The Ice Cream Cone (short story)
When Millie was very young, her best friend�s parents got a divorce and she just couldn�t understand. She asked her grampa why people do that -- get a divorce.
Grampa gave Millie a big hug. Then he suggested that they go out for an ice cream cone.
After they paid for their cones, they walked down a little path through the park until they came to a bench. When they sat down, Grampa said,
�You know, honey, falling in love and getting married are a lot like your ice cream cone. You got one scoop and you took a lick. It tasted so good that you wanted another scoop, right on the top."
Millie was too busy licking the little drips that were already starting to run down the side of her cone to say anything, so she just nodded her head.
After sitting quietly for a little while, Grampa pointed up to the sky.
"Today sure is hot. There's not a cloud in the sky. The sun�s beating down on you and it�s beating down on your ice cream cone, too, but you�re enjoying it. In spite of all the drips running down your fingers and onto your hands, it�s pretty darn good. The faster it melts, the faster you�re licking to stop all of the dripping."
Millie nodded again. It was true. The drips were coming much faster now.
Grampa saw Millie nod, so he went on.
"Do you see those flies and gnats? They�ve been watching you enjoy your cone. Understand, they want some of that great ice cream, too! They�ve started dive bombing and grabbing little bites all for themselves. With the hand that isn�t holding your ice cream cone, you�re swiping and swatting like crazy to keep all the bugs away."
Now Millie giggled. Grampa made the bugs sound just like people! People who wanted her to share!
Grampa giggled, too.
"Now, what if Old Blue was here? Let's say that old hound dog was sound asleep in the shade over there. Suddenly, he sees the drips you�re leaving on the sidewalk. He would probably come over here and he lap up a few of those drips. He might even like them so much that he�d try and take a few bites right from the cone in your hand!"
Millie thought about the melting and all the bugs. "I'm sure glad he's not here, too, Grampa!" she said in a loud voice.
"Well, there you are, honey. You�re swiping at the bugs with one hand, pushing Old Blue away with your elbows, and the sun is melting the ice cream faster than you can lick to keep up with it. "
The bugs were being so pesky that Millie was getting angry. She got up from the bench and tried to run away from them.
All of a sudden,
"P L O P �
Millie frowned. She looked down at the ice cream cone that had landed on the ground near her feet. Sadly, she walked back to the bench and sat down. Taking one last peek at her cone, she asked,
"Grampa, how is that like people getting a divorce?"
�Sweet girl, marriage can be just like your ice cream cone. It�s just what you wanted when you wanted it. The love part truly is wonderful.
Sometimes, there are just too many outside things that get in the way. Each of those things is taking big bites and little bites, pushing and shoving, and melting down all the really good parts. Sometimes, what finally happened to your ice cream cone happens in real life to a marriage.�
Millie thought about her grampa's words. Getting married sure sounded like a lot of problems. Millie had made up her mind.
�Grampa, I don't think I ever want to get married.�
�Well, honey, you have to think of it this way. That ice cream cone sure was good. Yes, it finally dropped on the sidewalk, but you worked real hard to keep it, and I'm proud of you.
I hope you'll always remember, that for a while, it was really, really good. Wasn't having it worth all the work in trying to keep it?�
Millie gave him a hug and Grampa hugged her back.
"Yeah, Grampa. It was. Thank you."
Grampa smiled and kissed the top of her head.
"You're welcome. C'mon honey. Let's go home."