Grumpy
Ben was
angry. Mummy had shouted at him again! He had not done anything wrong. Not
really. Okay, so he forgot about eating his breakfast. Building a car had
seemed much more important at the time. Why cant she understand that?,
Ben wondered.
When he
came home from school in the afternoon things got even worse. What was wrong
with asking for a drink? He did forget to say please, but so what?
Okay, he had shouted at her first. All right, he had kicked her a bit, too.
Even so, why did she have to send him to his room? He had missed his favourite
programme because of that! It just was not fair.
It did
not stop there. When he dawdled over his dinner, Mummy just took it off him
and sent him to bed. He just had had this brilliant idea of a plane and so
he had drawn it. What was wrong with that? He would have finished his dinner
later. There was lots of time. It was not as if he had to go anywhere but
bed.
What a day!,
Ben thought when he was snuggled up under his favourite blanket. Hopefully,
the next day would be better. Maybe Mummy would not be grumpy.
Sadly,
the next day was anything but better. If possible, it was worse. When he played
rather than eat his breakfast, his mum took it away and told him, If
you are not hungry, youll just have to go to school without breakfast.
Ben was
very hungry, until it was finally time for lunch. His stomach had rumbled
so loudly during story time that the teacher had asked him about it. He wished
he had eaten his breakfast.
After school,
his mum wanted to take him to the shops. It was not far to walk, but Ben was
tired and wanted to go home to watch TV.
But
we have to get some food for dinner!, his mum told him.
I
want to go home. I am thirsty and hungry!, Ben shouted at her.
Stop
shouting. We have to go shopping, and thats that!, his mum said
quietly but with a very grim face.
So they
went. He asked for a drink and a cake in the shop, but his mum would not buy
him anything. Ben cried and made a fuss. Mummy did not say anything, but she
had this look on her face. She always looked like that when she was really,
really, really angry.
They went
back home. His mum did not talk to him. Normally, she asked him how school
had been and things like that. Not today. She was really quiet. Ben asked
her why. Mummy had a sad look on her face, when she replied, I am very
upset. Youve been a real monster for the past few days.
Ben did
not like how that made him feel: all cold and achy inside. It was not fair.
It just was not! He shouted, Its all your fault! I told you I
was hungry and thirsty. Why did you take me shopping anyway? It serves you
right if youre sad!
Mummy just
looked at him. She did not say anything.
Suddenly,
Ben felt bad. He wanted a hug. Give me a hug, Mummy?, he asked.
I am sorry.
His mum
heaved a big sigh, then stretched her arms out towards him. Ben jumped off
the sofa and held her really tight.
For a while
he sat on her knee and it made him feel better. Not good enough, though. He
had to do something to make everything all right between them again. [...]
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Sybille Sterk 2002 - 2004
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