It was already midday in Big City while the temperatures were a bit hot. Tilly and Cricket were outside the Sip 'n Snak convenience store and Cricket's face was red from the heat, sweating and his body temperature was rising just from being out in the hot sun that someone could fry an egg on the sidewalk. Tilly could see that Cricket was going through an unfair situation. She was going to do something about it as Cricket lightly tugged on the back of Tilly's shirt.
"Tilly, lend me your shoes." said Cricket in defeat.
"What?!" said Tilly in shock.
"I give up. It's too hot! I stuck to my principles and all I got was charred and crispy." said a defeated Cricket.
"Cricket, are you really sure you-" Tilly began but was interrupted.
Cricket was hugging Tilly as he began to shed a tear or two.
"Please, Tilly. I need it. I need that Splishee!" said Cricket tearfully.
"Okay brother. Want me to go in with you? That Clark is being rather unfair. I know people and places have rules for a reason but in this case. This is outright cruel to you that he's doing?" Tilly sympathized.
"What's this about someone being unfair?" came a lady's voice.
The two kids turned to see a lady was approaching them. The lady was looking to be thirty years old and over six feet tall. Probably six feet and four inches tall. She looked like she had a thickly curvy body, she wasn't fat or chubby, but had a thickly curvy body. She wore blue jeaned capri pants, a pink T-shirt, and black women's hiking and trekking sandals.
She had purple skin and a darker shade of purple hair which her hair was thick, full, voluminous and curly as she had her hair up in a purple hair updos. She looked like she had really huge breasts and a really huge butt which made them blush a bit from the looks of them but they kept their attention to the lady's face. She had a look of concern and worry on her face. She even had big, full, plump looking lips.
"Sugar, it's hot out. Why aren't you inside getting a cold one? And I mean a soda or a splishee." said the lady as she had an African American accent.
"The clerk inside won't let me in to get a free splishee just because I'm not wearing shoes. I know every place has rules for a reason but in my case. It's just some part of my principals or I've just been so used to being bare foot. I've worn shoes before when it was snowing and cold out, when there was some broken glass on the ground or floor, but that was when I knew it was to keep my feet and toes warm or to prevent them from getting hurt. But this is a different situation. It may be part of the no shirts, no shoes, no service policy but now my mouth is so dry and I'm charred and crispy like barbecue." said Cricket explaining the situation slowly.
"Ma'am, we know there's rules for a reason in society or anywhere we go. But the clerk in the store is being rather unfair or taking these rules to a personal level. The so shoes, no shirt, no service rule might not sound as ridiculous to some but the heat is already getting to Cricket. But some of the rules that Clark stated are downright, well, there's no other word for them. Some of them are ridiculous. Sharing a splishee with someone being forbidden and resulting in forfeiting in the free beverage. I was going to share mine with my brother because he needed it but Clark really dropped a bomb on that. No putting one's feet at face level, a bit dumb yet don't know who would understand it. No cartwheels, maybe they don't want anyone to get hurt or to make a mess but Cricket wasn't cartwheeling. No skipping, maybe they don't want them to fall over and hurt themselves and make a mess but Cricket wasn't skipping. No gum-chewing, no excessive talking, now those two rules are ridiculous. No coin-flipping, maybe they don't want mess but Cricket wasn't flipping coins. No handholding, no mouth breathing, no sulking, those sorts of rules are sounding downright ridiculous. No spilling may mean they don't want a mess to be made but Cricket didn't spill anything." explained Tilly as she told this lady their side of the story. "Even when Cricket tried to be in disguise as a baby, sure, it wasn't a good idea but saying he made an ugly baby was just insulting and that's like insulting someone's own mother."
The lady heard every word of it. Hearing their plight had the lady feeling outraged but her facial reaction was showing a stoic yet unamused expression. She looked through the windows of the convenience store and saw Clark was still inside the place. He was looking pleased with himself about others sticking to his crazy, stupid rules. She didn't like what she heard.
"Is Clark still in there? That skinny, scrawny man in a dark purple uniform with braces on his teeth. Looking like someone who needs a talking to?" asked the lady.
"Yes. Wait a minute. What are you about to do?" asked Tilly.
"Kids, come in there with me. Trinity needs to have a talk with Clark while he's still breathing." said Trinity looking annoyed. "But first, there's something I need to do."
Trinity walked off to get a shopping cart and when she came back. She picked up Cricket in her arms and she gently laid him down in the cart while she got out a clean cloth rag to dry Cricket off from the sweating, placed an ice pack over Cricket's head which felt cold and soothing to his head.
"That oughta cool him down for the moment. What'd you say your names were, kids?" asked Trinity.
"I'm Tilly and this is my brother Cricket." answered Tilly.
"Tilly, you and Cricket come with me in there. We're gonna settle this nonsense once and for all." said Trinity popping her neck.
Tilly listened and followed Trinity into the Sip 'n Snak while Cricket sat up straight. They walked inside while Cricket was in the cart. Clark saw them coming in but saw this lady with them as he assumed that she was their mother. He approached them and was about to kick Cricket out again.
