Dum Dum Pops

"Ummi, you coming outside?"

"We'll see," I replied.

H had his soccer practice on Wednesday. I was nauseous as usual but somehow the fresh air outside made me feel better, though the fact that I still threw up when we got home probably sent that theory down the drain.

Nevertheless, I went outside.

"Yay!" S was exhilirated that I actually stepped outside to witness the neighborhood soccer game.

"I'll get you a chair!"

She actually did and I sat there like an invalid, watching H and hubby playing with the neighborhood boys. The only thing differentiating me and them was the Muslim attire. Otherwise, people might have thought BV was pure mini China.

"Ummi, can we eat this?" H came and gave me a lollipop that one of the Chinese boys had given him.

I groaned inside. I was in no mood to check the ingredients, but I managed to delay it till today.

"H, can you get me some dates? Hurry, I feel like throwing up!" I said.

"Can I eat he lollipop?" he asked.

"No, not yet."

"If you check the lollipop, I'll get you the dates," he said.

At any other time, I would have reacted differently, but it did seem unfair that I kept stalling checking the ingredients for reasons of laziness, so I told him to bring it upstairs.

The wrapping was all twisted, and I was about to give it up, but I spied the website.

"Ok, it's dumdumpops.com," I said, and typed in the URL.

I went through the FAQ but didn't find any listed ingredients, so I emailed them my question.

"Can we eat it now?" H asked.

"No, we have to wait for them to answer."

I realized that H can be very persistent. He wouldn't take an unexplained no for an answer. (translate that into more work for me)

A while later I received an email.

"Kids! Come here! It's dum dum!"

(Why don't they come up with better names??)

I let them all read the reply:

Dum Dums contain sugar, corn syrup, citric acid, malic acid, salt, artificial flavor, and artificial color. They are free of gelatin, lard, and alcohol.

If you need additional information please let us know.

Spangler Candy Company

"So we can eat it?"

I nodded.

Dum Dum Pops. Even I played the game on the website. Dum Dum Pops.