The Ice Cream Gang

 

The Ice Cream Gang

J.T. Jefferson

 

            Welcome to Freezer Town, a wonderful community where family and friends live as neighbors who help each other become better citizens every day. In the middle of the town is the community center, where townsfood comes together for celebrations and to solve problems. On the eastside of the community center is the home of the ice cream family. They live in an ice cream box. The popsicles, the ice cream family’s next-door neighbors, live just to the south. On the westside of the community center are two more families: the vegetable sisters and their cousins, the frozen fruit. 

            In the ice cream family are four siblings: three brothers and one sister. There is Lil Fudge, a brown ice cream bar who wears glasses and has braces on his teeth. Lil Fudge is very creative, so other residents of Freezer Town often come to him for fun ideas for games and holiday activities. One of his brothers, Lil Pop, is also an ice cream bar. Lil Pop is green, and he always has a nervous look on his face. He is always the first one to ask, “Is it safe?” before trying anything new. Lil Fudge’s other brother is an ice cream cone. Lil Cone’s cone is the color of a waffle, and his head is a scoop of blueberry ice cream. Lil Cone smiles all the time, and everyone in town becomes happier when they see him. Their sister is also a cone. Lil Berry has the same cone as Lil Cone, but her ice cream scoop is strawberry. Lil Berry has thick, cherry-red lips and enjoys dolls, putting on makeup, and playing dress-up. 

            In the open space next to the ice cream family’s home live the popsicle triplets. They are each shaped like a rocket made with red, white, and blue ice. Cherry Pop has a pointy red head and a white and blue body. Lime Pop has a pointy white head with a blue and red body, and Blue-Raspberry Pop has a pointy blue head with a red and white body. The popsicles are known in Freezer Town as the life of the party. They are always the first to arrive and the last to leave any celebration.

Across town from the ice cream and popsicle families live the vegetable sisters. Sweet Corn, Crookneck Squash, and Climbing Bean are always seen together. Sweet Corn sports a coat of green leaves, and only her yellow head, filled with kernels, peeks out over her coat. Like Lil Cone, Sweet Corn is always happy. Crookneck Squash is the tallest citizen in town. Her long neck is supported by a plump, yellow, squash-shaped body. She is very shy and does not speak much, preferring to spend her days helping her sisters in their garden. Climbing Bean is the smallest member of Freezer Town. Her skinny green bean body makes it easy for her to climb, so she is often found in high places looking down at her much taller sisters.

Living next door to the vegetable sisters are the Frozen Fruit. Granny Smith Apple, Banana Split, and Peach Fuzz share a container home. Granny Smith, a green apple, never leaves the container, but the other townsfolk visit her when they need motherly advice to help them with life’s challenges. Banana Split, a ripe, yellow banana, is rarely seen. Some in town believe he is dating Crookneck Squash, but since Crookneck Squash doesn't speak much, and Banana Split is hard to find, no one really knows. Lastly, Peach Fuzz, a red and yellow peach who usually needs a shave, is the sheriff of Freezer Town. He works closely with Mayor Baking Soda. The mayor’s orange, boxy body was raised at the right side of her head, and the space where her head was raised was covered in white powder. The powder always smelled fresh, so the citizens of Freezer Town had elected her mayor to keep the town smelling pleasant.

 

***

     The ice cream box is new to Freezer Town. Before the ice cream bars and cones were placed in this community, they lived in a place where they were surrounded only by other boxes of ice cream. Popsicles, vegetables, and fruit came from foreign lands that ice cream had never visited. To welcome the newly arrived ice cream family to their town, the popsicles of Freezer Town surprised them with fireworks.

Firecrackers began exploding outside of the ice cream box. Lil Fudge opened the top of the box from the inside to see what was making those loud noises. In the space next to their home, Lil Fudge saw three popsicles dancing around a circle of rockets that were launching into the air one by one before bursting into brilliant colors.

