the    saccharine    taste    seemed    to    linger    on    her    tongue                       it lingered  ,    and lingered  ,    and lingered  ----    until it turned bitter    /    like rotted fruit  ,    sallow in the hot summer’s sun    /    a decay that had finally overwhelmed the sweetness  .    she thought the water would help  ,    but the heat stained it and turned it to fire slipping down her throat                      (    she’d ask for some ice  ,    but she didn’t want to bother poor busy miss mamie    )                      a shudder wracked down her spine  ,    face twisted into a vision of distaste                       ❝    i wouldn’t eat those  ,    if i were you    ❞                      her vision strayed  ,    a laugh  ----    quick smile  ,    warmer than a mother’s embrace                      ❝    what i mean to say is they’re spoiled  ,    or at least taste it  .    i’m sure the diner’s got something much better than some rotten old berries    ❞                      a breath  ,    using the heel of her sneaker to push herself off the rickety wooden fence post    /    gesturing slightly to the door                      ❝    my treat    ❞  

@nevermother​  ,     𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