The Lesson

Flash Fiction

The Lesson

“What did you expect?” Janet said, not happily, glaring at Andy.

Andy looked at the mess again, trying not to laugh…

“You clean it up!” and she stomped out the door.

Andy waited till she slammed the door upstairs. “You can come out now…” he said.

Two young girls came out of the broom closet. “Why is she so mad?” Anna asked.

“Well,” Andy said, “all she got to see is the mess.” If someone went in your room and made a big mess like this, wouldn’t you be angry?”

“Well,” Lia added, “We made her a cake. And she doesn’t even know it yet!”

“That’s true. But you made the cake to surprise her and make her happy. How could she be happy when all she saw was a very messy kitchen? She thinks she has to clean up. She didn’t even see the cake…”

“I guess… Maybe if we cleaned up the kitchen first and tried again, she would see the cake first?”

“Good idea. I’ll help you!”

They all got busy. Dad telling them what to do, and helping when things got messier. Finally, the kitchen was clean, dishes all in the dishwasher and even the floor swept.

“OK, you two stand next to the table, one on either side of the cake you made. I’ll take a picture too!” He took out his phone and snapped the picture of the cake and the girls. Then he called Mom back down.

She came in with a still angry face, but immediately started smiling when she saw the girls and they yelled “Surprise!” pointing to the cake.

It was a turning point the girls never forgot. They always cleaned up after that. They never knew it was all a trick Mom and Dad had read in a magazine…