“What is it?” Lil Pop asked. He was shaking in his bed, worried about the sounds coming from outside.

“Fireworks,” Lil Fudge said with a smile.

“I wanna see, too,” Lil Cone pleaded. “Please, please, please?”

Lil Fudge looked down from the top of the box at Lil Cone. Lil Cone smiled up at him excitedly. Lil Fudge then looked over to their sister’s bed. Lil Berry was still sleeping. She can sleep through anything, Lil Fudge thought.

“Wake Lil Berry,” Lil Fudge said to Lil Cone. “We’ll all go outside to watch the fireworks together.”

“No, no, no,” Lil Pop protested. “I’m not going outside.”

“You’ll miss the fun!” Lil Cone said. He was standing next to Lil Berry, who was still blinking the sleep from her eyes.

“What fun?” Lil Berry asked.

“The fireworks!” Lil Fudge and Lil Cone said in unison.

“Oh, goodie,” said Lil Berry. “I need to put on my lipstick first.”

“Why don’t you want to join us?” Lil Fudge asked Lil Pop.

“I have never met popsicles before. What if they’re dangerous?” Lil Pop responded.

“They’re just dancing and having fun,” Lil Fudge said. He was trying to help Lil Pop feel more comfortable.

“Nope, you guys go ahead. I’ll stay right here,” Lil Pop insisted.

“I’m ready. Let’s go,” Lil Berry urged. She was anxious to get out of their box.

***

 The popsicles stopped dancing when they saw the three ice creams standing nearby and watching them. They went over to introduce themselves. Cherry Pop looked first at Lil Fudge, then at Lil Cone and Lil Berry, who were right beside him.

“Hi. My name is Cherry Pop, and these are my brothers, Lime Pop and Blue-Raspberry Pop,” she said, nodding toward her siblings.

“Hello. My name is Lil Fudge, and this is my brother, Lil Cone, and my sister, Lil Berry,” said Lil Fudge.

“Welcome to Freezer Town!” the popsicle triplets said in unison.

“Thank you,” the ice cream siblings responded.

“I thought there were four of you,” Cherry Pop said to Lil Fudge.

“Our brother, Lil Pop, is afrai-” Lil Berry began.

“He’s not ready to come outside,” Lil Fudge interrupted.

The last firecracker went off behind the popsicles, and the popsicles and ice creams looked in the direction of its popping sound. Coming toward them was the town sheriff, Peach Fuzz.

“Who’s setting off firecrackers?” Sheriff Peach Fuzz asked the group of popsicles and ice creams.

“We’re celebrating the arrival of our new neighbors,” said Cherry Pop.

“You need permission from Mayor Baking Soda to use fireworks,” Sheriff Peach Fuzz explained.

“Will do, Sheriff,” Cherry Pop promised.

Lil Fudge then turned and asked the sheriff, “Sheriff, can I speak with you in private?”

“Sure,” Sheriff Peach Fuzz agreed.

Lil Fudge and Sheriff Peach Fuzz moved away from the group.

“Can you speak with my brother Lil Pop? He’s afraid to leave the ice cream box for fear of popsicles,” Lil Fudge explained.

“The popsicles are fun-loving triplets,” said Sheriff Peach Fuzz. “I think Granny Smith Apple can help your brother overcome his fear.”

“Where can I find her?” Lil Fudge asked. He was eager to help his brother.

“She lives with me in the container across town. I’ll tell her to expect you,” Sheriff Peach Fuzz replied.

This made Lil Fudge feel a bit better.

“Thank you, Sheriff.”

***

Lil Pop peeked outside of the ice cream box when the fireworks stopped. He saw the popsicles, and a peach, walking away from his siblings. Lil Pop cautiously left the box to find out what happened.

“Is everything okay?” Lil Pop asked Lil Fudge.

“Come with me,” Lil Fudge urged.

“Where are we going?” Lil Pop asked. He looked around nervously as he and his brother approached the container on the other side of Freezer Town.

