October 2024 Flash Lit 7:2 - Turned Up Your Nose

“Got your nose!” Poppa said.

Nancy giggled.

 

“It looks tasty,” Poppa said.  “Maybe I’ll gobble it up!”

 

Nancy shrieked, half hilarious and half terrified, as her grandfather made slurping sounds and then swallowed loudly.  “Delicious,” he said.

 

He grabbed his belly.  “Oh dear.”

 

Nancy watched anxiously.  He heaved and retched, hands to his mouth.

 

“I guess noses, even tasty ones like yours, don’t agree with me,” he said.  “I better put it back on.”

 

Nancy lifted her face and he gently squashed his thumb on the tip of her nose.

 

“It looks better there anyway,” he said and kissed it.

 

Grace, in her five-year-old wisdom, turned up her nose at all this.  “Poppa, you are too silly.”

 

“I love you, too, Gracie,” he said.