
Lessons from Popeye
“Honey, do you really think it’s the right idea to withhold Popeye from Arnold?”
“I think it sends the appropriate message.”
My wife was always into sending messages. Especially subliminal messages. She could never just come out and say what was on her mind. If you wanted answers from her, you had to be a master at reading-between-the-lines.
“Don’t you think that we should talk to him about why Popeye is suddenly not allowed on the television.”
“I think serving spinach every meal for the next week for supper, and you and I enjoying its pleasures, will send Arnold the message.”
“It would be so much easier to just talk to him.”
“He has to learn.”
“So you think that emulating Popeye is what we want our son to do?”
“Most certainly.”
“Sweetems’… You do know that Popeye smokes a pipe and often gets into fights.”
“Arnold would never so that. You’ve already spoken to him about those evils.”
“I certainly can’t argue with that logic.”
Written for Writer’s Digest Flash Fiction February Challenges: Challenge #12 Today’s prompt is to write about a food you (or your character) hate.