Carol danced her way to the ice cream outlet holding the crisp currency note mom has given her from the open space in the mall, where her mom was sitting at a table reading newspaper sipping espresso. She was followed by Liz, her younger sister, both humming the song they just learned at school. They were in school uniforms, were picked up by mom in the evening from school and en route home via the mall waiting for dad to join them there after his Office work. Some days they plan such a routine directly to the mall after school buying grocery, taking away home some food for dinner and of course mom buying them their favorite ice creams.
“Wait...”.
Carol caught hold of her sister's hand and stopped her as they approached the shop while taking the turn around the passage across.
“Look, its the other man with the mustache in the shop...he gives smaller scoops. Remember last time Liz...what we got? I don't see the chubby man anywhere over there. Let's wait. We will go when he comes there”.
Liz's face fell as they both stood behind a potted plant at the end of the passage overlooking the ice cream shop.
“What if he doesn't show up ?”. Liz was leaning close to her sister, clearly disappointed.
Carol did not know what to tell her so she just stood there silent thinking what to do. The problem was not simple. Last time when they visited the shop the man with the mustache did not give them 'big'scoops of vanilla flavored ice creams. Carol wanted her's in a cone with grated almonds sprinkled and a red cherry on top. Liz wanted her ice cream in a small cup with cream at the top and she was jumping with joy when the “chubby man”, the vendor at the shop who they liked very much, liberally squeezed a mountain of whipped cream on top of the ice cream. Moreover, the chubby man will chit-chat with them, smiling all the time. He knew their preferences by heart and will begin scooping even before they declare their order.
But last time the man with the mustache smiled at mom but didn't pay much attention to them and they felt the scoops were smaller, cherry of smaller size and less sweet and cream at the top just a little. The chubby man was not seen that day; they thought it was his day off or break time for him.
“Hello....good evening...”
They were startled hearing the pleasant, familiar voice. Both of them turned and looked at their favorite chubby man's face with surprise. They felt relieved seeing him and their faces lit up immediately.
“Well...Came for ice cream?”. He asked noting the currency note Carol was holding.
Carol nodded as Liz stood close to her smiling at him.
“Okay...okay...come with me, I will get you the best ice cream today.”
Overjoyed, they danced their steps following him as he walked fast to the shop.
“You came alone today? Where is your mommy ?”
Carol pointed in the direction of mom sitting in the open dining space. Instead of getting to the front of the shop directly Carol climbed the small divider at the side where some potted plants were kept. She always does that, just for fun. Liz, however, went directly to the front of the shop and started jumping up and down in front of the glass-paneled box where ice cream containers were kept to have a better look at the different varieties exhibited there.
The chubby man began scooping all the time smiling at them and humming a song. Both of them scanned the whole range from one end to the other to find out what they should order next time just for a change from their routine. Carol noted a new variety with honey, chocolate, and strawberry. She nodded at Liz who tried to get a better view by jumping high but could not see it properly.
“Oh...well...don't worry...I'll give you a sample to taste”.
The chubby man offered tiny scoops on a small spoon noting their interest in the new variety exhibited. They were delighted and instantly emptied theirs. Finding it delicious they decided to order it next time when they come.
“Ok...so what do you want on top of this”?
He asked Carol who promptly repeated the order stressing Red cherry on top. She said 'in a cone' in the tune of the song they were humming. He laughed and took a very reddish cherry using a forceps and placed it over Carol's scoop in the cone. Next he took a spoonful of grated almonds and looked at Carol.
“This much is ok..?” Carol nodded impressed by the huge quantity.
“Here's yours, enjoy, the best ice cream in the world specially made for you”...He flashed a wonderful smile as he handed it to Carol. She was delighted.
“Now this is your's, the sweetest cream here”. He said squeezing a big chunk of cream on top of Liz's scoop.
“Let me see the cream”. Carol came to the front and said “Woww...!”.
It was a very big heap of cream on the small scoop. Liz clapped her hands jumping up and down to have a better view of the delicacy being prepared and her mouth was already flooding. She said a loud thank you to the man and was bubbling with joy when he carefully handed over her the cup, two spoons, and two tissues.
