Billy and the Passionfruit, Part 2 of 7.

Disclaimer: I maintain that I do not own this story, however much I would like to.

Billy skipped down the pavement, a smile affixed on his face as he hummed to himself. What a great day at school! he thought. He broadened his smile and widened his stride.

What a great day at school! he thought again. He flailed his arms about in gladness. The children walking home with him shuffled away nervously.

Eventually Billy turned down the street to his house, waving goodbye to the other children, who smiled uncomfortably back. He scampered along the pavement, pushed open the gate, rushed down the pathway and burst through the door, colliding with his mother who had come to greet him when she had seen him outside.

"Hi mom," he gasped quickly, and promptly raced up the stairs. His mother blinked. She closed the door delicately and went back to chopping broccoli.

Vegetables, Billy's mother reflected, are much easier to understand than little boys.

Meanwhile, Billy had raced back down the stairs and was rummaging through the pantry. This kind of activity tends to make a lot of noise, so Billy's mother was drawn to the racket. She looked at the mess and sighed.

"What are you doing, Billy?" she said.

"I'm looking for a fruit," he said.

Billy's mother raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" she said. "Why is that?" Inwardly she was ballooning with excitement. Goodness, she thought, my lil' boy is growing up and taking the initiative! Asking for fruit, I'll say!

"It's an assignment for school," Billy said. "I have to draw a fruit."

Billy's mother didn't respond. She was enraptured, her hands clasped together in front of her starry, vacant eyes.

"Uh, mom?" said Billy. "You ok?" He went and fetched a stool to stand on, and then climbed on it and snapped his fingers in front of his mother's face.

"Wha?" said Billy's mother, looking wildly around. "Oh... oh. Yes dear, I'm fine." She smiled. "So which fruit would you like to eat?"

Billy blanched. "Jeez, mom!" he said. "I'm not gonna eat a fruit! Eeeew! I just need to draw it for school!"

Billy's mother deflated. "Oh," she said weakly. "Right, of course."

"So?" Billy said. He crossed his arms and tapped his right foot impatiently.

Billy's mother recovered quickly. "How about an apple?" she said.

"We did one in class today," Billy said. "I want something special."

"An orange?" Billy's mother said.

"Not original enough," Billy said.

"A banana?" she said.

"Not colourful enough," Billy said.

"A grape?"

"Not big enough."

"A bunch of grapes?"

"Too complicated."

"A grapefruit?"

"Too big."

"A durian?"

"Too spiky."

"A kiwi fruit?"

"Too furry."

"A strawberry?"

"Too cute."

"A rambutan?"

"What the heck is that, mom?" Billy said exasperatedly. "Forget it. You're not helping." He stormed up to his room to sulk.

Billy's mother quirked an eyebrow. He'll learn, she decided. She patted her bundle of ever-silent broccoli lovingly, and then chopped off its head.

To be continued...