PEPPERMINT 🍬

Her Momma named her Peppermint, on account of how she loved the smell of peppermint when she was carrying her. Now, Pepper had done some bad things in her life, one of them was happening right now. She was on the run from the law. Trevor's house had burned, and she had whooped, hollered and danced in front of it, while chugging down his best bottle of whiskey from the locked cabinet. Pepper had used the axe to pry it open while he slept, he had always been a dead sleeper. Then she broke all the other expensive liquor bottles, flicked the lighter on his bundle of clothes and watched as it slowly ignited. As the curtains burned, she smashed the last bottle on his door and ran outside, did her jig and took off in his jeep when he woke up and started yelling.

"The damned house is not insured, Peppermint, what the hell have you done". Trevor yelled, grabbing the fire extinguisher.

"You should have thought about that before you stole all my money"!!! Pepper yelled back, flipping him the bird.

Being slightly intoxicated and still swigging from the bottle, it was not long before she crashed the jeep into a tree. As she sat there, groggy and fighting the urge to puke or cry, her mother stood there looking at her.

"Momma, aren't you dead and long buried. Why are you here now, where were you when I needed you". Peppermint sniffled angrily as she wiped snot and tears from her face.

"Pepper, I am so sorry for leaving you, my darling. I had no choice in the matter. But why have you lost and misplaced all the lessons which I taught you as a child. What have you done"?

The sirens sounded in the far distance.

Peppermint suddenly remembered us, the misplaced lessons of her youth as we came crashing upon her dazed mind, as if the floodgates of memories were suddenly tumbling down through the years.

She Looked around for her mother, but she was all alone on that lonely stretch of road. She sat on the ground while we played around in her head, we had always been trying to get her attention, all her life she had pressed us down and ignored us. Misplacing us had cost her dearly. Now she smiled as she began acknowledging us again.

"I remember now Momma". Peppermint said smiling, as the memories lined themselves up to be counted.

Lesson #1

Everything has a purpose, even that which appears as emptiness or unworthiness.

Nothing is ever empty my child. Take a bottle for instance, imagine it as a person, though it may appear empty and incapable of warmth or feeling. If you look close enough, even if you need a magnifying glass to see it, even if it is as colorless as air, or as miniscule as to appear invisible, there is always something worthwhile inside of it.

Lesson #2

No one person was created better, or greater than the other. Try not to judge them if you can. God, the universe or whatever you believe in, blessed us all with different talents. Some may seem greater and more illustrious at first glance, yet when combined as a whole, one cannot exist without the other, without each humble or acclaimed gift, it is all for nought.

Her mother lived her words her entire life, treating everyone with the utmost of respect. She saw people, not their talents nor abilities.

Lesson #3

Never forget those who were with you when the going was rough, when you were at your worst. The true test of a great friendship is measured by those who are willing to wade through the mud with you. Desert them and you lose your humanity, exchanging richness of spirit for fame and glory.

Lesson #4

Be as kind as you can ever be, even when they drag your name through the mires of life, and their lies rip your heart and soul to shreds. Never plan for revenge, for life has a way of coming full circle, even if you are not around to see it. It comes full circle for us all.

Yet sometimes Momma, like that song by Kenny Rogers, "The coward of the county", sometimes you gotta fight to be a woman and it all goes out the window. You shoot your enemies dead, or burn down his house, the cheating bastard, and you feel a whole lot better. But I digress!!!!!!!

Lesson #5

Rub salt and lime into every wound. It will hurt like piss and vinegar under a burning desert sun, but it will keep it free from infection and festering until it explodes. Momma was not speaking of a physical wound, but more on a higher level of consciousness, although it can certainly work for both.

Lesson #6

Be an independent woman. Know when to stand your ground, and when to meet them halfway in a compromise. Also, know when to run.

Lesson #7

Love yourself, you do not need anyone's approval to do for yourself. First self-love and the rest will follow.

Lesson #8

Learn your own lessons as you go along your life's journey. Never mistake lust for love, know the clear difference and make your decision based on your ability to live with your choices.

Lesson #9

Try as best you can to remain true to yourself.

Laugh, and the world laughs with you.

Cry, and you cry alone. Find the one, or the few who will be willing to cry with you. Cherish them. ~~~

The sirens were close now. Momma came back, yelling loudly, frightening Peppermint something awful, she jumped to her feet, suddenly sober.

"Run, Peppermint, run child, run like your life depends on it. Don't forget or misplace those lessons again"...Momma yelled, throwing all her lessons out the window.

"I won't Momma, I promise".

"Remember, Peppermint, lesson #10 is yours to write".

"I remember Momma, I remember now. So long Momma".

Pepper ran through the woods, crossed the little stream, changed her mind and waded back in walking towards the road, the huge rocks shielding her from sight. We were guiding her all the way, no longer misplaced. She would be just fine now.

Peppermint would certainly need us in the days to come.

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