Ice cream War - a short story written by Berni Albrighton

 

The blindfold was yanked off, pulling at strands of my hair. 

I was pushed down onto a hard chair.

“How many times do you have to be told? This is not your patch, it’s ours. 

I don’t want to hurt you but you leave me with no other option” the man said calmly.

“No, no, let’s discuss this, I’m sure we can come to some arrangement”

“Nope, I’m done with talking. You’re taking the piss and now you need to be taught a lesson”

He pulled a coil of thick rope from his backpack and threw it to the other man 

who had been standing behind me all this time.

“Tie him up” 

“No, no, please, this is crazy, can't we just talk?” I sounded pathetic.

I surged forwards, desperate to get off the chair. I couldn't let myself be tied up. 

I wasn’t quick enough. I was grabbed and pulled back down.

“Jesus christ, really? Are you serious?” I screamed.

I had to find a way to stop the situation from getting worse.

“Look, Simon is it? I’m sorry, okay? I messed up.

 Only, I hadn't seen your van for weeks.I thought you’d found a different patch” 

“Open his mouth” 

My head was yanked backwards and the thick, sweaty flesh of hands covered my face.

Fingers were forcing a cold metal object into my mouth.

Simon was leaning over a large tub, stirring the contents with an 

industrial style metal spoon. 

What the hell?

I tried to speak but my mouth was jammed wide open. 

My jaw bone was stretched to breaking point.

Simon dragged the tub across the bare cement floor and lifted it up onto a table.

His muscles peaked under the strain of the weight. 

“Bring him over here”

I was tipped backwards and pulled over to where Simon was now sitting.

“Relax,” he said calmly. “I don't believe in gratuitous violence.

 It's unnecessary, a bit lowly if you ask me, No, I like to be more imaginative,

you know, create a memorable event, one that you'll remember for years to come”

I looked at the tub, realising for the first time that it was filled with ice cream.

Simon took his phone from the table.

“Nearly ready” he said “I like a little background music when I work”

Immediately, notes from the chimes of the ice cream van filled the air, 

bouncing off the  walls of the large warehouse. 

Lily the Pink played loudly, followed by Three Blind Mice. 

Only when Oranges and Lemons had finished and Greensleeves started 

did I notice the familiar feelings of anxiety creeping up through my gut, 

around my heart and up into my throat. My heart pounded.

The high pitched tones of the music pierced my ears.

I looked at the tub. 

The ice cream had slowly melted amidst the chaos of the situation.

The spoon was coming towards me, 

Simon's smiling face appeared at the end of the handle. 

“I do hope you like Raspberry Ripple”