Temptation As tempting as it was, she turned her back on the chocolate truffles. Mavis was pooped! She had an accumulated list of presents to buy and decided to make a marathon day of it at the mall. There was a wedding, a birthday, a shower, maybe more. It was tea-time in some circles, but Mavis, without aplomb, plopped on a bench to take stock of what she had purchased and whether she had done all of it. Well, this silk scarf for Aunt Hettie, she mused, set me back quite a few dollars. I remember when I could get a pretty scarf at the grocery store for a dollar. And that wedding gift. How dare these couples today after already living together, register their wedding at Neiman's. I'll have to invade my 401K to pay my mastercard bill for just a cup and saucer. Pretty, though, Royal Doulton with hand-painted blue periwinkles. Remember those silly games at the baby showers? Well they still play them! "Name the Baby," "How many words can you find in 'June's Pregnant?" "Name as many rhyming twin names as you can." And each of them got a silly prize like a bottle of baby lotion or powder, that you were honor-bound to present to the prospective mother. Oh, boy, am I tired! Why did I sit down in front of Chocolate Connections, when I gave up chocolate candy for Lent? At about 5:10 or so the most beautiful smell crossed Mavis's nose. That of fresh-backed cinnamon soft pretzels. "I deserve one of those," she thought. "My blood sugar is surely down!" Mavis shuffled to the soft pretzel counter and ordered one warm cinnamon pretzel. "May as well get a sesame for tomorrow." Satisfied with second best and a diet cola, Mavis made her way to the parking lot. ~ © Norma (Twi1ite@sbcglobal.net) ~ March 2004 BACK If you enjoyed this page, check these out: Desert Spring Spring Is Here Home: Writers' Winter 2004 Index Click the image and visit my business website. http://graphicsbymarilyn.com/