“We’re going to visit Granny Smith Apple. She can help you feel better about living in this town,” answered Lil Fudge.

When Granny Smith Apple saw Lil Fudge and Lil Pop approaching her home, she opened the lid of her container to let them in. Cold air whirled around the stem on her head as she looked toward her neighbors’ garden. Before closing the lid, she saw the vegetable sisters working in their garden.

“Good day, youngsters. Peach Fuzz told me to expect you,” Granny Smith Apple said as Lil Fudge and Lil Pop took a seat on a couple of ice cubes.

“Good afternoon, Granny Smith Apple,” Lil Fudge replied.

Lil Pop was feeling too nervous to greet Granny Smith Apple. He didn’t make eye contact, and he tried to hide behind Lil Fudge.

“Peach Fuzz said that you’re afraid of the popsicles. Is that true?” Granny Smith Apple asked Lil Pop.

“It’s not just the popsicles,” Lil Pop admitted. “Everyone in Freezer Town is so different. In the town we left, everyone was an ice cream. Here, there are popsicles, fruit, and even mixed vegetables living right next to us.”

“Why does that frighten you?” Granny Smith Apple asked.

“Well, maybe they’ll hurt me, or worse, maybe they won’t like me,” Lil Pop responded.

“Being different doesn’t make them dangerous, Lil Pop. In fact, it might mean that they have new and wonderful things to share,” Granny Smith Apple explained.

“Really?” Lil Pop asked. He had never thought about what strangers might have to share.

“Yes. When I was a small apple still holding on to my mother’s branch, I had dozens of siblings who looked just like me. We were all the same, and as we grew, there was little for us to learn from each other. Then, something wonderful happened.”

Granny Smith Apple paused.

“What was it?” Lil Fudge asked.

“What happened?” Lil Pop echoed.

“A garden town was planted right next to my mother. There were families of rosemary, chives, oregano, basil, and more. They created miracles together,” Granny Smith Apple said, joy glowing in her eyes.

“What do you mean by miracles?” Lil Pop asked.

“When garden town citizens got together, they made one plus one equal four. They were more than twice as good together than when they were apart,” explained Granny Smith Apple.

“So together is better,” Lil Pop whispered.

“You got it!” Granny Smith Apple responded.

***

Lil Pop was no longer afraid of the different citizens in Freezer Town. Granny Smith Apple had told him to love himself first if he wanted others to like him. This advice gave Lil Pop the confidence to make new friends, so he asked Lil Fudge to join him for a visit with the vegetable sisters. Before they arrived at the sisters’ gate, their siblings, Lil Berry and Lil Cone, joined them.

“Who lives here?” Lil Berry asked.

“The vegetable sisters,” Lil Pop replied. “We’re visiting them to make new friends.”

“Yippie!” Lil Cone shouted with glee.

The gate to the vegetable sisters’ home opened before Lil Fudge could knock on it. Now, standing in front of the ice cream family was Sweet Corn. Behind her, in a patch of dirt, were her two sisters. Crookneck Squash was planting seeds at the bottom of a stick, and sitting on the top of that stick was Climbing Bean.

“Oh, what do we have here?” Sweet Corn asked Lil Fudge, the closest ice cream to her.

“We’re the ice cream family. I’m Lil Fudge, and these are my brothers and sister,” Lil Fudge said, grinning toward his siblings. “We’re new in town, and we want to meet new friends.”

“Well, welcome,” Sweet Corn said as she opened the gate to her home even wider. “Come on in.”

The ice creams walked over to the patch of dirt where Crookneck Squash and Climbing Bean were working. Sweet Corn joined them, and everyone introduced themselves. Lil Cone marveled at how tall Crookneck Squash was, and his staring at her appeared to make her feel uneasy, as she turned away from them. Lil Fudge reminded Lil Cone that staring at others who looked different was not polite.

“Your coat is pretty,” Lil Berry said to Sweet Corn.

