Writing Challenge Day 10 - Bad Fruit

Flash Fiction Challenge Day 10 - A fruit you dislike and why

Young Gerald stared at the green and brown lumps stuck in between his cucumbers and tomatoes. The avocado looked slimy and mushy. He had watched his mother cutting it up as she prepared the salad. He had never tried this fruit, but his dad loved it. He sometimes sliced one open and ate it right out of the skin with a spoon.

Gerald pushed a lump around with his fork. It smelled like grass or mold, not very appetizing. He heard his mother clear her throat and looked up at her in wonder.

"Are you going to play with it all afternoon?"

"Do I have to eat it?"

"Yes, you do. Avocado is good for you. And you are a very lucky little boy to be getting such healthy food when there are children starving all over the world. Now say a prayer of thanks and eat."

Gerald took a deep breath, silently thanked God for this food and plopped the green chunk in his mouth. He bit down and the fruit mashed easily between his teeth. It had the consistency of thick mud and snot with some grass thrown in for flavoring. He nearly barfed into his bowl, but he managed to swallow. Barely. His stomach felt sick. "I don't like it, Mommy. Do I really have to eat it all? What if I just eat around the avocados? Daddy will eat them."

"Sweetie, just finish what's there and I promise you will never have to eat avocado again. But you should try it again when you're older because your tastes will change."

Gerald didn't think that would ever happen. He took a shaky breath and speared all the avocado pieces he could find onto his fork. At least he could eat them all first and then cover up the bad taste with the rest of his salad. He stared at the tower of green slime on his fork and opened wide. As soon as his mouth closed over the glop he could feel his tummy gurgle. He chewed slowly and tried to sit still. He thought about Superman eating avocado. His hero would have no problem overpowering these little green blobs. Gerald would be like Superman.

He sat up straight and put a serious scowl on his face as he chewed and chewed, but he just couldn't make himself swallow. He whimpered, feeling tears well in his eyes. Finally he jumped up from the table and ran to the bathroom just in time to spit out all the green goop before he threw up the rest of his meal.