The two kids looked at each other communicating through eye contact about the mission.First thing this morning, they decided that they couldn’t keep the hot chocolate stand a secret, but that didn’t mean anyone had to know the purpose.
The skin between Noel’s eyes wrinkled as if squeezed with a clothespin.“When and where is this hot chocolate stand taking place?”she inquired, holding her chin with her thumb and pointer finger.
The kids held each other’s gaze again, and for a moment neither said anything.
“Today,” Levi finally confessed.“In front of the candy shop.”
“Oh really?”Noel asked amused.
“Yeah, we want to make some money,” Laney added.
Levi’s eyes bulged a little.
“Do you have an adequate supply of the ingredients?”Noel inquired knowing the kids helped her make homemade hot chocolate mix recently but wondering if they considered the amount needed to sell in bulk.In the candy shop kitchen as well as her own, she always tried to teach Levi and Laney to consider all the possibilities and challenges while still letting them help.
The kids looked at one another each hoping the other knew the answer.“Probably,” Levi eventually surmised.“We helped you make some the other day.”
“Our homemade hot chocolate is the best ever,” Laney stated.“Our customers will love it.”
Noel smiled proudly.“Yes, they will.However, I think you will need to make more of the homemade mix.Do you remember the ingredients?”
“Sugar,” Levi blurted out quickly.
“Which kind of sugar?”
“Powdered,” Laney, her little chef, knew off the top of her head.“Cocoa powder, too.”
“And powder milk,” Levi blurted out.
“Powdered, but yes,” Noel corrected.“What do we add a splash and a dash of?”
“Vanilla and mini chocolate chips,” Laney added enthusiastically, vividly recalling making it with her aunt.
“What goes in last, Levi?”Noel checked.
“Marshmallows.”
“Yes, little dehydrated marshmallows,” Noel noted.“Then what do we mix it with to serve?”
“Milk,” Laney answered.
“Mom, will you help us make enough for our customers?”Levi asked energetically.
“Please,” Laney added, clasping her hands together.
Noel sighed.“Today is going to be a really busy day at the store,” she reminded them, or at least she prayed it would.
“We will do all the work,” Laney promised.
How could Noel say no to her little helpers wanting to become entrepreneurs?“I will assist with heating up the hot chocolate and transporting it from the kitchen to the stand, but you two have to do the rest.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re the best, Aunt Noel.”
Noel grinned wondering what she was getting herself into.She couldn’t keep her own store afloat, so what made her think she could help the kids start a small sidewalk business?
“You are also going to need a table and jackets because it’s cool outside.”
