Chapter 23. Soup and Pepper

Nothing exciting happened at school that day. I walked lazily to the park, hoping that meeting David would brighten my day.

I was standing a few feet away from the usual bench when I saw David talking to a small boy. I saw him offered the boy his box of candies. I felt a pang of jealousy stabbing in my chest. I guess the thought that the box wasn’t just between me n David made me jealous.

I heard them talking.

“What is that?” the boy asked

“These are candies, would you like some?” David offered.

“There are so many of them” the boy said in amusement, “And all different colors”

Even from a distance I noticed his eyes glowed in excitement and his color rushed to his cheek. His smile widened and I couldn’t help when a warm feeling filled my chest and I smiled too.

“Why are there so many different colors?” the boy asked again.

“Because each one of them has a different taste” David said.

“How many of them?” the child asked again curiously.

“Plenty… why don’t you try one?” David once again offered the boy to pick one candy.

I find the scene peculiar. A boy talking to a homeless hobo who is offering him candies. Didn’t the boy’s parents taught him to not take candies from stranger? Where are his parents anyway? Why aren’t they looking out for him? I frowned at my thoughts.

Not wanting to distract them from their conversation, and wanting to know the child’s reaction to the candy he picked, I stayed where I was.

“What’s this one taste like?” The boy asked pointing at one of the candies in the box.

“Mangos” David said.

“And this one?” The boy pointed to another one of the candies.

“Chocolates”

“Yuummm… What about this one?” he again asked

“You wouldn’t want that one, it tastes like pepper…” David said patiently.

“What’s pepper?” The boy asked

“It’s a seasoning your mom put in your soup so it doesn’t taste bland”

“So it is a good taste.”

“Yes, when you mix it with soup, but it is very spicy if you have it alone.” David said.

“So do you have anything that taste like soup?” The boy asked.

I held back a chuckle. The boy was filled with questions and eager of knowing.

“Hmm.. I think I have something like that.” David smiled brightly. It was obvious that he was enjoying the conversation with the boy and the boy’s reaction amused him.

“Is it okay if I take 2 candies?” The boy asked.

“Yes of course. I’m guessing you want the soup taste one and the pepper one?” David assumed.

“Yes please.” The boy nodded.

David gave the boy the two candies. The boy put those two candies in his mouth at once.

“How’s it?” David asked.

“It’s hmmm… just like my mom’s soup, just a little more spicy.” The boy said.

“Tell me something, why did you take those two? I saw you eyeing the chocolate one, why didn’t you take that one?” David asked.

“Well, while I’d like the chocolate one, I thought that nobody would pick the pepper one and it will be left alone. Even if someone did pick the pepper one, they wouldn’t like or enjoy it. So I thought why not mix it and make it taste better so it can be enjoyed. And the experiment worked, I enjoyed the pepper taste candy with the soup taste candy.” The boy said in his innocence.

David smiled and rustled the boys’ head. Just then a charming looking lady approached the duo.

“Come on Henry, time to go.” She said wrapped her arm on his shoulder. She looked at David and smiled, “Thanks David.” She said sweetly.

“No problem kiddo…” David said waving his hand at the lady without standing up. She waved back and walked away with her kid.