Happiness Condensed (Justin)

[Mariposa Nazario]

Summer.

That word invoked sticky humidity and sweltering heat. Even here, in the depths of Vermont's mountains, summer meant sweat and soaring temperatures.

It also meant ice cream.

Mariposa hadn't set out for ice cream. She had only intended to lazily meander around the perimeter of the lake, stopping to chat with anyone she recognized (and some she didn't) and to pet the dogs that wandered over to sniff her long legs.

But when she heard the tell-tale tune of Pop Goes the Weasel she swiveled her head, catching sight of the tiny white truck. A handful of children were trailing after it already; that she would be the only adult didn't stop her.

She took off, hands burrowing in her pocket, searching for dollar bills she knew were stuffed somewhere in there as she ran after the truck.

"Wait, stop! I need ice cream!"

[Justin Marshall]

Justin had left Trixie lounging in the air conditioning for a few hours. He’d taken her for a walk this morning, but now it was just too hot outside for playing. Justin actually wanted to go for a run, but instead opted for swimming around in the lake given the sweltering heat. He was just rubbing his hair dry with a towel when an ice cream truck passed, blaring electronic children’s tunes.

After being in Pilot Ridge for several weeks, this had become a familiar sight. However, he was surprised to see what appeared to be a grown woman chasing the truck from behind. She seemed a little desperate, and the truck wasn’t stopping.

Justin glanced along his little stretch of beach. Oddly, there weren’t any children in sight to halt the truck. So, against his better judgment, he jogged barefoot in the truck’s direction. He was still in front of the truck, and the driver saw his approach and slowed to a stop.

“What do you want?” The driver asked skeptically, correctly assuming Justin didn’t carry any spare cash in his waterlogged swimming trunks. ”Oh, uh, there’s someone chasing you,” he answered, turning to see if the woman had kept up her pursuit.

[Mariposa Nazario]

Mariposa was beginning to think that perhaps ice cream wasn't in her future after all when another person stepped out in front of the truck, dripping wet and clad only in swim trunks. She gratefully slowed her pace as the truck halted, the decreased in speed allowing her to finally find the bills wadded up in her short's pockets.

"I thought you weren't going to stop!" She panted as she made her way up to the truck, then, hearing the comment from the man who had stopped the truck a smile broke out across her face. "Aw, aren't you sweet, catching a truck for me!"

That wasn't the sort of behavior she was used to, but it was nice to know that someone would help out a stranger like that.

She only took a brief moment to peruse the ice cream choices before ordering an ice cream sandwich.

"That gonna be it?" The driver queried as she counted out crumpled bills, and she frowned, looking over at her hero.

"Uhhh, You want anything?" She offered. "Since you helped me out and all."

It would only be polite to return his favor.