salam... ni first time ana tulis short-stories.. kalau ada salah dan silap tu, minta diperbetulkan.. jzkk
Once upon a time, there was a boy who loved to eat ice-cream. He ate ice-cream in the morning, afternoon and evening. He ate it at school, at home and at the playground when he played the see-saw with his friends. He loved the sweet heavenly taste of the vanilla ice-cream, and he just can't live his life without it.
Eating too much ice-cream taking a toll on him. One day, he fell sick. He caught a terrible cough and cold. His life became miserable. Yet he still eating ice-cream as before. He loved it more than he loved himself. Even though he will dia of eating ice-cream, he didn't care, as for him, a life without ice-cream is not a life at all.
One day, the Shopkeeper took the ice-cream away from him. The Shopkeeper stopped selling ice-cream to him. Instead He gave him a lemon.
"If you want to see the ice-cream again, eat this. If you refuse, you will never see your favourite vanilla anymore. Ever," the Shopkeeper said.
Heartbroken, the boy went back and ate the lemon. It was very sour. He cried. He missed the royal taste of the vanilla ice-cream. The sweetness was gone. Only sour and bitter that left with him now. Sour of the lemon, bitter of his tears.
A week later, the Shopkeeper gave him honey with the lemon.
"Eat them both. It will taste better," he said.
He took them without questioning. At first, he felt funny at the tip of his tongue. Sour, but with a tinge of sweetness. A different kind of sweetness. Not like the vanilla which have artificial sweetness from the factory. A kind of authentic sweet which his tongue never taste before. And he began to like the taste.
After a while, he felt something different with his body. He felt stronger. He felt better. His youth was coming back to him. His cheeks became pink again. No more coughing, no more running nose, no more tears. The long-forgotten smile was stretching back on his cute little face.
Now he understands. And he was very thankful to the Shopkeeper. As He taught him the taste of sour and bitterness, so that he appreciates the true taste of sweetness.