A Mourning @ Dairy Queen

Photo by Igor Rodrigues on Unsplash

By Anthony David Vernon

My father told me I once pushed Alonzo Mourning.
But my mother says my dad is a compulsive liar.
My father told me we were in line at a roadside Dairy Queen, I couldn’t have been more than five, and Alonzo Mourning (with his son) was waiting in front of us.
But my mother says that she would never let me spend time alone with my dad when I was that young.
My father told me I pushed Alonzo Mourning at the Dairy Queen on US 1, by the Metro Rail, with the triangular punch yellow roof, the one you couldn’t go inside of.
But my mother says my father has two personalities: John A & John B.
My father told me that I really wanted my ice cream, so I tried to move Alonzo Mourning out of my way.
But my mother says I was never so bold as a child.
My father told me laughingly, “Of course, Alonzo Mourning didn’t move an inch.”
But my mother says my dad likes to make up stories.
My father told me I made my way in front of Alonzo Mourning, and that he grabbed me while apologizing to Alonzo Mourning.
But my mother says my dad would never apologize to anyone for anything.
My father told me that Alonzo Mourning calmly told him, “It’s okay, little man just wanted some ice cream.”
My father says I was too young to remember if I really did push Alonzo Mourning at that now closed-down Dairy Queen.
But my mother says that I have the memory of Ganesha.
My father says he doesn’t recall if I really pushed Alonzo Mourning and doesn’t even recall telling me the story.
But my mother says it is okay if I want my father’s stories to be true.

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Anthony David Vernon is a fan of ice cream and knows chocolate is objectively the best flavor of ice cream.