Carol gave the man the money and collected the change, dropping the coins because her hands were full. She had already licked the ice cream twice by this time. She forgot the calculation she had done with the help of their mom the cost of two ice creams and the change she was expected to get back from the vendor. She just stared at the bill and tried to do mental arithmetic. Both of them were confident at that time about buying on their own and argued with mom that the maths they study in school is much more complicated. After all, they are not small kids, can't mom understand? They have solved much more complicated problems in Maths at school than this simple matter of buying two ice creams. But now she was confused with the bill, the change she got back and she could not find the dropped coin anywhere on the floor. Liz has already started her way back fully absorbed at the delicacy in her hand forgetting helping her sister. She had actually agreed to verify the transaction that Carol will be making when they discussed buying ice cream on their own. Mom specifically told them to be careful with the money. The chubby man was still smiling at them. Noting her confused state he came out of the shop, found the coin she dropped under the counter and explained her the mathematics on the receipt. He counted the change he has given her. Carol put the bill and change in her school uniform's pocket.
“Hmmm...I'll take you to your mom...”
Liz has stopped a few steps away, busy with her ice cream, the heaped cream now almost gone, and was waiting for Carol to join her wondering why she is still at the shop. She was happy when she saw the man coming along with Carol towards them.
“Ahhh...how is the ice cream? Is it tasty ?” ...the man asked her.
“Delicious”! Liz said loudly.
“Well...next time you should try the new one...I will make a special scoop for you...”.
Liz did not waste the opportunity and smartly asked him about his availability and he told them his break time and weekly day off. They made a mental note of this valuable information happily. Their mom was surprised seeing the team marching towards her.
“Hi good evening mam....how are you ?”.
“Good evening, I am fine. They were insisting to buy on their own. Well...did they pay you? Carol...?”
“Ohh...sure, they were just brilliant. It was a pleasure serving them. Well...they told me you were here.”
Carol handed her mom back the change and bill.
“Ohh...very nice of you and thank you for assisting them. I really appreciate this”.
“You are welcome mam...ok...see you next time...Bye...”
“Bye”.
He waved at the children smiling and they also waved back.
“Hmmm...how did it go, Carol ?” Mom quizzed.
Both of them were fully engrossed in the tasty ice cream in their hands and the reply was just an “ok” and nodding. Mom shook her head and returned to the espresso turning a page. While they were rubbing their fingers on tissue with the ice creams finished Carol spotted their dad in front of the fast food outlet a few feet away from them.
“Mom...dad....”.
Mom stood up and put the cups and tissues in the wastebasket. She folded the paper and walked to the shop. Carol and Liz again danced their way performing some of the dance moves they were learning at school humming the song.
“Daddyyy......”.
“Hello...how are my angels today”? He lifted Liz and planted a kiss on her cheek and hugged Carol.
“Hmmmm...ice cream...” He said tasting the remains of the cream on her cheek laughing.
Mom also laughed with him.
Now its debate time about what to buy for dinner as take away. Almost always the debate will last about fifteen minutes or more sometimes browsing other shops as well for some side dishes. Carol and Liz scrutinized the attractive display panels above the shop showing pictures of the dishes and read the description. Actually they know all these by heart being there many times before. They were dedicated TV viewers of the Company's ads as well. Still they spend time always reading everything and searching for something new or will look for the dish of the day. It was all the same like before that day too and they finally settled for their favorite dishes. Carol's order was chicken nuggets, french fries and salad. Liz wanted an apple pie and will taste a small piece of chicken from her mom's or dad's pack. No fizzy drinks for them because they have been taught at school those are bad for health. Moreover they both did not like those much and preferred fruit smoothies. Their mom was an expert in making them smoothies. Mom and dad selected their choices. The salesman packed their food fast and within few minutes they were out of the shop. He smiled at them when they left; they were actually in for a surprise when they will open their packet at home because he has kept some small toys inside as a compliment.
“Ok...hurry up....its too late, let's go home”...Mom guided them to the car park.
On the way, she told him about their kids' first own experience in buying ice cream and both of them laughed. Kids were in their own world dancing and chit-chatting following them. The book shop was on the way to the car park and before mom said no they found themselves in it, dad already browsing the titles in the fiction area and kids immersed in comics. It was already dark when they started their return journey with the kids at the backseat secured in seat belts reading comics, mom driving and dad simply nodding and replying “yeah”, “yeah” to what mom was saying enjoying the book he bought.
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