Whenever you wandered into The Corner Candy Store, you noticed she'd always be there glancing around as if she were shopping like an adult in a supermarket. The small child marveled at the bunches of licorice, gumdrops, chocolates, and taffies through the glass case at the candy shop.
Her brown eyes filled with a desire and her small, chubby hands wiggling around in her pockets. She was quite fanatical about everything sugar had to offer, whether it be in forms of soda pops, lollipops, or butterscotch. You'd notice her fumble with quarters and nickels as she struggled to pay for even the smallest amount of which she wanted.
In the end, you'd always notice the smile on her face dissipate as she was forced to give up her sweets and take a sample instead. This would happen for weeks on end until a stranger approached the register and bought the girl her dreams. The girl felt forever in his debt, although she was told it was no trouble. Her smile was unfathomably big.
''Thank you, Mister, my momma will be so proud.''
But this euphoria wouldn't last forever.
The next week, the girl would show up again, her pockets were now empty except for a few pennies. Maybe she was a brat, and she ate her candy too fast. However, her build was a bit slim, and if anything, she looked as though she could use a decent meal herself. Her eyes now appeared puffy and red, as if she had recently been crying.
Out of all things, a child weeping in a candy store? How odd.
You picked up a bag of gumdrops and handed them to her. Her magnificent smile returned once again as she gently grabbed the bag from your hand. However, it would only be a few seconds until her smile would retreat. It was that moment in which you heard her stomach growl.
At the sound of her own stomach, the child pushed the bag of candy into your hands. She wandered away from you aimlessly around the store and sat down at a wooden table near the back and messed with the fake daisies which lay at the center for decoration. Your heart broke as you paid for the gumdrops and meandered over to her.
''These are for you. No one else, okay? I want you to have these.''
You placed the bag in front of her on the table and gave her a reassuring smile.
''Won't Momma get mad?''
She opened the plastic and took out a green gumdrop, squishing it in between her little fingers.
Get mad about what? Something was going on, but it wasn't your business.
''You deserve them just as much as Momma, I promise.''
Her face brightened as she bit down on that green gumdrop. Her attitude was cautious yet grateful. And after that day, I never saw her in that candy shop ever again
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