The Summer That Changed My Life

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Picking on the Old and the Innocent

Every day, I would go out and play with Dakota. Sometimes, I'd even see her grandfather, he didn't say much, which was fine by me. Personally i don't like milk very much but Dakota chugs hers then bleaches loudly. He'd bring us out a snack which had the usually, containing of fruit, cookies, and milk. I had never been inside her house, but I liked being outside. We'd spin around, roll, and laugh. It was the most fun I'd ever had. One day, Dakota asked me a rather weird question.

"Wanna steal an ice cream" she said wonder and motivation filled her eyes.

"Um---" I started to tell her no, but she grabbed my hand and pulled me down the slope of the hill all the way to the town. We ran for a while, till finally we reached the ice cream parlor. I'd never stolen anything in my life, I wasn't about to, but Dakota had different plans.

She took my hand with a force I wasn't quite used to, and peered through the big windows that covered the front of the store. I tried to take a good look but Dakota pulled me back so the elderly man wipping the counter couldn't see us. She turned to me giving me a stern look.

"You do, what I say. You hear?" I nodded, suddenly having the feeling that I was a soldier taking orders from my captain. I looked at myself for moment in time, I precious moment in the reflection of the window, before Dakota took my hand and guided me into the shop.

"Well, hello their girls!" said the old white-as-milk ice cream man.

"What can I do for you?"

"Can I get a strawberry ice cream on a cone?" asked Dakota her eyes bursting with excitement. The man gave her a smile that warms your heart.

"Sure, one strawberry ice cream that makes you smile, coming right up" he said turning to scoop the ice cream. Dakota turned to me nodding like I knew that plan, which I didn't. When he turned back around, Dakota smiled again handing her the pastel pink ice cream. I ordered Cookie Dough.

"One sweet tooth Cookie Dough Ice Cream on the double" I had grown rather fond of his little side notes to describe the ice cream. When he finally handed me the ice cream Dakota sprang into action.

'Would you mind getting me a cold bottle of whip cream from the back?" she asked politely. He gave her a look then said.

"Anything for the girl with strawberry hair" then he went and got the cream. Dakota ducked down underneath the bench. Pulling me with her. I gave her a crazy look, but then went to lick my ice cream. Dakota gave me a quick punch in the mouth.

"Ouch---" I exclaimed in pain.

Dakota shushed me. I rubbed my mouth as the man came back.

"Huh?" he said in a puzzled tone. He didn't suspect much, but just went back to put the crema away. Dakota thrusted me back up from under the bench before he came back, I almost hit my head on the way up. I was so vexed I could bite Dakotas head off and still be hungry for my ice cream. But just as I was about to get cross with her the man came back. He looked confused now, but before he could speak Dakota forced her words at him.

"We've been waiting here for the whip cream for 7 minutes! You came out and didn't give us anything!" The old man was puzzled.

"Not a lick of cream" she added, crossing her arms and pouting. She was irater than I could ever muster up.

"Oh I'm so sorry Miss I---"

"Yeah, you don't care" Dakota said looking away.

"However, can I make it up to you?" he asked looking ashamed and concerned.

"Well I guess you could..." Dakota started then trailing of at the end looking around for completely nothing. Then she found it her eyes lit up and she smiled once again.

Dakota put on a jubilant face and said.

"Well, If you let us walk out the door with the ice cream free of charge, all will be forgiven, and you can walk away without hearing from my lawyer for um.....customer neglect" she said looking kind again. Then taking his hands in hers and giving it a good pat.

"Yes of course" he said nodding like the fool he was.

Dakota headed for the door. I watched, amazed, at her lying skills.

On the way out I had about a billion questions.

"How did he fall for that? Why would you lie? Why didn't you pay?" Dakota answered most in one swoop.

"He's an old, forgetful, man, Annie girl. He probably doesn't even vividly recall what socks he has on." She said amusingly.

"I do this to him every week, he doesn't even remember"

"every week" I said supprised. She just told me to be cool, like she didn't just commit a crime.

"Isn't that picking on the old and the innocent?" I asked.

"Isn't the world a wonderful place?" she said turning to me and smiling then running towards her house leaving me alone standing there. With my stolen ice cream, thinking to myself, how far-from ordinary Dakota I was.