Flash! Fiction 3 by Peter McMillan - HTML preview
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"If I could speed it up, and maybe change some things."
"What do you mean, honey? What do you want to change?"
"Like this mole on my face. You and Daddy call it a beauty mark, but nobody as school says that. And these freckles. Shirley says I look like I've got the measles. And my hair. Why does it have to be so red? The boys in the playground chant '9-1-1, fire on the head, 9-1-1, fire on the head.'"
"Are they still doing that? I spoke to the principal, and he said he would put a stop to it."
"That doesn't help, cause then the boys know I've told on them and get even meaner."
"Well, Amy, I know you'll find this really hard to believe, but one day you'll be extremely proud of your lovely red hair and not all people are lucky enough to have freckles. You know your father and I first met in a huge crowd of people at a college protest, and it was my fiery red hair that first attracted him."
"But why can't I have Daddy's hair? It's so ordinary. Nobody bothers people with his color hair."
"I know what you mean, but let's keep it our little secret, huh?"
"OK."
"Oh, I almost forgot. I have a new patient. Actually, it's a family that just moved here, and the little girl is your age, and she doesn't know anybody. I was wondering how you'd feel about walking her 87
to and from school — just until she gets settled in. Their house is right on the way, about three blocks from us. She's very attractive and intelligent, just like you. And she has a good sense of humor.
She made me chuckle once or twice."
"I guess so."
"There's one more thing. Vanessa is in a wheelchair. She had a rid-ing accident a couple of years ago. She's had a difficult time, but she's a strong young lady, kinda like you, Amy, and she's learned how to play the flute and paint with watercolors. But she's still quite lonely, and I thought you might— "
"OK, Mama, but I'm doing it for you."
"I know you are, sweetheart."
First published in Beyond Imagination Digital Literary Magazine, Issue 4, June 2014.