Ice & Cream

Prologue

He was nervous. Of course he was nervous, he wasn’t the brave one. But his darling wife, for some reason, looked to him to lead, and he had not the heart to fail that expectation.

She empowered him to be brave.

He looked back down at the small crowd of people, no more than two dozen, perhaps three, with a bit of pride about what was going on. It encouraged him to clear his throat.

“Hello, everyone. Thank you. I am aware that many of you have voyaged from far away, while some have traveled here from the neighboring Slurpee City. We are here to officially declare the founding of Ice Cream City, named after what will be our main product of export, the newly invented Ice Cream.”

He paused but there was no applause. However, people seemed to paying close attention to what he was saying.

“You are all here because you have tasted of this novel sweet, invented by my father, may his soul rest in peace and delicacy.”

Some murmurs repeated his statement but they overall respected his need for a few seconds of silence.

“This Ice Cream that you have tasted was first developed by my father. Upon his death, my brave Anna sought to rediscover it. She traveled around the world in a mission to find the secrets behind his invention, and returned with all I needed to start a new city.”

He smiled.

“We have confirmed the existence of a stone here, along with a new race of Sweetums. As such, I have acquired the necessary permits to start a new city. This city.”

He paused so that the small crowd could clap, smiling warmly at them all. It wasn’t an enthusiastic clap but that was okay, it was honest.

“We will be the young city for a while. We will be defining new stereotypes, characteristics associated with this city. And years from now, there will be an idea of what a citizen of Ice Cream City is like. And far from me to tell anyone how to be, let alone a city… But a man can dream.”

His eyes gleamed and Anna, to his side, beautiful gem that she was, looked at him with pride in her eyes and an expression meant to edge him on. She grasped his hand on top of the podium in support, and he smiled back at his people.

“I dream that Ice Cream City will not be known as a city where its people are brave… Or just. Or good warriors or good talkers, diplomats and debaters. Good wizards or good cooks. No, I hope our city will be known for the characteristics that most define the creators of our signature sweet, the Ice Cream.” He turned his hand up and grabbed that of his wife’s. His heart was aflutter with future expectations. “I hope Ice Cream City will be known for its kindness.”

Nodding, he looked at his fellow citizens.

“I hope Ice Cream City will be known for being loving.”