{"id":19383,"date":"2025-04-30T17:02:16","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T22:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/?p=19383"},"modified":"2025-05-01T11:11:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T16:11:55","slug":"ice-cream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2025\/04\/30\/ice-cream\/","title":{"rendered":"Ice Cream"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>Ice Cream<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-765c4724 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61556140010887\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-instagram  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/boudin_mcneese\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12,4.622c2.403,0,2.688,0.009,3.637,0.052c0.877,0.04,1.354,0.187,1.671,0.31c0.42,0.163,0.72,0.358,1.035,0.673 c0.315,0.315,0.51,0.615,0.673,1.035c0.123,0.317,0.27,0.794,0.31,1.671c0.043,0.949,0.052,1.234,0.052,3.637 s-0.009,2.688-0.052,3.637c-0.04,0.877-0.187,1.354-0.31,1.671c-0.163,0.42-0.358,0.72-0.673,1.035 c-0.315,0.315-0.615,0.51-1.035,0.673c-0.317,0.123-0.794,0.27-1.671,0.31c-0.949,0.043-1.233,0.052-3.637,0.052 s-2.688-0.009-3.637-0.052c-0.877-0.04-1.354-0.187-1.671-0.31c-0.42-0.163-0.72-0.358-1.035-0.673 c-0.315-0.315-0.51-0.615-0.673-1.035c-0.123-0.317-0.27-0.794-0.31-1.671C4.631,14.688,4.622,14.403,4.622,12 s0.009-2.688,0.052-3.637c0.04-0.877,0.187-1.354,0.31-1.671c0.163-0.42,0.358-0.72,0.673-1.035 c0.315-0.315,0.615-0.51,1.035-0.673c0.317-0.123,0.794-0.27,1.671-0.31C9.312,4.631,9.597,4.622,12,4.622 M12,3 C9.556,3,9.249,3.01,8.289,3.054C7.331,3.098,6.677,3.25,6.105,3.472C5.513,3.702,5.011,4.01,4.511,4.511 c-0.5,0.5-0.808,1.002-1.038,1.594C3.25,6.677,3.098,7.331,3.054,8.289C3.01,9.249,3,9.556,3,12c0,2.444,0.01,2.751,0.054,3.711 c0.044,0.958,0.196,1.612,0.418,2.185c0.23,0.592,0.538,1.094,1.038,1.594c0.5,0.5,1.002,0.808,1.594,1.038 c0.572,0.222,1.227,0.375,2.185,0.418C9.249,20.99,9.556,21,12,21s2.751-0.01,3.711-0.054c0.958-0.044,1.612-0.196,2.185-0.418 c0.592-0.23,1.094-0.538,1.594-1.038c0.5-0.5,0.808-1.002,1.038-1.594c0.222-0.572,0.375-1.227,0.418-2.185 C20.99,14.751,21,14.444,21,12s-0.01-2.751-0.054-3.711c-0.044-0.958-0.196-1.612-0.418-2.185c-0.23-0.592-0.538-1.094-1.038-1.594 c-0.5-0.5-1.002-0.808-1.594-1.038c-0.572-0.222-1.227-0.375-2.185-0.418C14.751,3.01,14.444,3,12,3L12,3z M12,7.378 c-2.552,0-4.622,2.069-4.622,4.622S9.448,16.622,12,16.622s4.622-2.069,4.622-4.622S14.552,7.378,12,7.378z M12,15 c-1.657,0-3-1.343-3-3s1.343-3,3-3s3,1.343,3,3S13.657,15,12,15z M16.804,6.116c-0.596,0-1.08,0.484-1.08,1.08 s0.484,1.08,1.08,1.08c0.596,0,1.08-0.484,1.08-1.08S17.401,6.116,16.804,6.116z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>William Cass<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><br>It didn\u2019t take long in our small town for word to get around about my wife leaving. I was assistant principal at the lone elementary school, and she moved in with another teacher at the local private high school where they both taught. I\u2019d just brought her roses for our mid-April wedding anniversary. I hadn\u2019t seen a thing coming, wasn\u2019t aware in the slightest of their ongoing affair, and was completely floored, devastated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Our seven year-old daughter and severely-disabled\/medically-fragile son, who was two years younger, stayed with me at our house. Our son was dependent on adult care for all basic living needs. We had a home health nurse who provided that from 7-3 each weekday, but my position often involved afterschool meetings that prevented me from getting home until 4:30 or 5. This necessitated my wife still filling those gaps followed by excruciatingly awkward encounters at the front door as I arrived and she exited. Sometimes, I had to pry our daughter\u2019s arms from around her waist to terminate those exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Because of our jobs, we were both well-known in town, so the weight of stares and whispers from others during that period quickly became overwhelming. Our longstanding family phisician, Dr. Edwards, was obviously aware of the situation, too, because when I called his office to make an appointment, he left a return message himself saying he\u2019d meet me there on Saturday afternoon at two when I knew it was closed and no one else would be around. He was a nice guy, early-thirties like me, and widely held in high regard. I\u2019d recently helped resolve a problem at school in which his son was being picked on by a classmate, and I\u2019d been touched afterwards by his heartfelt email of appreciation for my efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">My daughter sat in the waiting area reading to her brother in his tiny wheelchair from picture books she\u2019d brought while Dr. Edwards and I went just down the hall into an exam room. He closed the door most of the way, I took my customary spot leaning against the edge of the exam table, and he regarded me with understanding eyes and pressed lips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">We looked at each other through a shaft of dusty, spring light from the room\u2019s window until he finally said, \u201cListen, I\u2019m sorry about what\u2019s going on. What you\u2019re going through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">I felt my own eyes well, but fought away tears and just shrugged. \u201cThat\u2019s kind of what I\u2019m here for, actually,\u201d I told him. \u201cIt\u2019s embarrassing, but I\u2019ve gotten used to that these days&#8230;and you\u2019ve been our doctor for a long time, so&#8230;\u201d I paused, looked down, then back at him. \u201cI\u2019ve developed a little rash around my crotch. Never had it before and don\u2019t know anything about STDs.\u201d I could feel my color rising. \u201cI haven\u2019t been intimate with anyone except my wife since our marriage, but with these new circumstances&#8230;\u201d I hoped my next shrug didn\u2019t look as helpless as it felt. \u201cWell, I just thought I better have it checked out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u201cSure,\u201d he said evenly. He reached over to the counter and pulled a pair of rubber gloves out an open box there. \u201cLet\u2019s take a look.