Cry, my beloved people

Ice cream Part 71

"Nanna, this is Gregory's girlfriend Linette, I mean best friend," Jessica cried when they met her grandma on the way to the ice cream shop.

"Nice to meet you, Linette, Gregory would you mind if I catch up a little later, I would like to have a cup of tea with a dear old friend."  She said, pointing to an old lady standing next to her.

"No, not at all, Jessica and I have a lot of catching up to do," he said with a smile.

"I want some strawberry ice cream and you?" Jessica asked Linette while skipping between her and Gregory.

"That's my favorite too," Linette said, what's your favorite Gregory?"

"I like the vanilla with caramel, and you two want strawberry.  Take a seat and I'll get our order."  He said as they arrived at the cute blue shop, decorated with all kinds of ice cream.

"How old are you Jessica?" Linette asked when Jessica sat down.

"I'm five, but it is my birthday on Wednesday and then I'll turn six." She said, showing, six fingers with her little hands.

"So you are starting school next year, are you looking forward to it."

"Yes, we're going to buy my school uniform and books and pencils and all the stuff that I need next week."  She explained by stretching her little arms from in front of her to her sides as she pronounced the word - all - longer and louder.

Linette laughed and gave her a hug.

Then Jessica asked Linette: "Do you stay here or are you in the same school as Gregory?"

"I stay here with my aunt, why do you ask?" Linette asked.

"Because if you stay here, I can see you every Sunday here at church, not only when Gregory is here."

"Are you girls talking about me behind my back?" Gregory asked as he dished out their ice creams.

"No, but we're making arrangements to meet up with each other behind your back, so you better be good," Linette said playfully as she winked at Jessica.

"That"s going to be so nice, then I will have a friend too when Nanna meets up with her friends." Jessica laughed and clapped her hands.

"Is that your bag?" Jessica asked Linette when she finished her ice cream.

"No," Linette said with a secret smile to Gregory.

"It's yours," Gregory smiled and handed the bag to Jessica. "It's your birthday present, Linette helped me to choose it."

She opened the bag and watched in amazement, then she started jumping up and down. "That is exactly what I wanted," she cried and gave first Linette and then Gregory each a big hug.  Then she lifted the pink pony carefully out of the bag and hugged it tenderly. "It's so soft and beautiful and my favorite color, I love you so much, both of you and she hugged them again.

"Wow, Jessy, that's beautiful, is that your birthday present?" Her grandma asked.  She nodded her little head.  "I love it Nanna and I love them too."

"I'm so glad, so maybe you should hug them and say, goodbye, we'll see them again next Sunday."

Gregory hugged her for a long time and when he put her down, he wiped his eyes.  She hugged Linette and kissed her on the cheek. "Bey," she said.

"Bey sweetheart," Linette said with a smile as she returned Jessica's wave.