“Thank you,” Sweet Corn replied. “I like your long eyelashes.”

Lil Berry giggled and blushed at Sweet Corn’s compliment. Before her giggles faded away, Crookneck Squash ran through the open gate and toward the container shared by Granny Smith Apple, Banana Split, and Sheriff Peach Fuzz. The ice creams were confused. They thought it might have been something they did that had scared Crookneck Squash away, but their minds were set at ease when they saw Crookneck Squash smiling as she stood next to Banana Split in front of the container.

“She must really like that banana,” Lil Cone said.

“They’re in love,” Climbing Bean informed them.

“It’s okay for vegetables and fruit to be together?” Lil Berry asked.

“Love is love,” replied Sweet Corn. “It wouldn’t be right to tell them not to care for each other.”

***

The popsicle triplets were at the center of the town square surrounding Mayor Baking Soda.

“So you want permission to have a festival to welcome the new ice cream family, is that right?” Mayor Baking Soda asked Cherry Pop.

“Yes, Mayor,” Cherry Pop said. She was beaming with excitement.

“I can be the D.J. and play music,” Lime Pop offered.

“And I’ll bring more fireworks,” Blue-Raspberry Pop chimed in, jumping up and down.

“Alright,” Mayor Baking Soda agreed. “Tell everyone in the community that it’s party time.”

“Hip hip hooray!” the popsicles cheered.

***

During the welcoming festival, Sheriff Peach Fuzz made sure that Blue-Raspberry Pop handled the fireworks safely. Banana Split and Crookneck Squash danced together in front of the music speakers that Lime Pop had setup for the occasion. Granny Smith Apple watched the celebration from the window of her container.

Sweet Corn added sprinkles to Lil Berry’s strawberry scoop to make her look even prettier during the party. Looking down from an icicle high above the town were Climbing Bean and her new friend Lil Cone. Lil Pop was no longer afraid of his many new unique neighbors. As Cherry Pop and Lil Fudge thanked Mayor Baking Soda for allowing everyone to get together, Lil Pop could not help but wonder what he had ever been afraid of. Granny Smith Apple was right; different foods have much to share, and we are better together.

 

 

2

Who took a bite out of Lil Fudge?

 

Resting snuggly in his bed in the ice cream box, Lil Fudge dreamed about the fun he would be having the next day. Maybe he would make frosties with the popsicles next door, or play hide and seek with Lil Cone and Climbing Bean. Mayor Baking Soda might have a cleaning job he can volunteer for, or Sheriff Peach Fuzz may need help finding Banana Split. Whatever tomorrow would bring, Lil Fudge slept soundly knowing that everyday in Freezer Town promised a new adventure.

All of a sudden, Lil Fudge was shocked awake by a rush of warm air. He stared in amazement as the top of the ice cream box was lifted open. Lil Pop began to cry, Lil Cone did not understand what was happening, and Lil Berry stayed fast asleep. A pudgy hand as large as Lil Fudge’s whole body lifted him out of the box and carried him all the way out of Freezer Town.

After the box top closed shut, Lil Pop shouted, “What was that?”

“A monster?” Lil Cone guessed.

Still frightened, Lil Pop moved his bed to the space between Lil Pop and Lil Berry. There, he shook and hoped that Lil Fudge would be returned. He also hoped that Lil Berry would continue sleeping through this terrible event.

The warm air that Lil Fudge had felt became even warmer as he was pulled into the bright light that now filled Freezer Town. From within the light, he could feel his brown coating starting to soften. But before his thoughts could focus on the awful possibility of melting, voices that boomed as if from megaphones could be heard.

“Amir, put that back. You’re going to spoil your dinner,” a woman’s voice ordered.

“Please, Mommy. I’ll still eat all of my dinner,” a child’s voice pleaded in response.

The heat was unbearable. He could not survive outside of Freezer Town much longer.

“Do as I say,” the woman ordered.