"Listen, I told that boy that if he wants to get a free splishee, he's got to put on some shoes and stop being so stubborn. If he doesn't wear shoes. He's not allowed in." said Clark getting annoyed.
"Tilly, can you get Cricket his free splishee? I'll watch out for yours and for Cricket till you get back." Trinity instructed giving Clark an outraged expression.
"Yes ma'am." said Tilly placing her splishee in the cart as she went to go get a large cup, lid and a straw.
"Listen, unless he's wearing shoes in here. I can't allow him in here. If she's getting it for herself, then okay, but he has to wear a pair of shoes to come in here for me to service him." argued Clark.
"Clark Oswald Damien. If I were you. I'd keep your mouth shut before I tie a knot on your lips to keep your mouth tied shut." Trinity warned. "My own mama used to babysit you and changed your diapers. So no sassy back talk, young man."
Clark looked at her wide eyed. Tilly came back with a splishee for Cricket as she given Cricket his splishee which she made sure the splishee had all three flavors in there in one. It had Nitro Berry, Mental Melon and Purple in there. Cricket took his and pressed his lips to the straw as he began to drink from it and the sweet, ice cold, refreshing, hydrating, satisfying taste of a splishee entered his mouth, tasting the beverage and swallowing it down as he was drinking on it and feeling his body starting to rehydrate and cool down. Tilly was drinking out of her own splishee.
"Ma'am, let's calm down here. This is probably nothing to get hostile about. I'm just making sure this place is clean and sanitary when that boy refused to put on a pair of shoes to be allowed in here. Sure, we got into a heated battle over it but he needs to put on a pair of shoes in order to be allowed in and be serviced." argued Clark his assertiveness slightly shaking.
"Don't talk to me or these kids like that, young man. I heard all about what went on and as an elementary school teacher. I'm disgusted with your behavior towards this little boy." Trinity said telling the man off. "I know rules are important, society, school, workplace areas and a home has rules. I get it, but when some of these rules are so ridiculous that it can make a school principal or a police officer shake their heads in disapproval. That's where someone needs to draw the line, young man."
"Ma'am, the kid was." Clark began to defend himself.
"Hush yo mouth and listen like yo mama taught you to, young man!" Trinity sharply instructed. "Refusal to allow a child into a convenience store just because he isn't wearing shoes or a shirt may be for health reasons and I can understand that but when the poor boy is left outside in the heat with the hot sun bearing down on him. That's when these ridiculous rules is now having to be tossed out the window at times. I mean someone sharing a splishee with someone being forbidden and results in forfeiting it? That's just mean. Don't put our feet at face-level, no gum-chewing, no excessive talking, no handholding, no mouth breathing, no sulking? That's just silly and childish. I get that no spilling is a rule but when a mess is made, we got ways to clean up the mess, we're not in the caveman era anymore. I may get that you don't want anyone getting hurt or making a mess if they're cartwheeling, skipping, or flipping coins, actually, the coin-flipping rule is just as ridiculous as no gum-chewing. While some rules are more understandable. Some rules are just plain stupid and childish. But the silly rules you have to your list? Maybe no skipping and no cartwheeling is understandable but the rest of them? What kind of man goes on a crazy power trip over the rules to use it to torment a child? Yo mama taught you better than that, young man."
Seeing Trinity tell off Clark while reading him the riot act had everyone looking on at this with wide eyed surprise. This was like a parent handling a bullying situation by having a talk with the bully to get him to stop bullying their children. Clark may have been standing his ground but he was losing control over the situation.
"There are times when we need to follow the rules but when the rules, no matter how ridiculous or understandable some of them are but when the rules begin to affect someone and they're unhappy, being treated unfairly, that's when someone has to draw the line and it proves that pride and our principals mean nothing if it puts our safety, health and wellbeing is put at life threatening risk. Especially when it comes to a child being left out in the heat outside and when they're burning up out there from the hot sun. That's practically being an accessory to accidental murder. Look at him, his skin had reddened from the heat, his body temperature was going up and if it got any higher, he could give out over a heatstroke and of dehydration. All because Cricket wasn't wearing shoes. That's low and you know it and it's just plain cruel and mean to a child. You wouldn't want it over your head if the child was to be put in life threatening danger of heatstroke or dehydration all because of some silly rules. That's when the time comes to toss the rule book out the window when it comes to the life and well-being of a child." Trinity continued. "And I know about how you told him he made an ugly baby when he was in disguise. Not only is that rude but that's also like insulting his own mama. And drinking a cold drink in front of him while using the rules against him as you tease, mock and torment him is just adding insult to injury. You're lucky I'm not yo mama or you'd be in deeper trouble than you already are. And if you ban Cricket from this place. I'll call up your boss or whoever is the head honcho you report to. Do you still want to have this argument, young man?"
Clark was wide eyed, shocked, bewildered. He was read the riot act by a schoolteacher who talked to him like she was the teacher and he was the student who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Cricket looked back at Trinity as he was sipping down his splishee. Seeing how kind she is and how she's doing this for him. He felt honored, grateful and he felt like someone was sticking up for him when it was someone who had the power to do something about Clark. Tilly looked impressed by such an act. Clark was defeated and shook his head.
