At the sight of me hesitating, Gregory lowered his voice. “Mommy, I’ll just try a bite. I won’t eat more than that, okay?”
I understood now. Gregory was the same as his father; information had to be repeated to them multiple times!
“I don’t mind treating you, but you mustn’t call me Mommy anymore. Deal?”
“No problem.” Gregory flashed a wide smile and pulled me by the arm into the shop. “Let’s go, Ms. Stovall!”
Gregory ordered a set meal for children on top of one of each of the best-selling items on the menu. A table for two was soon filled up.
The child was true to his word; he literally tried a bite of everything. The only thing he was particularly fond of was the sundae.
“I thought only girls like sweet things, Gregory?” I teased him.
As soon as I said that, he put down his spoon and wiped his lips in a dignified manner, refusing to touch another spoonful.
“Hey, I’m just messing with you. Carry on,” I said as I pushed the chocolate sundae back in front of him.
“That will be enough,” Gregory said with a solemn shake of his head.
“Really?” I probed him. Children are greedy.
Gregory nodded again determinedly. “Statistics show that an excessive consumption of deep-fried and sweet food is harmful to the body,” he said in a serious manner.
I couldn’t decide whether the child before me was a six-year-old or a genius who was familiar with the workings of the world. After a stunned silence, I said, “If that’s the case, shouldn’t you abstain from them completely?”
“They wouldn’t do you any harm in small portions. The more Daddy forbids me, the more I want to try. I’m a child; it’s normal for me to not be able to restrain my urges!”
His arrogant expression was bizarre. If it was normal for a child to not being able to reason, doesn’t it make accommodating him a grievous sin?
At the thought of this, I felt a pang of guilt, like a bright spotlight following me around. I looked up instinctively and jumped as I caught sight of a pair of cold eyes outside of the glass.
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