Small Blessings
Junior was deep in concentration as she formed her mashed potatoes into a mountain, made an indentation in the top, and carefully poured the gravy.
"Look, Francie – a volcano!"
Francie started to giggle, but Ennis was stern. "Alma, Jr., don't play with your food."
Junior bit her lip. Mama and Daddy had been mean to each other again before Mama left for work and she knew how the rest of the night would go, with Daddy drinking beer and staring at the T.V., looking so sad it made her want to cry.
She got up suddenly and tugged on Ennis's arm. "What goes 'aa aa aa'?"
Ennis looked up, startled. "Uh….what?"
Junior smiled and repeated the words slowly. "What goes 'aa aa aa'?"
Ennis sighed and forced a small smile. "I don't know, darlin', what?"
"A sheep with no lips!"
Ennis looked startled again, but this time he burst into laughter and pulled Junior into a hug, nuzzling her cheek. "Thank you, darlin," he whispered.
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165 Words