“Okay, that’s odd. Let’s see what we can do for you.”
“I’ll set you up with a few flavors while I serve the other ladies.”
“Sounds good.”
The man was very nice and grabbed a paper plate, writing flavor names on the plate before placing six tasting spoons with ice cream on them. Flora took the plate over to one of the tables and sat down while the other women ordered their ice cream.
The flavors were interesting and with it being cold, it was just weird. She liked the chocolate and vanilla, but the mint chocolate chip was too much. The cookie dough was good and so was the rocky road, but the one she liked the most was the strawberry.
The other women had finished ordering when she came up to order. The man smiled at her, his eyes bright.
“So, young lady, what will it be?”
“The strawberry. The others were great, and I’ll probably try them later, but I really liked the strawberry ice cream.”
“Wonderful. It’s one of my favorites, too.”
She got one scoop, and they all sat at a corner table to enjoy their treat. She enjoyed listening to the women talk. It was so different from what she’d known. When women were in the same place in the community they weren’t allowed to talk. But these women chatting and laughing seemed so wholesome.
Wren met her gaze. “So, Flora, what do you think of the ice cream?”
She smiled. “I like it. It’s very sweet. I’ve never had anything like it.”
“Just wait until we take you for pizza,” Ellis said.
“What is that?”
“It’s savory, so not sweet,” Wren said.
Remi nodded. “I like tacos better, but pizza is great.”
Ellis nodded. “It’s dough that is flat and you put tomato sauce and cheese on it. You can also add vegetables and meat. Whatever you add to it makes it taste different.”
“Yes!” Remi declared. “Like tacos. You can have tacos with fish or shrimp, as well as ground beef or chicken. It’s so good. But back to pizza. You can have pizza with red sauce or white sauce, and that makes it different.”
“There’s so much food I’ve never tried. So much I’ve never experienced.”
“We’re here to help you through it,” Ellis said. “Honestly, it’s kind of nice seeing you experience stuff for the first time. It makes me enjoy my ice cream even more.”
Remi nodded. “I know it’s not a game for you but hearing what you didn’t have made me enjoy what I have more.”
Flora chuckled. “Well, I’ve got to tell you the one thing that has given me the most pleasure so far is being allowed to wear shoes.”
“What?” Wren narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “What do you mean?”
“Where I grew up, women weren’t allowed to wear shoes. Our feet were always cold or sore. Walking outside sucked. We were at the mercy of men. If they didn’t want to help you, then you were stuck.”
“I would never have made it there,” Remi said.
Flora shrugged. “You’d be surprised what you can make it through when you have no other options.”
Remi smiled at her. “You’re stronger than I am.”
“When you have no options, you learn.”
Wren nodded. “You are strong. I’m impressed. I would love to hear more.”
“Well, because Flora doesn’t drive, we’re taking turns helping her,” Ellis said.
