The Ice Cream That Wasn't(Marla) Shelly was gathering kids together for yet another head count before they got on the bus. She was working a day camp all summer, and it was time for the kids to go.

“Don’t forget that tomorrow is ice cream day!” David, another counselor called out.

There were cheers and smiles and bobbing heads as the kids jumped up and down in their excitement. Shelly felt a strange flutter of excitement herself. She was seventeen, a bit old to be eager for a treat, but it had been a long, hot day. The promise of ice cream was one that gave her a happy lift.

………..

The next day came. Though it was only 9:00 a.m., the kids were already talking about the ice cream. Finally, after the morning activities and lunch, David said, “Guess what time it is?”

“Ice cream time!” the kids yelled.

Shelly and the others instructed the kids to sit on the grass in groups. David theatrically brought out a large red cooler. He slowly reached inside and brought out…a popsicle. The happy kids, not caring at all that they were receiving a popsicle rather than an ice cream, cheered wildly. Shelly found herself questioning it. Why didn’t David say anything? Perhaps, “Sorry, it’s not quite the same, but it’s still a treat.” Instead, with a stupid grin on his face he gave each child a popsicle.

Shelly, who loved ice cream, but was not much impressed with frozen Kool-Aid, declined the treat.

“And guess what?” David said. “We have another ice cream day next week!”

……………….


The following week, Shelly and the other counselors were again grouping the kids together on the grass. Again, David pulled out the red cooler. “Who wants ice cream?” This was, of course, met with cheers. Shelly watched as he YET AGAIN pulled out a popsicle!

'How is it that nobody else sees this great error?' thought Shelly to herself. 'One time was bad enough, but twice? Good grief, even the kids aren't saying anything! A popsicle is so clearly, so certainly, so ABSOLUTELY not ice cream!' She remained silent, though.

Shelly glared at David as he offered her one. How dare he? How dare he promise ice cream on a hot day with noisy, sticky kids, and then try to give her a popsicle?

He seemed confused by her angry countenance, but he kept doing his job, handing a treat to each child.

Shelly put aside her annoyance and did her job to the best of her ability for the rest of the afternoon. She didn’t let on to the kids that anything was amiss. As they got on the bus a few hours later, she pictured herself on the couch with a dish of ice cream.

And that evening, the ice cream had never been better. Feeling a bit petty, she took a photo of her dish of ice cream and sent it to David with the message, “This is what ice cream looks like, fyi.”

Satisfied, she picked up her spoon, put the exact right amount of ice cream on it, and brought it to her mouth. She closed her eyes and thought, “Delicious.”

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