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">I unbuckled my belt and dropped my jeans and boxers. \u201cThese two partial rings,\u201d I mumbled. \u201cOn either side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Dr. Edwards bent close, probed a bit with his gloved fingertips, then promptly straightened. \u201cI\u2019ve seen plenty of STDs, and that\u2019s definitely not one.\u201d His voice held a combination of reassurance and relief. \u201cJust a simple fungus of some sort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">He snapped off the gloves, tossed them in the trash can under the counter, and pulled a prescription pad and pen out of his lab coat pocket. He scribbled something on it along with his signature. \u201cThis ointment should take care of it. Twice a day for a week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u201cOkay,\u201d I told him, rearranging my clothing. \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Dr. Edwards started to rip off the script, but halted the motion, and gazed at me next like he had when we first entered the room. \u201cLook,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s something else you should probably know.\u201d He glanced at the doorway through which my daughter\u2019s voice could just be heard, closed it a bit more, then continued. \u201cBetter now than discovering it when your next health insurance statement arrives or you\u2019re logged onto your family\u2019s patient portal.\u201d I watched him lick his lips. \u201cSo, your wife came to see me last week, had labs taken, and she has a UTI. Prescribed meds for her, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">I felt myself blinking rapidly. I stared out the window and muttered, \u201cJesus&#8230;\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u201cIt\u2019s not always caused by what you\u2019re thinking,\u201d he said quickly. \u201cNot necessarily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u201cOn my health insurance,\u201d I whispered and shook my head. It wasn\u2019t exactly as stunned as I\u2019d felt when she first told me she was leaving, but it was close. I resisted the urge to howl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u201cYeah.\u201d After long moment, his hand fell on my shoulder. \u201cListen, I can\u2019t imagine what you\u2019re going through, but it must be awful. I can add a prescription here for a mild sedative if you\u2019re having trouble sleeping. Or maybe you want to try an anti-depressive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">I shook my head again, turned back to him, swallowed once, and said, \u201cNot right now. Appreciate it, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">He gave my shoulder a pat, ripped off the script, and handed it to me. \u201cWell, if you change your mind&#8230;or need anything&#8230;just give a call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">I nodded, and he held the door open for me but didn\u2019t follow me into the waiting area. My daughter stopped reading and looked up at me as I approached. As it had so many times since her mother had left, her face clouded with concern when she saw mine. I willed some semblance of a smile as I came up to them. A trail of drool ran down one side of my son\u2019s chin onto the gauze pad under his trach ties. I used the bandana we always kept tucked into his shirt collar to wipe it away, then kissed them both on the forehead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">I said, \u201cNice warm day. How about some ice cream?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">My daughter\u2019s arms closed around my waist like they did during those tortured exchanges with my wife at our front door. Into my stomach, her muffled voice said, \u201cI love you, Daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">I reached down, rubbed her back, and said, \u201cLove you, too.\u201d I heard the exam room door click shut and the sound of Dr. Edwards\u2019s footsteps fade away down the hall towards his office. \u201cSo, let\u2019s go,\u201d I said as cheerily as I could. I ruffled my daughter\u2019s hair, then released the brake on my son\u2019s wheelchair with my toe. \u201cThere\u2019s ice cream waiting.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>William Cass<\/strong> has published over 350 short stories and won writing contests at <a href=\"http:\/\/terrain.org\/\">Terrain.org<\/a> and <em>The Examined Life Journal<\/em>. He\u2019s been nominated once for Best of the Net, twice for Best Small Fictions, six times for the Pushcart Prize, and had three short story collections released by Wising Up Press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>__________<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"438\" height=\"211\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg 438w, https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1-300x145.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">\ud83e\udca0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2025\/04\/30\/letter-from-the-guest-editor-11\/\">Back<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2025\/04\/30\/making-deals\/\">Next<\/a> \ud83e\udca1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">To learn more about submitting your work to <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/boudin-submissions\/\">Boudin<\/a><\/em> or applying to McNeese State University&#8217;s Creative Writing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/mfa-application-submissions\/\">MFA program<\/a>, please visit Submissions for details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ice Cream William Cass __________ It didn\u2019t take long in our small town for word to get around about my wife leaving. I was assistant principal at the lone elementary school, and she moved in with another teacher at the local private high school where they both taught. I\u2019d just brought her roses for our&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[229],"tags":[75,146,26],"class_list":["post-19383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blooms-in-dusk","tag-boudin","tag-fiction-2","tag-fiction"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19383"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19383\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19507,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19383\/revisions\/19507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}