In a Pickle

Today’s word prompt from https://fivedotoh.com/2022/10/01/fowc-with-fandango-pickle/, and it made me think of the only metaphor, you’re all in a pickle.

‘You’re all in a pickle today,’ Mum said.

‘Pickle? I don’t like pickle,’ Tom stared at his mum with a confused look. It was like the other day, she told him to pull his socks up, but they were already up.

‘No, love, it’s just a saying. You look confused, is there anything wrong?’

‘I can’t find my favourite socks, I left them on the floor, but they’re not there now.’

Mum smiled, taking them out of the drier. ‘I washed them, that’s all. They were that dirty, they could have moved on their own.’

‘Don’t be silly Mummy, socks don’t move on their own.’

Another wry smile – she had been brought up on sayings, but her autistic son didn’t understand any of them. Keeping things literal was the only way she could get through to her son. ‘They needed washing love and were beginning to smell a little.’

‘But that’s how I like them, they are warm on my feet.’

‘Yes, but sometimes they need washing love. I tell you what shall we go to the shops later? You said you wanted a new dinosaur, and I got paid today. We could buy a diplodocus this time.’

‘Yes please, I love dinosaurs. Did you know mummy that a Diplodocus is so big he ate trees off leaves. A T Rex is the most ferocious of dinosaurs. He was a carnivore, and the Diplodocus is an herbivore, I learnt that in school yesterday. My teacher says I can’t take a dinosaur to school anymore, not since hit Billy over the head because he called me a baby.’

‘Get a wriggle on then and get dressed for school.’

‘Okay Mummy,’ Tom said, squirming around in circles, as he left the room.