By Prospero Dae
Three jugs stand close to the edge of the table. Will they fall? The author has yet to decide.
Meanwhile, an elderly woman arrives and is promptly served by Tracy, Trixie, and Terra. The girls giggle.
The woman’s face puckers up. “Boy, this is sour!”
“There’s no added sugar,” says Terra proudly.
“No sugar!” protests the woman, clutching her cane.
“Yes, we’re boycotting sugar.”
Tracy whispers to Trixie: “There a better word for…”
“Shut up, Tracy.”
The woman leaves.
Hours pass. No new customers.
“It’s a word of mouth business.” They look at each other—“We’ve been girlcotted!”
Nice tumble, girls.
I am that elderly woman. Revenge is sweet. And so is this story. Magnificently crafted….and you know I would never stevia.
Ha! Nice.
I’ve read it several times (more actually) and keep getting stuck on the comma between “up” and “Tracy”. Was the elderly lady’s name also Tracy? If this was Terra speaking why wasn’t she terracotted? Who is your editor? So many questions can be squeezed out of this wonderful Socratic lemonade stand.
Boycotted, girlcotted, it’s all the same. These three girls are out of luck selling their drinks today. Got a chuckle out of this one. You’re spot-on, as usual, Prospero.
Girlcotted. I like it.