“Yes, Mom,” Amir responded.

However, the child decided to take a small bite of the fudge ice cream bar before placing it back in the box.

Lil Fudge saw a giant mouth open in front of him. Two rows of teeth wrapped in metal loomed over his head, getting closer. When the rows of teeth separated, an enormous pink tongue licked his face. Lil Fudge then felt pressure on the left side of his head, and a piece of him disappeared into that gargantuan mouth.

Moments later, Lil Fudge was back in the ice cream box, surrounded by his worried brothers and sister. They stared at him in disbelief. The left side of his head had been bitten open, but it had frozen up again the second he returned to Freezer Town.

“What happened to you?” Lil Berry asked. The racket her brothers were making had finally woken her up.

Looking up at the top of their ice cream box. Lil Fudge answered, “I think something named Amir tried to eat me.”

 

10/10/20

*The four main Ice Cream Gang characters were created (designed, named, & sold on t-shirts) by Amir Bruce Shabazz. This story was written as a gift for his birthday in 2020.

When Broccoli came to town…

Broccoli Sprout appeared in town square while the other townsfood were sleeping.

His body was a short, thick, light green stalk, and his large flowering head was covered by small, dark green leaves. Everyone in Freezer Town would have strong opinions about Broccoli, but they would all learn that the community was healthier with him around.

            The next morning, Lil Fudge was the first one awake in the ice cream box. He heard voices coming from town square, so he opened the box top to see who was out and about. Mayor Baking Soda was smiling broadly as she greeted a broccoli.

Lil Fudge closed the box top and turned to where his siblings were sleeping.

“Hey guys,” Lil Fudge said loud enough to wake them. “There’s a visitor in town.”

Lil Cone, who was only pretending to still be asleep, sprang from his bed.

“Really?” Lil Cone said excitedly. “Is it a flower or a grape?”

“No,” Lil Fudge chuckled. “It's broccoli.”

“Oh no,” said Lil Pop. “Doesn't broccoli smell funny?”

“They sure look funny,” Lil Berry added.

Lil Fudge shook his head. He was a bit disappointed with Lil Pop and Lil Berry for judging a food they hadn’t met.

“Why don’t we go find out?” Lil Fudge suggested.

“Cool,” said Lil Cone. He was already opening the box top ready to go.

In the yard next to the ice cream box, the popsicles were running around happily. They were hoping that the broccoli they saw speaking with the mayor would be a cause for celebration. Blue-Raspberry Pop stopped abruptly, and his sister and brother collided into him.

“What’s wrong?” Cherry Pop asked.

“Is a warm light coming?” Lime Pop asked while his eyes searched the air.

“Aren’t we supposed to run away from broccoli?” Blue-Raspberry Pop said with a puzzled look on his face.

At that moment, the popsicle triplets saw Lil Fudge and Lil Cone heading toward town square.

“I guess not,” said Cherry Pop.

Granny Smith Apple watched from her container as Lil Fudge and Lil Cone approached Mayor Baking Soda and a broccoli. She was hopeful that the broccoli would visit members of the community who were not feeling well. Broccoli was known to be able to help reduce swelling, improve vision, and make townsfood live longer and stronger.

Sheriff Peach Fuzz was about to leave the container to begin his work when Granny Smith Apple said, “Make sure you meet that broccoli the mayor is speaking to.”

“Why?” the sheriff asked.

“It may give you a leaf to help with your bruised belly,” said Granny Smith Apple.

“Bring me a leaf too,” said Banana Split who had just stood up in his corner of the container. “Maybe it will keep my skin nice and yellow.”

“That it will,” Granny Smith Apple confirmed.

Mayor Baking Soda saw two of the ice cream brothers approaching, and smiled toward them.

“Come meet our special guest,” the mayor said to the ice creams.

“Good day, Mayor,” Lil Fudge greeted her.

“Good day,” Lil Cone repeated with a grin.

