Thankfully today’s forecast was much nicer than yesterday’s.However, almost all November mornings arrived with a chill in the air.
The kids finished making their signs, scarfed down cereal, brushed their teeth, and hustled downstairs to the candy shop kitchen to collect the ingredients from the cabinets and set them on the prep table.
“You are also going to need disposable insulated cups with lids since you are serving this to the public,” Noel explained when she joined them in the kitchen.“And we will store the hot chocolate in an urn so that you two won’t have to pour such a hot beverage.”
“I know where the cups are,” Laney claimed.
“I will get an urn,” Levi announced.
Before Noel flipped the candy shop’s sign to open, the kids set up a table on the sidewalk, complete with a Christmassy tablecloth, an urn full of hot chocolate, paper cups, and two poster board signs affixed to the front of the stand.
“I’m not sure how many people will stop for hot chocolate this early in the morning, but we will see,” Noel mentioned.
Mrs.Madelyn appeared on the sidewalk with a large smile.“A hot chocolate stand,” she said enthusiastically.“I want a cup.”
“You are our first customer,” Laney announced.
“It will be one dollar,” Levi stated, holding out his little hand.
Mrs.Madelyn rummaged through her purse and pulled out a crisp dollar bill from her wallet.“Where is your tip jar?”she asked.
Laney and Levi shared a puzzled look.
“What’s a tip jar?”Laney asked.
“A jar you tip over like a cow?”Levi speculated with a grin.
Noel, Mrs.Madelyn, and Laney all giggled.
“How do you know about cow tipping?”Noel inquired.
“Uncle Keaton,” Levi explained.
“Ah, I see,” Noel replied.
“A tip jar is nothing like cow tipping, silly.It’s a jar that sits on the table so your customers can give you extra money for your good service,” Mrs.Madelyn explained.
“We didn’t think of that,” Noel confessed.
“We definitely need one of those cow tipping jars,” Laney proclaimed.
Again, everyone laughed although Laney didn’t quite know why what she said was so funny, but she went along with it.
“I will bring you one,” Noel promised.
The kids offered their thanks, and then Levi held a cup beneath the spout while Laney flipped the lever.
“There you go,” Levi said as he handed over the cup.
Mrs.Madelyn took a sip.“This is delicious,” she approved.“You might sell out.”
“Hopefully we sell out of candy today, too,” Noel wished.
“It is going to be a good day,” Mrs.Madelyn predicted.
“Let us know if you need anything,” Noel reminded them before heading through the door with her helper.
“Just a tip jar,” Laney repeated.
