If I Were You

Chapter 2

“What would you like today, young lady?” the old man would ask.

“My favorite!” Lily would say excitedly as she held her father’s hand.

“Aahh, wise choice,” the old man said as he scooped and assembled her favorite ice cream. For some reason, that’s the only good memory Lily could recall of her father.

Lily places her hoodie up over her head as she reaches her childhood ice cream shop. It has been a while since she had her favorite chocolate mint ice cream. Without thinking much, she starts to order it, in a medium cup with confetti sprinkles and a waffle stick on top. “That would be $3,” the cashier said, and Lily starts rummaging through her pocket, feeling for the credit card that her mother had given her earlier that day. When she pulls it out, she stares at it for what seems like a minute before putting it back in her pocket and dashing out without another word.

“Wait, wait…” she can hear someone calling after her, but she never looks back. “My dear, wait…” the voice continues as he reaches for her elbow to catch her attention. When she turns around, she realizes that she knows this old man. “Lily? It’s you, isn’t it?” Mr. Jenkin asks, and Lily just nods. “Come inside. I’ll get you your usual,” he says. “Well, come on!” Mr. Jenkin offers when he sees that Lily is still frozen, just standing there looking at him. “Come on,” Mr. Jenkin assures, and Lily finally follows.

Mr. Jenkin is a sweet old man. He’s the owner of the ice cream shop, and since Lily would come almost every single day with her father, Mr. Jenkin would sometimes give her extra sprinkles or extra waffles. She loves that, and Mr. Jenkin becomes her favorite neighborhood grandpa. He has three sons, but none of them want to take over the small ice cream shop. It isn’t a booming business, but it is an important shop for the locals in this little neighborhood. Everyone gets their ice cream here, and they are the best.

Mrs. Jenkin, on the other hand, died very early. The boys were still very young at the time. She had cancer, and maybe that was why the eldest decided to be a doctor. He should be entering his first year of housemanship now. The second one, as in Lily’s memory, is a troublemaker—often very clumsy. He can never run a business, but maybe that’s not at all bad. Being a painter would very much suit him, and that made Lily wonder if the paintings hung in the shop were all from Mr. Jenkin’s second son. The youngest is a few years older than Lily—and he’s here.

Lily recognizes him when she turns around after a loud clang. He is being scolded now by an older worker for spilling the ice cream milkshake all over the customer’s table, and it got on her nice white shirt too.

“I still remember what you always get,” Mr. Jenkin says as he takes scoops and scoops of ice cream. “But then you got older, and you didn’t come as often,” he continues as he adds her favorite toppings. “Come, let’s sit around the back,” Mr. Jenkin offers, leading Lily around the counter and into the kitchen.

They find a place to comfortably sit in the corner. Lily could see other workers making ice cream from a distance; some of them are old, and some are about the same age as her. Mr. Jenkin notices where she’s looking and decides to ask, “Would you like a job? Most of them here are about the same age as you. I’m sure you’ll get along.”

Lily averts her eyes from them soon after and focuses on her ice cream. “No, I don’t think…” she starts, but she can’t seem to finish.

“That’s okay. It is only my suggestion, but if you change your mind, you can just ask,” Mr. Jenkin says. “How are you?” he asks.

Lily lets out a small half-hearted chuckle, “Just like this, I guess. I just got out.”

Mr. Jenkin just nodded. “Your mother did tell me it was today,” he adds.

“Aahh, you talked to my mother. Did you tell her you saw me here too?” Lily says, ready to get up.

“She doesn’t know you’re here, I promise. I didn’t talk to her at all today. We just happened to cross paths at the supermarket the other day, and I just asked her about life. That’s it,” Mr. Jenkin assures her, and Lily sits back down and continues to eat her ice cream, trying to drown out the thought of her mother. She’s quiet as if nothing is bothering her, like she’s trying to put up a tough front.

“I am sorry for what you’ve been through, Lily. You deserve more than this, and you will make it,” Mr. Jenkin says, breaking the silence.

Lily starts to get teary as she nods, trying to hold it in, but eventually, she bursts out crying. The workers are ordered by Mr. Jenkin to clear the kitchen. It takes her a few minutes to calm down, and she immediately excuses herself to leave. “Thank you,” Lily says, and Mr. Jenkin responds with a nod and a warm, pleasant smile.

Her phone finally rings after what seems like a lifelong wait. Fatigue is getting to her, and all she wants is to lie down and sleep. “It’s Officer Becket. I’m sending you an address. You should be able to go there and sign up for your accommodation, but I can only help you this far. You have to find a job to secure the house for the next month, or you might not be eligible to continue receiving the support. I also sent you a few calls you can make for that. Do contact me if you have further questions. Good luck, Ms. Murray.”