Childhood


-S. Raman
Sitting on a lonely place on the beach, along with my daughter, I opened a book and started reading it.
Daughter asked for an ice-cream. I put a scare in her heart that ice-cream would affect her with throat problems. 
When she asked for a lollipop, I said it would upset her tummy.
Then the girl insisted on getting a balloon. I reasoned with her in a loud voice that it would burst and go waste.
‘Grow up a little more; I’ll buy it for you.’
The balloon vendor, standing nearby, quipped, ‘When she grows up, she’ll get the balloon surely. But there will be no childhood!’
He offered a popped-up balloon to her.
Without saying anything, I offered him its price. Then I got her the ice-cream and the lollipop too!