"I don't want to have this argument, mama. No, I don't." said Clark fearing her.
"I believe you have something to say to Cricket and his sister." said Trinity.
Clark sighed in defeat as he looked right at Cricket and Tilly as he knew that if he didn't apologize. He'd get a punishment raining down upon him.
"I'm sorry for everything I put you two through and I was a jerk. I'm sorry." said Clark.
"Thank you for complying. And thank you for your service." said Trinity.
That's when Clark went back to work and walked off with a wide-eyed expression of fear as he actually feared that woman. Trinity looked back at Cricket as she rubbed his head, kissing him on his forehead.
"Reminds me of my mama." said Clark under his breath.
"Whoa!" said Cricket and Tilly in impressed unison.
"You feeling alright, Cricket honey?" asked Trinity hopefully.
Cricket jumped up and hugged Trinity while she hugged him back. He might've gotten a face full of big breasts but he looked up at Trinity with a grin and shed a tear or two of joy.
"Thank you, miss Trinity." said Cricket feeling overjoyed and relieved.
"I know a thing or two when it comes to doing what's right for the child. Anytime, sugar." said Trinity kindly.
Trinity pulled Cricket up and kissed him on his cheeks and forehead. He chuckled happily as them big, soft, full, thick looking lips were smooching him and they felt soft and warm to the touch. She playfully tickled Cricket's belly which made him laugh as she only did that briefly.
"Ticklish, are we sugar?" chuckled Trinity.
"So miss Trinity. What brought you here to the Sip 'n Snak?" asked Tilly curiously.
"I'm basically meeting a family member here in the parking lot. My sister is having her car worked on and she can't use her car for the time being and while she's at work. She's going to be walking her way here. She works somewhere close by this place. She'll get her car fully fixed up by tomorrow. That, and I stopped by here to use the bathroom which I already did." explained Trinity. "Also, seeing that Cricket was dehydrated and overheated, it had my "child needs help" senses going off."
Cricket and Tilly both uttered an understanding "Ohhh" as they understood what brought Trinity to the convenience store other than helping Cricket in his situation. The three of them walked out of the convenience store and were staying on the sidewalk that led into the place. Cricket and Tilly were drinking down their splishees, it kept themselves cool and even Trinity kept a cold bottle of soda on her which was in her right pants pocket and it fit perfectly in there. So she kept cool too. Cricket felt better physically and emotionally after the situation was resolved by Trinity.
"Hey sugar." said Trinity.
Cricket and Tilly both looked at Trinity as she made some funny faces to make them laugh. She would at first cross her eyes, it got them to giggle. She would puff up her cheeks as her cheeks appear to be stretchy because they expanded to a bigger size than normal when she puffed up her cheeks and was bugging her eyes out like a cartoon. That got them to laugh a little. But what got them to laugh hard was when Trinity bugged her eyes like a cartoon and she flopped out her rather largely long, thick, wide, broad, beefy, huge tongue all the way out to show it off in a comical way by rolling it at times, swaying it at times and making silly noises as she does so.
"That's funny." laughed Cricket.
"Hilarious." laughed Tilly.
After they all had a few laughs. The truck that Bill drove came along and found a parking spot near the Sip 'n Snak and another adult woman that looked similar to Trinity shown up as she was approaching Trinity.
"Hey Trinity." said the lady.
"Hey Arianna." said Trinity.
"And who are the cuties next to you?" asked Arianna giving the two kids adored expressions.
"Cricket and Tilly Green. I just helped out Cricket with a problem he was dealing with that was caused by the clerk in the convenience store. But don't go in there to harass him for it and don't do anything to him for it. I already handled it." answered Trinity.
"Thank the sweet lord too. I would've done the same with you but I was at work at a desk job." said Arianna.
"But you were with me in spirit." said Trinity.
"Hey kids, everything alright?" came Bill's voice.
Bill and Gramma Alice came out of the truck and they approached both Cricket, Tilly, Trinity and Arianna. Cricket and Tilly both finished their splishees and gulped them down or downed what was left of them. Both of them fully cooled down and hydrated.
"Ready to ride on back?" said Bill.
"That we are." said Cricket and Tilly in unison.
Cricket and Tilly both tossed their empty cups into the trashcan nearby and both Cricket and Tilly waved goodbye to Trinity and Arianna as they waved back. Bill, Gramma Alice, Cricket and Tilly got into the truck, put on their seat belts and drove off while Trinity and Arianna got into Trinity's car that was nearby and they drove off too.
"Any trouble while you two were in there?" asked Bill curiously.
"I can go in there and give the jerk what for!" said Gramma Alice sharply with a clenched fist.
"No need, Gramma. Miss Trinity took care of the situation that happened. We'll explain on the way." reassured Cricket.
"So Trinity, what was the problem that popped up that you helped the cutie with?" asked Arianna curiously.
"I'll explain it on the way back home. But man, those two kids are cutie patooties. It's a bit of a long story but not to worry, as I explain it. I've handled it like a person should and I helped the cutie out the way a loving person should." reassured Trinity.