Into Evidence: Bubble Gum
I was not allowed to chew gum. My parents told me that it looked like “a cow chewing its cud” and it was not polite. So I was never allowed to have it, which of course only made me want it more.
One day, while at the grocery store with my mother, I found myself eye-level with the most beautiful bright pink wrappers I’d ever seen. It was just calling my name…
“Mommy? Can I have that gum, pleeeeeease?”
“No Sara, you know the rules”
My spirits deflated immediately.
There I stood, sulking and staring at the most gorgeous bright florescent pink wrapper I’d ever seen. I thought I could smell the scent of strawberries through the package and could just taste what I thought would be heaven. I just had to have it.
So I took it. I hid the marvelous pack of gum in my pocket, never taking my fingers off my prize the whole way home.
When we pulled into our crooked driveway, I ran to my bedroom and shut the door.
My was heart racing as I carefully peeled back the string and paper at the top of the gum package. The pink wrapper gave way to shiny silver, and diligently I took out the most perfect rectangle of Bubblicious Bubble Gum.
My mouth immediately started to water as the smell of sweet sugar reached my nose.
Quickly, I popped the giant pink confection in my mouth and tried to start to chew.
Slowly, methodically, I tasted the sugar, the sweetness. I chewed and I chewed. Moving the wonderful gum from the back of my mouth to the side and back to the other side. Each bite, releasing more and more flavor.
Then, without warning, I heard a door shut and I snapped out of my reverie.
Quickly, I spat the chewed gum into its wrapper and stashed the evidence under my bed. Carefully hidden out of sight and just under the dust ruffle of my brass bed with the white bedspread and green flowers: my treasure, my forbidden bubble gum.
For the next three days, I cherished my stolen treasure. Carefully sneaking away to taste the forbidden treat and practice chewing the gum like I’d seen the big kids do. Each time as a new piece entered my mouth it made the sides of my cheeks sting from the shock of sweetness.
Until one day, when there remained only 2 untouched perfect pieces amidst the pile of wrappers and chewed remains. It was laundry day, and the sheets were stripped from my bed. And I was caught.
With hands on hips, my mother asked me how the gum had gotten under my bed.
I lied and said I didn’t know.
Without skipping a beat, my jacket was thrust into my arms and my mother started driving us back towards the grocery store. We drove in silence while inside my mom’s pocket, she carried the last two pieces of MY gum.
We entered the store and my mom asked for the manager. She reached in her pocket and silently handed him my last two pieces of Bubblicious.
He looked down at the package and then at me, then at my mom. After a quiet pause, he looked at me again.
Then with a very angry furrowed brow, he told me what happened to people who STOLE. I heard the word “police” as I stood there paralyzed with fear.
Finally, after what felt like eternity, I summoned the courage to speak, and I muttered, as best as I could, how very sorry I was for stealing his Bubblelicious and I promised to never, EVER, steal again.
And I didn’t. EVER.
This is a true story that happened when I was 5 years old. I wrote this in response to a TRDC writing prompt: “write about a treasure that was stolen from you or your character, and what you did about it.”
I should have known better, in fact, I did know better (otherwise I wouldn’t have hidden the wrappers) but I think this was a part of my growing rebellion, you know right before kindergarten when I really peaked. You can read about that here.
Remind me to tell you about my bicycle basket full of Pac-man erasers and mini Smurf figurines…!
I LOVED it. I kind of hate your parents for depriving you of the simple pleasure of bubble gum though…
thanks Selena… I think they were kind of right though… every time I see someone smacking gum I think of a cow.
Sara! we are so disappointed! We had no idea what a horrible child you were! John & Abby…. (and you’ll have to pass on the Pac-man story from Kate… we laughed at that one)
Well written! I could taste that sugar. And feel the fear of being caught. Then, when caught, the trauma of returning to the store.
I do have to applaud you mother for taking you back to the store, though. I think it was probably an important lesson.
Visiting from TRDC.
thank Renee for stopping by. I do think it was a good lesson learned. To this day I’ve never had Bubblicious again, I stick to the mint varieties so as not to be flooded with guilty memories!
Oh how I loved me some bubbalicious gum! I can so relate! I stole candy and had to return it too! That paralyzing fear was punishment enough!
I’m learning that we fall into 2 camps: 5 year old criminals and goody-two-shoes. Glad you were a delinquent like me!
This is perfect. How sad you weren’t allowed to chew gum! Don’t parents know that it only makes us want it more?? You should have seen the havoc I wreaked in junior high when I realized I could walk across the street and buy a candy bar after school before volleyball practice.
By all accounts they should have let me had candy in general because it’s certainly all I want now.
Nice to know another rebel.
Ha! You captured the anticipation so well.
I could just picture this – “So I took it. I hid the marvelous pack of gum in my pocket, never taking my fingers off my prize the whole way home.”
I’m surprized it wasn’t one giant mush ball the way I was strangling that thing!
Kate Cummings you MUST tell me this story… but wait, was there really such a thing as “mini” Smurf figurines? How SMALL were they? John Abby Dux and I want to know….
Hi Sara, stopping by for a visit! Thanks for following from the UBP! I love this story – I did the same thing when I was about 4 or 5. I FILLED my jacket pockets with candy and the next day my mom saw it and we returned it to the store. I don’t remember really trying to hide it because I had it out on top of my bed in a bowl! Memories… Have a good day!
See?? Another person for the 5 year old delinquent camp – love it! I guess returning it to the store was the modus operandi for most parents.
Love this, you evoked a lot of emotion in such a short time.. all over the place, too. I was right with you!
Didn’t we all do this at some point? I know I did! I loved this line: “Each time as a new piece entered my mouth it made the sides of my cheeks sting from the shock of sweetness.” I can feel that sting!
That was soo good! I always have trouble with the writing prompts! Thanks for visiting me;)
My parent were similar to yours… my dad still compares chewing gum to a cow chewing its cud! My mom was terrified of the gum with liquid in the middle…she thought we would choke on that unexpected burst of sugar!
The mini-Smurfs were like little Hello Kitty size – 1.5″? You could “collect” (a.k.a. steal) them all (from a Hallmark store at a mall in Palm Beach, FL)! Nice kid. The PacMan erasers, were the kind that just rubbed the pencil all around and made a mess of everything in Math; no Bueno. So after pulling this stunt a few times, I hit a major crack in the sidewalk on my bike and fell in a way that I’m sure was painful and embarrassingly entertaining to watch. That said, no one stopped to help me. I hurt myself but totally pretended to walk it off for all the cars passing at 40 miles an hour who didn’t care. Anyway, I was convinced ‘God’ saw me and I never stole again. The truth and The End! Oh! Except that my brother might still have one or two – he loved them! Hey Justin, do you?!
Kate you just made my YEAR! love that story!
Absolutely love that you posted the story for me. thank you dear friend.
Oh John and Abby… you have NO idea… stay tuned and you will learn so so so much more! (just kidding, I think I’m already outta material).
XO