“Oh, I see what you mean!” laughed Lucy. “Sure, we’ll do that. It will make them wish they’d invited us. What do you like best, jelly beans or gum drops?” “I like both. But you get more jelly beans for a nickel than you do gum drops. Gum drops are expensive.” “We’ll get some of each,” decided Lucy. Now it wasn’t as easy to buy candy at the store of old Mrs. Traddle as it might seem. For one thing Mrs. Traddle was very deaf but she never would admit it. She thought her hearing was fine. So the boys and girls, after finding out that if they asked for chocolate drops often were handed lollypops, had gotten into the habit of pointing out in the show case what candy they wanted. But this time Lucy, being in somewhat of33 a hurry, forgot, for the moment, that Mrs. Traddle was deaf. So, going into the store, Lucy said: 33 “I want five cents worth of jelly beans and gum drops, mixed, please.” “Oh, yes, there is quite a breeze today,” said Mrs. Traddle, as she pulled her spectacles down off the top of her head to where they could sit on her nose and be in front of her eyes. “A very good breeze indeed. How many sticks did you say, my dear?” “I didn’t say STICKS,” spoke Lucy. “I said I wanted my candy MIXED, Mrs. Traddle. Gum drops and jelly beans.” “Why, of course I have screens in here, Lucy,” said Mrs. Traddle. “How else could I keep out the flies? Screens? I should say so. Flies are dreadful around a candy shop. Now tell me what kind you want and I’ll wait on you. But please hurry. I have a cake in the oven.” Mrs. Traddle glanced back toward the living rooms in the rear of her little candy34 shop. Now Margie thought she would try. So, raising her voice, she said: 34 “We want jelly beans and gum drops!” “Yes, it is pretty good weather for crops,” agreed Mrs. Traddle. “We could do with a mite more of rain, though. But, in general, as you say, crops are good. Now did you want some candy?” The two girls looked at each other helplessly. Then Lucy did what she should have done at first. She pointed to the glass dish of jelly beans and to the one containing gum drops. Then she put her five-cent piece on
Prev.
Back
Top