craftfield 01 - secrets untold Read Free

off on her apron.
    “Cause, we’re gonna frame this baby.” She kissed the dollar and tucked it into her pants’ pocket.
    “Why not frame the twenty?”
    “Cause that one will help pay our light bill due next week. Have you got any spare change?”
    Lily shook her head. “Nope. Remember last time I had any money was on my birthday.” And she had a broken down car she still couldn’t drive to show for it. “Why? Do you want me to get you a soda from the store?”
    “No.” Her mom rummaged through her purse and tossed a few quarters, two dimes, and dozens of pennies into the tip jar.
    “Why are you doing that?”
    After opening the register and taking out two one dollar bills, her mom threw those in as well. “Basic psychology. People will tip more often if the tip jar has some money in it already. An empty one will take much longer for someone to add to it.” She winked.
    “Never knew that. Maybe we should put the twenty bucks in it then.”
    “It doesn’t work that way.”
    “How do you know if no one’s ever tried?” Lily leaned against the counter. “Can’t hurt.”
    “Oh, here come some more customers.” Her mom practically glowed with delight.
    “Hi, I’m Camie Barnes,” the woman held out her hand to Lily’s mom, but her voice was syrupy sweet like saccharine. “I don’t think we’ve met. Are you two new to the neighborhood?”
    “Betty Thomas. My daughter, Lily.” She nodded in her direction. “We’ve been here for years. I used to work at Sunset Café.”
    The woman snorted, then plastered a smile on her face but it looked more like she was auditioning for a laxative commercial. “I see. W-well welcome. I hope your quaint little shop… lasts. The last owner had a deli here, quick service not so good food. I do wish you and your daughter better luck.” She paid for her teen’s ice cream and left.
    “Guess we’ve moved up the food chain.”
    What was her mom talking about? That woman looked at them like they were garbage someone had swept into a corner. “What do you mean?”
    “We’ve had our first snotty customer.” She tapped her finger to her mouth. “And I’m thinking if sales go well, we can expand to more things… like ice cream cakes. That guy earlier said he liked cake. Many people enjoy cake and ice cream together.”
    “Hold that thought.” Lily wiped off the ice cream scoop on her apron. “We’ve got a bunch of kids coming this way.”
    A bus load full of fifth graders stormed in with two teachers, who looked ready to pass out trailing behind them.
    For the next hours, Lily and her mom rang up sixty-three customers. They’d both skipped lunch.
    Aunt Martha and Jessica entered their faces red from passing out flyers all day.
    “We are done walking through the city. I think I know every street by heart now.” Jess fell into one of the empty chairs. “Please tell me our efforts worked.”
    “Oh, they did and more.” Lily’s mom beamed. “Care to relieve us?”
    “Sure.” Aunt Martha groaned as she too sat down. “As long as I don’t have to walk any more… ever.”
    “Come on kiddo, we’re gonna grab some lunch. You two want us to bring anything back?”
    “No, we ate on the subway when our shoes started to smoke and melt to the pavement.” Aunt Jess half-waved, sweat dripping off her narrow face.
    “Let’s go pick up some pizza or something.” Lily followed her mom outside. Anything but ice cream. “There’s a place the next street over.”
    “Sounds good.” Her mom, straightened her shirt, frowning at the vanilla smear along one edge.
    “No one will notice.” Lily shut the front door after them. Her Aunt Martha had stenciled Ice Dreams on the glass in teal letters.
    Already, the sun baked her skin as they strolled down the sidewalk. A dog walker past them with a nod, her eight dogs on a leash panting. Lily wondered if dogs could eat ice cream. When she got back to Ice Dreams, she’d have to look that up.
    “Oh look, a craft