“This is Broccoli Sprout,” the mayor said while leaning toward the broccoli.

“Nice to meet you,” Broccoli Sprout said to the ice creams.

“Welcome to Freezer Town,” said Lil Fudge.

“Are you here to play?” Lil Cone asked.

“I’m here to help,” Broccoli Sprout responded.

“Help how?” Lil Fudge was curious.

“Broccoli Sprout visits townsfood to make them feel better,” said Mayor Baking Soda. “He’s going to start by visiting the vegetable sisters.”

On his way to the garden of the vegetable sisters, Broccoli Sprout met Sheriff Peach Fuzz. He gave the sheriff two of his dark green leaves: one for the sheriff, and the other for Banana Split. At the gate of the vegetable sisters’ garden, Sweet Corn let Broccoli Sprout in.

Sweet Corn shared with Broccoli Sprout that Crookneck Squash had been having problems with her eyes. Broccoli Sprout went over to Crookneck Squash, who was watering plants in the garden, and offered her one of his leaves. He told her that the Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene in the leaf would improve her vision.

Climbing Bean, who was securing a vine high up on a fence post, asked Broccoli Sprout, “What’s Beta-Carotene?”

Broccoli Sprout was surprised to hear Climbing Bean’s voice coming from so high up. He looked up at her and said, “Beta-Carotene is the red-orange coat that some fruits and vegetables wear. When it’s inside of us, it becomes Vitamin A.”

Climbing Bean nodded her head, and said, “I see, and Vitamin A is good for the eyes.”

The popsicle triplets, Lil Pop, and Lil Berry waited outside of the ice cream box when Lil Fudge and Lil Cone returned from the town square. They were anxious to learn about broccoli.

When Lil Fudge reached them, Lil Pop asked, “Did the broccoli smell?”

Lil Berry asked, “Was he scary looking?”

“Are we going to have a welcoming party?” Lime Pop wondered. “I can play Hip Hop music!”

Lil Fudge giggled. “You’re all so silly,” he said between bouts of laughter. “The broccoli’s name is Broccoli Sprout. He’s only visiting, and his job is to help townsfood to grow healthy.”

 

Chocolate Strawberry

Chocolate Strawberry’s reflection in the ice made him feel uncomfortable. It wasn’t because he thought the image of himself was not handsome, it was because he believed it was too pretty. Everyone saw the light green skirt that covered the bottom of his red, strawberry-shaped body, and they complimented his chocolate-brown face. They saw Chocolate Strawberry as a girl. The girl who occasionally visited Freezer Town to play with her best friend, Lil Berry.

Back in the strawberry patch where he lived, Chocolate Strawberry’s mother-plant dressed him in a skirt that he never wanted to wear. She saw him as one of her beautiful daughters, and thought that someday she would enjoy pretty dresses. Chocolate Strawberry found it hard to explain to his family that he was a male strawberry born into the body of a female strawberry. He was hopeful that he could convince Lil Berry about his true identity.

  Lil Berry was outside of her home dressing up an ice cream sundae doll with an assortment of candies when Chocolate Strawberry arrived.

In a cheery sing-song voice, Lil Berry said, “Hi, Chocolate Strawberry, do you want to play dress up with me?”

Before Chocolate Strawberry could answer her, he saw Lil Fudge and Lil Pop heading over to the popsicles’ place with hockey sticks. They enjoyed playing ice hockey with Lime Pop and Blue-Raspberry Pop. What Chocolate Strawberry really wanted to do was join the boys, but they saw him as a little girl, and did not want a girl to get hurt by their rough play.

Chocolate Strawberry said, “Okay, Lil Berry, I’ll play dress up with you.” 

Lil Berry smiled with delight, and handed him a vanilla sundae doll to dress with candies.

While placing mints on the sundae doll, tears began to run down Chocolate Strawberry’s face. Seeing this, Lil Berry began to worry about her friend.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Lil Berry asked.

