"What'll it be?"
She blinked. She didn't know. Mr. Vesling hadn't told her what he wanted. She sniffled. "I don't know, he didn't say."
The man's face softened. "How about vanilla ice cream in a cinnamon cone? My wife makes them, but they're not as popular with the other children as the cartoon ones," he suggested.
"Two please," she held out her money.
He nodded, counted out her change and dipped out two cones for her. Slowly, she made her way back to her neighbor's covered gazebo. Mr. Vesling waited for her in the shade.
"Thank you, Meryn. These old bones can't keep up with that truck anymore, and Mrs. Vesling says ice cream isn't good for me."
"Should you have it?" she asked, worried for him.
"Bah! A cone here and there is fine," he said, looking down, then smiled. "My favorite. How'd ya know?"
"I didn't but the nice man suggested these, so I got em."
She hopped up on the bench and licked her ice cream cone. The vanilla ice cream was cold and creamy. Outside the gazebo, a breeze whirled around them, bringing her the scent of freshly cut grass.
Yesterday, she had pleaded with God to take her to her mommy and daddy, but today she was outside enjoying the cool breeze and ice cream. It was the best day of her life.
"Okay, stop there."
Meryn exhaled, then shook her head. What had she been doing?"
She looked up to see the handsome demon staring at her. "When your memory began, I thought you were punishing me, but then…"
"Since you have it now, I have no idea what you're referring to," she reminded him.
"The day after you left the attic. Your ice cream with…"
"Mr. Vesling! I remember him," Meryn smiled.
"How? I took that memory."
"It's kinda fuzzy, but if you have the day I was released from the attic, I think I'm remembering the day after that. Mr. Vesling bought me ice cream that day too," she sighed. "I remember that day clearly because he died the day after that. I was on my own again for a while until I discovered the library."
"Why? Of any memory you could have given, why that one?"
Meryn shrugged. "Because I figured if I had to use a memory as payment it should be a good one, right?"
The demon looked lost in thought. "I never knew ice cream was so good."
Meryn snuggled against the arm of the sofa. "Don't forget our deal," she said, then yawned.
The demon straightened. "Of course. For a memory like that, you will be more than satisfied."
"Won't that mess up your plans?"
"No. The ones responsible have outlived their usefulness. They are acting recklessly in pursuing their own agenda. It is past time for them to leave this world."
Meryn found she could barely keep her eyes open. "Werd." She closed her eyes and felt herself begin to drift.
"I do apologize. I hadn't meant to keep you for so long. You may be a bit tired when you wake," he advised, his voice sounding more distant.
"That's why God made coffee," she replied.
For a moment, she relaxed before she heard a frantic voice.