Colouring Books and Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Read online

my mommy in the window now.”

  She waited for the family to walk a good distance away from her before she started moving again. The sun wasn’t as bright in the sky now and she could see her shadow stretching out along the sidewalk much further than it had been before. She couldn’t help but giggle at how tall she looked. She started stomping her feet up and down in an exaggerated fashion, pretending she was a giant.

  She kept on walking and the sky kept getting darker. She wondered if her mother had even left the man’s office yet. She wished that her mother’s car would pull up beside her just then, and her dad would be sitting in the front seat. They would both jump out and come running over to her. Her dad would scoop Julie up in his arms while her mother kissed her cheeks and hugged the both of them.

  Up ahead Julie noticed a man wearing a blue uniform. He had a big belt with lots of black objects hanging off it. She realized that this man was probably a police officer. She’d seen police cars before, but she had never seen an actual police officer. The police had come to her house once when her mother and father still lived together, but Julie was hiding under her covers in her room so she never got to see the man. She’d seen lots of police on TV shows before though, except this man didn’t really look like the ones did on TV. He had a big belly and his chin was covered with whiskers. It reminded Julie of how her father would tickle her by rubbing his prickly cheek against hers.

  My little Jewel.

  She walked up to the police officer and tugged on his pant leg. He jumped a bit and was clearly surprised by Julie.

  “Hello, little girl. What can I do for you?” he asked, bending over in the same way the other lady had before.

  “Are you the police?”

  “Yes, I’m the police. Do you need help, my little darling? I can take you over to my car and give you a ride home. Are you lost? Do you know which way is home?”

  “My mother told me never to get into a car with a stranger.”

  “Well she was very right to tell you that, but I’m the police, sweetie; I’m not a stranger. I’m one of the good guys. I protect you from the bad guys, remember?”

  Julie wasn’t sure. This man’s breath didn’t smell too good, there was sweat dripping off his forehead and his hair looked greasy. There were pimples scattered all over his face, big and red. Julie could tell he hadn’t brushed his teeth in a long time; they were very yellow.

  “What’s the matter, sweetheart? You can trust me. I’m a good guy, remember?”

  Julie nodded.

  “Do you know which way is home?”

  Julie shook her head.

  “Well what about your address, do you know what your address is my little angel?”

  “742 Wakefield Street” she told the man.

  “I can drive you there,” his voice jumped a bit and he seemed to get rather excited for a moment. He stood up taller and pointed over to a white car parked a bit further up the road. “See, there’s my car right over there, darling. Why don’t we walk over to it and I can drive you home to Wakefield Street – 742, Right?”

  “Right,” Julie said.

  “What’s that you got in your hand there?”

  “My colouring book,” she said.

  “That’s splendid. I’ve got some crayons in my car that you could use. You could colour in your book on the way home.”

  “I’ve already coloured everything in it,” Julie told him.

  “As a matter of fact, I think I have an extra colouring book in my car. Let me give you a ride home. It’s getting dark and your parents will be getting worried.”

  The man reached down and wiggled his fingers towards Julie’s hand. She brought her hand up and let him take it. She thought it was nice. She imagined she was walking hand in hand with her father and that he could protect her from anything.

  When they got to the car, Julie noticed that it didn’t have any words or anything painted on the sides; it was just a plain white car. Julie thought that police cars were supposed to be painted. The police officer opened the passenger side door and gestured for Julie to get in.

  “Where are your flashy lights?” Julie asked.

  The man’s face looked puzzled until Julie pointed up towards the roof of the car.

  “Oh,” he said, “right, they’re getting repaired right now little girl. But don’t worry. We won’t need any flashy lights to get you home to Wakefield Street.”

  Julie hesitated. She noticed a lot of garbage on the floor in the car, empty McDonald’s bags and Tim Horton’s cups.

  “Don’t worry sweetie, not all police cars have flashy lights on top – some of them are undercover – secret cars so people don’t know it’s a police car. Now come on, it’s about time to get you home. Your mommy and daddy must be worried sick about you, it’s getting dark out. Look, the street lamps are starting to come on. You don’t have to be nervous, baby. I’m a police officer. I can look after you.”

  Julie didn’t respond and stood there a second longer. She thought about the lawyer’s office and the crying baby. She thought about the happy family that had passed her and of the ice cream shop she used to go to with her father. The police were here to protect her.

  “Do you like soccer?” she asked the man in blue.

  “Soccer? I love soccer my darling. Are you a soccer player? I bet you are. You look like a soccer player.”

  Julie nodded. “My daddy used to take me out for ice cream after my games.”

  “That’s excellent,” the man replied. “Ice cream is yummy in my tummy. Why don’t we go grab a cone together and then I’ll drive you home to Wakefield Street?”

  “Okay,” Julie said as she hopped up into the passenger seat of the plain white car. “My favorite flavour is Mint Chocolate Chip.”

  The End.