Between sniffles, Chocolate Strawberry said, “I hear the boys having so much fun next door, and I want to play with them.”

With a confused look on her face, Lil Berry said, “But you’re a girl.”

“No I’m not!” Chocolate Strawberry shouted. “I’m a boy strawberry in a girl strawberry body.”

Lil Berry was surprised to hear this, but she could see how much her friend wanted her to understand. She thought about how Granny Smith Apple once helped Lil Pop feel comfortable living in a new town with many different townsfood. Maybe Granny Smith Apple can help my friend, she thought.

“I believe you,” said Lil Berry. “I think I know someone you can talk to.”

“Really? Who?” Chocolate Strawberry asked. He had stopped crying. Lil Berry believing him, and offering to help, made him feel happier.

“Granny Smith Apple,” Lil Berry replied. “She lives in the container across town.

Lil Cone was sitting with Cherry Pop watching their brothers play ice hockey when he saw Lil Berry and Chocolate Strawberry walking toward town square.

“Good afternoon, Chocolate Strawberry,” Lil Cone called out. He didn’t think it necessary to also say hello to his sister.

Cherry Pop looked away from the hockey game toward town square, and said, “Hi Lil Berry and Chocolate Strawberry.” She then turned to Lil Cone, and said, “It’s great that they’re such good friends.”

Lil Berry and Chocolate Strawberry walked past town hall. There, the mayor and sheriff were discussing town business. Mayor Baking Soda smiled at them, and Sheriff Peach Fuzz took a step closer.

“Where are you girls headed?” the sheriff asked.

Chocolate Strawberry felt uneasy when the sheriff called him a girl.

Lil Berry replied to the sheriff, “We’re going to visit Granny Smith Apple.”

“She’d love to have company,” the sheriff responded.

Before reaching Granny Smith Apple’s home, the two best friends saw the vegetable sisters dancing around a pole in their garden. Sweet Corn, Crookneck Squash, and Climbing Bean were all singing, “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” The sisters wanted the white fluffy stuff to protect their seeds from the cold.

Upon reaching Granny Smith Apple’s container, Lil Berry tapped on its lid. Chocolate Strawberry paced nervously. He didn’t know exactly how Granny Smith Apple could help him. Banana Split opened the lid.

“Well, hello ladies,” Banana Split greeted them. “What brings you two tasty treats to our home?”

“We’re here to see Granny Smith Apple,” Lil Berry said. “My friend needs to speak with her in private.”

“Come on in,” Banana Split beckoned.

When they entered the container, Lil Berry stood with Banana Split while Chocolate Strawberry sat close to Granny Smith Apple on the opposite side of the room.

“Hi, sweetie,” Granny Smith Apple said to Chocolate Strawberry. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

Chocolate Strawberry looked across the room at Lil Berry. She nodded her head to let him know that it was okay to share his feelings with Granny Smith Apple. He turned back to face Granny Smith Apple, and started to explain his situation.

“I know it’s okay for boys to like pretty things, and for girls to like getting dirty playing tough sports, but I want everyone to know that I’m a boy. I want them to stop seeing me as a girl, and calling me she or her. They should see me as a boy, and call me he or him. That’s all I wish for,” Chocolate Strawberry sighed. He had been keeping these thoughts to himself for a long time.

Granny Smith Apple thought carefully about what she was just told. She knew some food would respect his wishes, and others would not. The advice she offered needed to prepare Chocolate Strawberry for both good and bad reactions.

“It would be easier for you to continue to pretend to be someone you’re not, but you are showing a lot of courage by telling the truth,” said Granny Smith Apple. “Your good friends and family, like Lil Berry, will continue to love you anyway. Strangers might still call you a girl, but you need to be patient with them. You are in the body of a girl, and they probably don’t mean any harm.”

“You really believe I’m courageous?” asked Chocolate Strawberry.

“Very,” said Granny Smith Apple. “And so are those who accept you for who you are.”