Ayla ran back into the room. "Can we make cotton candy?"
That made me pause and look at Angela for direction.
She shrugged sheepishly. "She got a machine for Christmas, but we haven't set it up yet. She's been bugging me."
I got the impression she didn't want to do it because she was tired.
"I can set it up if you want."
"I'll get it," Ayla disappeared into the living room.
"You don't have to help if you don't want to."
"I love cotton candy," I said as Ayla returned with a box.
I took it from her and set it on the island. She knelt on the stool, helping me open it and take out the pieces. There were several pink-and-blue plastic cones that you used to assemble the cotton candy, and a few loose parts for the machine itself.
I opened the instruction book. "We have to put the round piece here in the middle." Ayla attempted to place the small metal round piece but got frustrated when it didn't immediately click into place. "Can you do it?"
I pressed harder, getting it to slide into place. "The larger plastic piece goes here. Think you can do it?"
"Yeah." A tongue darted out in concentration as she secured it. "I did it."
"You sure did." I grinned, meeting Angela's gaze across the counter. "Now, we need to turn it on. It has to heat for a few minutes before we add the sugar. Do you have any?"
"That was separate, remember?" Angela asked Ayla.
"Oh, yeah." She hopped off her stool. "I'll go get it."
Ayla ran into the living room.
I raised a brow at Angela. "Did you think through this present? It's literally all sugar."
Angela smiled. "She asked for it, and I like to get her a few things on her list. That way, she thinks that Santa is fulfilling her wishes."
"Did you not want me to open it now?" It was evening, and sugar probably made kids hyper before bed.
"I didn't want to put it together. So you're doing me a favor. And if she's hyper, you're sticking around to entertain her."
I chuckled. "Fair enough."
Ayla returned with a box. "Got it."
I took it from her and set it on the counter. "Which flavor? Pink vanilla, blue raspberry, grape?"
Ayla studied the description of the flavors on the box. "Pink Vanilla."
"Pink vanilla it is," I said, pulling out the pink container. "We need one teaspoon in the space here." I indicated where to put it and handed her the measuring spoon.
She poured the sugar, and I waited for her to sit on the stool.
"You think it's warmed up enough?" I asked.
Her eyes wide with excitement, she said, "Yup."
"Let's do this." I pulled a pink funnel out of the plastic wrap and placed it like the directions indicating before turning it on. It started spinning, and I waited for the little webs to form, then wrap them around the cone.
"It's working," Ayla said as the candy attached to the plastic.
