Treat's treats, 1&2

     Treat huffs and puffs as they drag their cart of equipment over the cobblestone with a cacophonous clickity-clack, pausing occasionally to right their towering array of candy dishes and serving scoops and tongs. Making one final shove up the ramp to the center of the plaza of the small shopping center, they neatly roll the cart to a stop behind a small booth. 

     Humming to themselves, they glance around at the other beans setting up their stalls around the pink paved courtyard. The bright food stalls and midway games slowly start to come alive as posts are strung with pennants and bright lights. Across the way, a portable tilt-a-whirl was almost completely assembled, blinking brightly and humming as if it too was full of anticipation for the event to come. 

     Carefully and slowly, Treat begins to set up their stall, smiling as they arrange all of the bowls and platters just so, draping their ribbons and pulling their banner tight across the top of the stall, cheerfully announcing the name of their shop in shining gold letters against the bright pink and blue stripes. With a small nod of approval, they start to fill the candy bowls to the brim with a variety of confections. Jellybeans of all colors and flavors practically sparkled under the bright lights, gummy fruit practically shimmering with sugar, and perfectly tempered chocolate lollipops shining  within their glass domes. 

     Just as they start to carefully hand-letter their menu board, the sound of a loudspeaker crackling to life comes from the small stage at the front of the plaza. Kyupi floats in front of the microphone, looking quizzically towards Amp. 

“Can you hear me?”

The speakers throughout blare her quiet question, and Treat can swear their stall shakes. The bright radio host laughs and nods enthusiastically. 

“Definitely! It’s so loud, I bet they can hear you over on Lila! Give me sec-”

The equipment squeals for a moment, but when Kyupi speaks again, it’s at a much more reasonable volume.

“Ah, that’s better! Anyways, I want to thank you all for coming out to help with this event last night! It’s very nice of you to help me put this event on for all the little beanlings from the Rainbow Orchid Garden! Laelia’s told me they’re really looking forward to this, so let’s make tonight great!”

     All the beanling and flowerlings around the plaza clap and cheer from their stalls, turning back to their final preparations as the little beanlings arrive at the front gate, all receiving a number of free tickets to spend at the various attractions. Treat smiles as they serve bean after bean, each one practically drooling, or jumping with glee at the large selection of colorful candies. The bowls slowly empty over the course of the event. 

     Late afternoon turns to dusk, and dusk to evening, the beanlings once brimming with energy slowly beginning to tire and yawn even with all the excitement of the carnival-esque environment. Treat smiles and wishes their last beanling good night as they take the last bag of mixed hard candies, happily taking the bean’s last two tickets. Laelia and Kyupi gently round up the beans to the front of the plaza, counting them twice and running down any would-be escapees before they wave goodbye, thanking all the stall keepers for the night of fun. 

     Treat waves goodbye to the group, slumping lazily against the now-empty counter. Yawning, they carefully pull down their banner, folding it neatly and nestling it amongst the carefully constructed stacks of dirtied candy dishes and serving utensils. They can’t help but smile and hum a happy melody or two as they carefully push their cart back towards their shop. It may be a lot of work, but seeing all of the smiles on the little bean’s faces filled them a deeper kind of energy than any amount of rest could. 

-----oOo-----

     Treat shook their head in slight dismay as they look over the now-barren counters of their shop. 

“Oh, now, this simply won’t do! I didn’t plan to make more stock til Sunday, but I guess I’m going to have to move that up to today! Where did it all go, anyways?”

     They drift around behind the counter, ducking under the glass to see if they had something left to tide over the morning rush. All they found was the large jar full of licorice and a note from their brother that simply read ‘Thanks for all the candy, hope you don’t mind if I borrow it! Permanently!’. Sighing, they shake their head as they place it on the counter and grab their apron. 

“Well, it’s no use then! I’d better hurry, tout suite!”

     They burst into the kitchen in the back of the store as they tie their apron strings, the ingredients flying off the shelves with a magical flit of their wings. Sugar and peppermint extract, mixed together with just enough water and corn syrup. They humm as they leave it to boil, turning their attention to some gummy bears. They grin as they stir together the gelatin and juices, adding a drop of natural colorants here and there to make sure their treats were as bright as flowers, and far more flavorful! As they poured them into the mold, they cheerily sang a little spell to wish for a smile on the face of the lucky bean that ate them. 

    The next two hours before opening are spent in an absolute flurry of action and small cloud of sugar, as they twist and cut their candy canes, chill their gummy treats, caramelize their sugars and butters, and expertly temper the chocolate coating of every carefully assembled candy bar. Finally, they smile in contentment at the delicious rainbow array of sugary goodness laid out on the counters. Each individual candy held a tiny enchantment that wished happiness and cheer on it’s consumer, and each one was enchanted with the most powerful spell of love and attention to detail. 

     Whisking them out, Treat smiles and waves at the few customers lingering around the storefront windows, gawking at the displays of gingerbread and blown sugar. With just as much care as went into their making, the candy is laid out under the countertop. In a way, Treat enjoyed the art of the display almost as much as they enjoyed creating the candy. Finally, after each lollipop was wrapped and tied with a pristing bow, and each chocolate truffle carefully nestled in it’s coconut nest, Treat opens the doors.

     The store is flooded with customers, almost before Treat can return to their station behind the counter. Unlike some shopkeepers, they love talking to their customers. They love everything from the standard talk of weather and candy selections to the long catching up conversations with their long time customers. They also make sure that no bean leaves empty handed. Everyone that comes in has to at least leave with a premium gumball, or a sample bag of jellybeans. After all, while they love the chatter of the shop, the displaying of their wares, and the actual process of making their candy,  they love watching the smile on each and every bean’s face as they bite into their goodies more than anything.      As the shop’s constant flow of customers slowls to a trickle, and then a slow drip, Treat can’t help but smile as they look at the case, now almost empty of candy once again. As the sun begins to wane and the day grows old, they emerge front behind the counter to close the doors and start to sweep with no particular hurry. Smiling and humming a little ditty, they think about all the smiles they saw today, and all the candy they’re going to make tomorrow,