fail, every time.
My ultimate goal is to write funny snippets (Erma Bombeck style) for major magazines and see my writing in print. Getting paid would just be a bonus!”
Visit Jennifer's blog at: jennigans.blogspot.com
June Bugs n’ Ice Cream
By Jennifer A. Daniels
On a hot summer day, I skip across the road like a happy kid to mail my very last car payment. A credit card offer stares back at me. Whoohoo! Out with the old debt, and in with the new! I sit on the front steps and read what it says. Hmmm. Not a very high credit line. Just five hundred dollars, almost insulting. Did these companies think I could be won over just like that? I quickly forgive them. If I pay it off right away, no harm done. “Sucker!” I activate the card immediately. I pour some lemon aid and ponder things. It'd be nice to reward myself and take off far away for a week. Go see the sunset in the Grand Canyon like my husband's always wanted, maybe ride those cute donkeys. That'd take more than five hundred, though, and frankly, my husband has to work. I could buy sandals or skimpy underwear that don't say Jockey on them. How about a new toilet for the upstairs. Darn it. I want to treat myself and there are just too many choices!
I step out onto my Southern porch and jingle the ice cubes in my glass. Dead June bugs cling to the screen door and I flick them off. “What to do... What to do...” Merle, the old man across the street rides by on his John Deer and waves. He looks like Kaptain Kangaroo with his gray hair. I snicker to myself and raise my glass to him. Suddenly I have an idea and take off barefoot through the grass.
A tired looking blonde answers the door of the trailer smoking a cigarette. She's missing teeth and her complexion's bad. Her blue eyes are sad but beautiful, and her long legs what most women endear to have. She knows me. I've waved to her while doing yard work. And I certainly know her kids. They've bicycled across my yard often.
I ask to borrow them for an excursion to the Dollar General. For ice cream. Offering anything more than ice cream would hurt her pride, I know. “I'm just bored,” I say light heartedly “and wouldn't mind the company”. She says yes almost too quickly and my heart does flips. The children drop the flattened cardboard box they've been using to slide down the grass and trail behind me like ducklings. The smallest girl wears pink jelly sandals too big for her and holds up a broken Pokemon key chain she's found while playing near the road. I tell her it's beautiful.
We sing silly songs the whole way and I tell them they can get whatever ice cream they want. And one toy, each. Secretly, I really wanted to buy them clothes. I resolve to do a Secret Santa at Christmas for them. Maybe stick a sack of presents on their steps some cold midnight. But for now, it's a no brainer. This is my reward. Giggling children and ice cream. Fine by me.***