Page 10 of Savage in the Sweets
He exhales in relief, and I make a mental note to put more thought into things that are growing in importance to him.
Before heading for the door, I wipe down the treadmill I had been running on earlier and turn off the lights.
“Dad?” Michael says timidly.
“Yeah?”
“Do you think I can eat a piece of cake at the party?”
I exhale a long breath, hating the hopeful tone in his voice.
When did it become acceptable to feel your children copious amounts of sugar? Society is basically setting its youth up for lifelong health problems.
But how can I tell him no when every other child there is going to be gorging on the sugar-ladened depravity?
It’s easy to say,‘Just this once,’but that doesn’t address the fact that white sugar is highly addictive, and it’s never a good idea to feed an addiction that couples with life-long health consequences.
Impatient, he says, “I know how much you hate junk food, but I promise to clean my room when I get home! And I’ll run extra laps. However many you want!”
A year ago, I would have stood firm in my convictions, disallowing him the confectionary gateway drug.
But that was back when we lived around a similar crowd, and the parents were all like-minded.
Wilson’s Grove hasn’t caught on to the latest health and food trends. There aren’t many organic options for eating out, and I have to drive forty minutes to shop at a holistic grocery store. By telling Michael that he can’t eat a piece of cake, I’m basically making him stick out like a sore thumb.
“Please, dad!”
“A small piece,” I say.
His eyes brighten, and my heart swells.
“Thank you!”
“What do you want to get her from Gamer’s Grove?” I ask, hustling him out the door and locking it behind me.
“I hear girls like diamond rings.”
I stifle a chuckle. “Ummm… maybe we get her a slap bracelet instead?”
He furrows his brow. “What’s a slap bracelet?”
Crap, am I really that old?
“It’s just a fun bracelet back from when I was a kid. I think a diamond ring is a bit outside of our price range and probably won’t be at Gamer’s Grove.”
“It’s not an actual diamond ring. It’s for these Gemmed Princesses. One’s Sapphire. There’s Emerald. Her favorite is Diamond.”
“Oh…”
“She also likes Xena, and I hear Gamer’s Grove has Xena stuff.”
“Now, that’s back from when I was a kid.”
“Whatever I get her, it has to be better than Jacob’s gift.”
“Who’s Jacob?”
“Her ex boyfriend.”
