As an update, my first Green-Walled Time Machine post is now up. Come take a look at the weird world of advertisements in teacher magazines in 1913.
copyright Claire Fuller
Doughnut Man
We passed the Michelin garage and right on cue, Brad started to whine.
“I want a doughnut, Dad. I want a doughnut . . .”
I snapped at him. “Those are tires, not doughnuts.” No good, of course. I was too exhausted to argue. We went to Tim Horton’s and I watched him stick his finger through the doughnut hole, rolling it around and making car noises. From tires to doughnuts and back to tires.
“Dad . . . Can I get a toy car? I want a toy car. Please? Pleeeease?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“If I get you one, you’ll just want a doughnut again.”
The Green-Walled Tower 
November 19th, 2014 at 3:24 am
…Niiiiiice. XD
November 21st, 2014 at 3:56 pm
🙂
November 19th, 2014 at 3:25 am
Dear David,
Brad’s obviously a highly imaginative child. He put me in mind of my youngest son who is still a brilliantly imaginative adult.
I love this. Simple, sweet and well written.
I raise my coffee to your Doughnut Man.
Shalom,
Rochelle
November 19th, 2014 at 8:29 am
Thank you, Rochelle. I’ll raise my cup as well, to all those who look at one thing and see another. Now if only I had a doughnut shop within 40 miles of me right now. 🙂
November 19th, 2014 at 4:17 am
Oh you know children like the back of your hand. Well done. What are you doing up at this hour of the Friday Fictioneer day?
November 19th, 2014 at 8:30 am
I don’t have any children, but I taught them for almost a decade, so I’ve gotten to know their ways. Plus, I think I was one at one point. I’m gone all day today on a trip, so I thought if I was going to get up early and write a story, I might as well go all the way.
November 19th, 2014 at 4:25 am
Haha boys and their toys (and doughnuts). Lovely little tale!
November 19th, 2014 at 8:31 am
Yep, almost imaginative and never satisfied. 🙂
November 19th, 2014 at 5:14 am
An adorable little piece. My boyfriend just became an uncle again recently to a gorgeous little boy so hopefully I’ll be seeing some of this for myself in a couple of years as Aunty Carol.
November 19th, 2014 at 8:32 am
Thanks, Carol. I have a few nephews myself who are just this imaginative and (sometimes) hard to get along with.
November 19th, 2014 at 6:36 am
Life goes round and round.
Ha.
Randy
November 19th, 2014 at 8:32 am
Exactly. Good way to put it. 🙂
November 19th, 2014 at 7:05 am
Pass the doughnuts please. You made me hungry. No, just leave the box. I plan to eat them all.
November 19th, 2014 at 8:33 am
I’ll fight you for them (or at least share them). I live in a small town and haven’t had a doughnut in months.
November 19th, 2014 at 7:15 am
AnElephant chortles cheerfully.
He loves bad puns too.
November 19th, 2014 at 8:33 am
I’m glad to hear. I’m in good company then.
November 19th, 2014 at 7:25 am
Ain’t that just like a kid…
November 19th, 2014 at 8:34 am
Yep, never satisfied.
November 19th, 2014 at 9:19 am
Your last line made me laugh right out loud. This circular tale is a hoot!
November 21st, 2014 at 3:57 pm
Thanks. Closing by return, just like a tire or a doughnut. 🙂
November 19th, 2014 at 9:39 am
I saw doughnus too! Lovely story, perfectly you captured their relationship.
November 21st, 2014 at 3:57 pm
Thank you. Maybe I was just hungry for doughnuts but that’s was I think of when I see the Michelin man.
November 22nd, 2014 at 4:09 am
I don’t know why I sound like Yoda in my comment above. “Perfectly you captured…”
November 19th, 2014 at 11:56 am
Darn it, David! Now I want a doughnut, and I don’t even care for them that much. Besides, the wife has the car today, so I can’t go get one either.
Great story. I love the ending.
All my best,
Marie Gail
November 21st, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Thanks, Marie Gail. You’ll find out later that I’m just a spy for the doughnut industry, trying to get you to buy more.
(Oh course, if your wife has the car, you just have to call her and get her to bring some home. See, no excuse. 🙂 ).
November 19th, 2014 at 12:11 pm
Just how children’s minds work. Nicely gone, David.
janet
November 21st, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Thanks Janet. I like how children’s minds work, usually.
November 21st, 2014 at 4:02 pm
Hmm, that should have said “Nicely done”, although “gone” might work in some ways. 🙂
November 21st, 2014 at 4:06 pm
I didn’t even notice the mistake, actually. I read right through to your meaning, I guess. 🙂
November 21st, 2014 at 4:07 pm
I do that all the time, David.
November 19th, 2014 at 1:53 pm
At the risk of sounding crude, doughnuts were not what the michelin man reminded me of as child! This story will probably mean cravings are induced whenever I see him now!
