Cherry Vanilla 16
Author: Marina
Story: Shifts universe (pre-Tremors)
Challenge: Cherry Vanilla 16 (damsel in distress)
Toppings/Extras: Whipped Cream (Eleazar is seven, Oriana is four), Malt (Summer Challenge, Ice Cream #72: (Whipped Cream) Shots at the doctor’s office)
Word Count: 518
Rating: PG
Summary: Oriana ends up causing more pain than she receives when she gets her first TB booster.
Notes: I was a little distressed when I first pulled this prompt because I have about four characters I can use for Whipped Cream pieces, and it didn’t seem to lend itself to any of them. Now I’m kind of in love with it, so thank you to whoever submitted it.
“This is boring.”
John Kopen glanced at his young son over the top of his magazine. “Are you finished with your Highlights already?”
“No, it’s just boring here,” Eleazar said, scowling.
Lifting his eyes to the examination room door of the small, private practice, John silently agreed that he had better things to do than sit and wait. He could not say this to his son, however. “I’m certain that they’re almost done. Just be patient. Ori had to wait just as long when it was your turn.”
A high-pitched squeal of distress cut off the grumpy reply Eleazar had been about to make. “What’s that?” he asked, staring wide-eyed at the door.
“She probably needs a vaccination. You had a similar tantrum when you had to have your first shots.”
“Nuh-uh! I don’t sound like a girl.”
John smiled. “You might be surprised.”
Oriana’s shrieks died down after a moment. John barely had time to feel relieved, because a split-second later they were replaced with a loud crash and the shouts of his wife and the doctor. He tossed his magazine onto the end table and got up. “This is not happening. Elie, stay here.”
He opened the door and found Marissa struggling to her feet, the stand for the blood pressure machine toppled over in front of her. Oriana stood on the exam table, swinging her right hand angrily at the doctor. With every move of her hand, the man took another smack in the face from his own stethoscope. “That is enough, young lady,” John said sternly, stepping up and covering her small hands with his before she could react. “Marissa, are you all right?”
“I’m too old for this, is what I am,” she said, casting a glare at her inconsolable daughter.
“I don’t want a needle!” Oriana cried.
“You have to have it, so settle down,” John said sternly. “It would be over already if you hadn’t done this.” He looked back at the doctor. “I’m so sorry, sir. This won’t happen again. She needs her hands to use her power, so I’ll just hang onto her until it’s all over with.”
The doctor smiled faintly. “Believe it or not, I’ve had worse.” He prepared a new syringe, calmly injected the dose into Oriana’s shoulder despite her howls, and then excused himself to find an ice pack.
“See? I don’t think that hurt you at all,” John said, releasing her.
She scowled at him, more out of stubbornness than any actual discomfort. “Did too.”
“I doubt it. Now apologize to your mother.”
She did, with bad grace, and he lifted her off the table and sent her out to wait with Eleazar while he helped Marissa get steady on her feet. “Remind me why we thought children were a good idea at this stage in our lives,” she said.
“She’ll grow out of it. Let’s go.”
The two of them reentered the waiting room just in time to hear Eleazar’s commentary: “You’re stupid. Needles don’t hurt. Pinching hurts more, see.”
His demonstration earned him a Highlights magazine to the face from his sister.
Story: Shifts universe (pre-Tremors)
Challenge: Cherry Vanilla 16 (damsel in distress)
Toppings/Extras: Whipped Cream (Eleazar is seven, Oriana is four), Malt (Summer Challenge, Ice Cream #72: (Whipped Cream) Shots at the doctor’s office)
Word Count: 518
Rating: PG
Summary: Oriana ends up causing more pain than she receives when she gets her first TB booster.
Notes: I was a little distressed when I first pulled this prompt because I have about four characters I can use for Whipped Cream pieces, and it didn’t seem to lend itself to any of them. Now I’m kind of in love with it, so thank you to whoever submitted it.
“This is boring.”
John Kopen glanced at his young son over the top of his magazine. “Are you finished with your Highlights already?”
“No, it’s just boring here,” Eleazar said, scowling.
Lifting his eyes to the examination room door of the small, private practice, John silently agreed that he had better things to do than sit and wait. He could not say this to his son, however. “I’m certain that they’re almost done. Just be patient. Ori had to wait just as long when it was your turn.”
A high-pitched squeal of distress cut off the grumpy reply Eleazar had been about to make. “What’s that?” he asked, staring wide-eyed at the door.
“She probably needs a vaccination. You had a similar tantrum when you had to have your first shots.”
“Nuh-uh! I don’t sound like a girl.”
John smiled. “You might be surprised.”
Oriana’s shrieks died down after a moment. John barely had time to feel relieved, because a split-second later they were replaced with a loud crash and the shouts of his wife and the doctor. He tossed his magazine onto the end table and got up. “This is not happening. Elie, stay here.”
He opened the door and found Marissa struggling to her feet, the stand for the blood pressure machine toppled over in front of her. Oriana stood on the exam table, swinging her right hand angrily at the doctor. With every move of her hand, the man took another smack in the face from his own stethoscope. “That is enough, young lady,” John said sternly, stepping up and covering her small hands with his before she could react. “Marissa, are you all right?”
“I’m too old for this, is what I am,” she said, casting a glare at her inconsolable daughter.
“I don’t want a needle!” Oriana cried.
“You have to have it, so settle down,” John said sternly. “It would be over already if you hadn’t done this.” He looked back at the doctor. “I’m so sorry, sir. This won’t happen again. She needs her hands to use her power, so I’ll just hang onto her until it’s all over with.”
The doctor smiled faintly. “Believe it or not, I’ve had worse.” He prepared a new syringe, calmly injected the dose into Oriana’s shoulder despite her howls, and then excused himself to find an ice pack.
“See? I don’t think that hurt you at all,” John said, releasing her.
She scowled at him, more out of stubbornness than any actual discomfort. “Did too.”
“I doubt it. Now apologize to your mother.”
She did, with bad grace, and he lifted her off the table and sent her out to wait with Eleazar while he helped Marissa get steady on her feet. “Remind me why we thought children were a good idea at this stage in our lives,” she said.
“She’ll grow out of it. Let’s go.”
The two of them reentered the waiting room just in time to hear Eleazar’s commentary: “You’re stupid. Needles don’t hurt. Pinching hurts more, see.”
His demonstration earned him a Highlights magazine to the face from his sister.