The Hamburger
The boy sat quietly in the family car. Inside the roller skating rink, his siblings were enjoying a friend’s birthday party. They were not from a well-to-do part of town, and while the cake was free to everyone who came to the party, dinner was not provided.
On the way there, they had stopped at a fast-food place to get hamburgers. He wanted tacos. When his mom said they were getting hamburgers, he became so mad that he told her if they got hamburgers, he would sit in the car the entire birthday party.
She said, “Son, I think that’s pretty dumb. You’re not punishing anyone but yourself. But suit yourself.”
And there he sat. And sat. And sat.
He had a few weak moments when he thought about going inside. But he pushed the thought away and kept sitting there. His stomach growled.
After a while, people began leaving the roller skating rink, including his own family. His siblings were laughing and saying goodbye to their friends. That made him even more upset.
They all piled into the car. As they drove down the road, his little sister said, “I saved you half of my hamburger. Would you like it?”
All his stubborn strength was gone. His stomach won out.
“Yes,” he said.
He took a big bite. It tasted quite good.
Let the reader understand.
I am definitely hungrier after reading this. Hehe. He's one stubborn boy. And what good did it do him? Cool story, Michael.
Alternate ending:
"That made him even more upset.
They all piled into the car and drove down the road. His burger sat on the floorboard. He pushed it with his toe. Under the front seat it lay: unwrapped, uneaten and unshared.
While his family chattered around him, he stared out the window watching the world pass behind his own reflection.
He had won.
Let the reader understand."