November 19th, 2014 at 8:26 pm
🙂 True, but doughnuts are probably more desirable. We’ll see how many Fictioneerers think of doughnuts next time they see that logo. I’d be curious to know.
November 19th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
Dear David,
The father should surrender now. Trade the car keys for some doughnuts and pack himself off to a monastery. It only gets worse as they grow up.
Great story that makes me glad that I’m past those years.
Aloha,
Doug
November 19th, 2014 at 8:27 pm
Yeah, even I as the writer was a little concerned how easily he gave into the son, although maybe I was channeling some of my tiredness into him. I can’t imagine what he’ll be like when he’s a teenager. Thanks for the comments.
November 19th, 2014 at 2:35 pm
Indeed.. I must say you picked the best of how a young mind works.. associations run like that.. sometimes it’s time to end the vicious circle and give him a book… hmm?
November 19th, 2014 at 8:28 pm
Definitely, let the imagination run in a good direction. 🙂
November 19th, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Cute story! Gotta love kids 🙂
November 19th, 2014 at 8:28 pm
Thanks. 🙂
November 19th, 2014 at 7:51 pm
I so want a donut. It’s been far too long.
November 19th, 2014 at 8:32 pm
Yeah, for me too. I’d love to go get a large coffee and two doughnuts from Tim Horton’s and just sit and write for three hours.
November 20th, 2014 at 2:17 am
with kids the cycle never ends
November 21st, 2014 at 4:01 pm
True. 🙂
November 20th, 2014 at 2:42 am
I think he might be a bit fixated on circles with holes. It’ll be polos next.
Claire
November 21st, 2014 at 4:02 pm
That may be the issue although in any case, he’s highly suggestible. Best to keep him away from anything round, just in case. 🙂
November 20th, 2014 at 2:48 am
Ah, the pleasures of being around little kids, and donuts.You know, I’m not sure which I like more. Great story, bringing out a love of both.
November 21st, 2014 at 4:02 pm
Thanks, Perry. I love them both too.
November 20th, 2014 at 9:20 am
That made me smile 🙂
November 21st, 2014 at 4:02 pm
Glad to hear it. 🙂
November 20th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
The circle never ends.
DJ
November 21st, 2014 at 4:03 pm
Yep, round and round, just like a tire…or a doughnut.
November 20th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
Children are great negotiators. They know when to ask for stuff–when you’re tired or distracted–and it doesn’t bother them to hear “no.” I don’t know who learns more during the child raising phase, the child or the parents. Well done, David.
November 20th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Maybe we should children as international negotiators since they can be persistent until the other party just agrees to make the situation go away. Sounds like a good idea for a story. 🙂
November 20th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
That made me LOL but also smile reminiscently thinking of my boys when they were young.
November 20th, 2014 at 8:50 pm
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it. Don’t you love the way kids think (even when it’s infuriating)?
November 20th, 2014 at 4:51 pm
Loved it 🙂 you made me smile, but now i’m not sure if i want a doughnut or a new car – well i can’t afford the new car so i think i’ll go buy my self some doughnuts.
November 20th, 2014 at 8:51 pm
I’d say go buy a new car, then grab a doughnut on the way back. That’d be a good day. 🙂
November 20th, 2014 at 5:48 pm
David, I enjoyed that immensely, it really made me chuckle. I think most parents will relate to this one. Well written.
November 20th, 2014 at 8:51 pm
Thanks, Maree!
November 20th, 2014 at 7:25 pm
See, now I’m hungry.
As my children get older, and get a better command over language, I look forward to many future conversations like this.
Cheers
KT
November 20th, 2014 at 8:54 pm
You have some time now to hone your counter-arguments, although they may not work when the time comes.
November 21st, 2014 at 9:17 am
Dad’s in for a shock – it doesn’t get any easier and doughnuts become the least of their demands!
I enjoyed your story David.
November 21st, 2014 at 4:04 pm
Yeah, wait until it’s a real car, not a toy and the round food is a large pizza.
November 21st, 2014 at 10:45 am
That exasperateed tone sounded so like my daughter’s 😀
November 21st, 2014 at 4:04 pm
I’m pretty sure it’s a universal trait of children. I’m glad it came through alright.
November 22nd, 2014 at 1:12 am
A Canadian spin there, if I ever heard one… but it just goes to show that kids are the same either side of the border! Nice story this week, David.
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:20 am
Look at these comments…like War and Peace…you are leaving your imagination to science, right? That’s a done deal?…:)
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:50 am
Sure, for you. 🙂
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:44 am
ALRIGHT!!!!!!!!!
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:38 am
A toy car would have four tyres, so would Brad want four doughnuts? Cute take, but I think Dad needs to say no and mean it 🙂
November 24th, 2014 at 11:55 am
Hahaha! Very good, Dave. Good-natured and fun. Realistic, I might add, too. 😀
November 25th, 2014 at 12:25 am
Dear David – Cute story and you know that the kid would have asked for another doughnut too. Great job! Nan 🙂