3
Now it's time for me to stop and let Eleanor tell her story.
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Hi everyone, my name is Eleanor. You can call me Ella if you like. I lived at Singing Gem Square with my pet wolves, Fortuna and Lucky. I tamed them a long time ago, when I was wandering in the forest.
I was five years old that time, ignorant and helpless. I wandered around the forest and took a stone as a weapon. I killed bears, boars, and bulls, using the stone. I continued this kind of life like a barbarian for one year.
The next year, I almost got killed by a pack of wolves! Luckily, I survived. Thanks to the stone. I started craving stone swords and daggers to protect myself from the wild animals. I was seven that year.
One day, as I was hunting for food, I saw two weak wolf cubs attacked by a bear. I rushed to help the cubs and killed the bear in no time. After the incident, the cubs followed me around the forest, so I made them my pets and named them.
I survived for four years in the forest, I decided it's time for me to live more like modern girl. So I found my way out of the forest (I know the way very well!) and roamed through the countryside with my wolves.
Finally, I came to a city called Gembrook. Following the citizens inside the city, I found myself in Singing Gem Square and began my business of singing. This job did not make much money, but at least I can buy food for me and my wolves.
One day, as I was travelling down the street to buy sandwich, I bumped into a gentleman. I apologized heartily, but the gentleman seem not to be angry. He smiled kindly at me and asked where my parents are.
I told him they died after an accident and he took pity on me. Mr. Rahman, that's his name, invited me to work in his Cafe, with
1000 dollars salary per month!
I excitedly agreed and started my new life with a proper job.
4
Now I am still working at Mr. Rahman's cafe, working as a waitress. Mr. Rahman is very kind. He let me keep my wolves and even gave them jobs, too! Fortuna and Lucky are supposed to entertain our customers and make the customers come again next time to play with the wolves.
Some parents were worried to let their kids play with wolves, but after they saw that my wolves are harmless, they were finally convinced to let their little ones play with Fortuna and Lucky.
I have my own house and a beautiful garden with a pool. Thanks to Mr. Rahman for the job. But yesterday, Mr. Rahman told me some bad news. His son, who drank too much beer last night, spent much of Mr. Rahman's money on rings for his friends who drank with him. Poor Mr. Rahman got bankrupt and he is forced to close his shop. We bid each other a sorrowful goodbye and Mr. Rahman promised he will try to make up the business again. Fortuna, Lucky, and I lost our jobs and wandered around the streets looking for a job again.
One day, I had a bright idea! Why don't I start a business myself? I've already accumulated enough money, so what's the problem if I start my very own business? So, leaving Fortuna and Lucky in my house, I went to the library to do some business research while thinking what business shall I do. Bakery? Cafe? Library? Supermarket? Maybe an Ice-Cream shop! I love Ice-Creams!! So I began to think of a fabulous name for my shop. Ice-creams are cold... Maybe Ella's Icy Delight? Clear Ice? Candy Penguin? Ahh! I know! Frozen Wolves will be cool! So that's that. I ran home, took a quick bath, and hurried to my office to start working on my idea. One day, two days, three days, four days... After a week, I finally came out of my office.
"FORTUNA! LUCKY! LISTEN UP!!!!!!!!!!!" I shrieked, making my wolves jump. Fortuna whimpered and ran behind the sofa.
"Oh dear. I'm very sorry Fortuna. Come on out! I'm so excited!" I told her. Then I began telling them my plan (Although they don't understand anything). A few days later, I got my shop, and started setting up right away. My friends in Mr. Rahman's shop offered to help me. Exoca, Wira, Toyota, and Serena, who lost their jobs too, volunteered to be cashiers and Ice-Cream makers.
We met and discussed together for the whole week and the next Monday our first customer came in Frozen Wolves.
"Welcome to FrozenWolves, sir! What would you like to have?" Wira greeted our first customer warmly. The man smiled sorrowfully and pointed to his mouth, shaking his head. Wira showed a puzzled expression and brightened up suddenly! She communicated with the man with her hands using sign language. They "talked" for a little while, and Wira concluded to us, "He's deaf and mute. Poor man, he do have talents..." She explained that he is Caleb Quartz Johnson and he was a professional pianist who performed on stage every Monday evening until midnight. But one day he had a train accident and lost his hearing and voice. He retired from his job and began a quiet life with his sons.
5
We felt awful for Mr. Johnson. Then, I suddenly thought of a TERRIFIC IDEA!! What's the problem if we give Mr. Johnson a job in our Ice-Cream shop, and his sons, too! So we served Mr. Johnson a Jumbo Frizzly Paradise set and I gathered all the staffs together to discuss if we can let Mr. Johnson a job in our shop. Everyone agreed to offer Caleb a job as pianist. Except Toyota.
"What are you missies thinking of? Are you going to let a deaf and mute man working in our shop?" Toyota retorted, "Hey, I'm not being rude, but.. Can you imagine a fellow who cannot hear in our shop, working, and when someone talk to him, he can't hear and the customer gets angry?"
We fell silent on the situation. Everyone's mind was filled with desperation. Then Exoca got an brilliant idea! She suggested hearing aids, but Toyata immediately point out that no one has the money to buy such a device! Exoca, who always looked on the bright side, insisted that we should combine our money together. A chorus of "Ahhh"s and "Oooo"s rang up at once. We merged our money together, each handing out 50 dollars. Exoca summed up the money together and it turned up to be 2000 dollars, twice the price of a hearing aid! Now Mr. Johnson could have a hearing aid for each of his ears instead of one.
We charged out of the meeting room and Wira concluded our plans to Mr. Johnson. His eyes filled with tears of gratefulness and delights. He responded to Wira in a long sign language message. Wira explained it to us, "Thank you for all your helps and offers, the word Thank You seems simple and plain, but it expressed my thoughts and gratitude." All of us felt contented and joyful for Mr. Caleb. It was a splendid day.
Well... I almost forgot to tell you about his sons! Actually, after we offered Mr. Johnson the hearing aids, his sons requested to let them work as violinists in the shop. We agreed, of course. So they began the very next day, performing the loveliest tune, "Coffee Cup". We got the hearing aid for Mr. Johnson the following week, which he put it on fondly as if it is a precious piece of jewel. His son, Anthony, left his daughter Almaria with his father, to help him communicate with customers and sing along with the tunes. So the Johnson family served in the shop as musicians.
6
Everything were going on perfectly and it soon came to Christmas. Frozen Wolves had an event set, the Christmas Tree ice-cream set that time. Half of the workers had asked for a leave to celebrate Christmas with their family. The shop became lonely and quiet without the cheery staffs. I began to recall the Christmas 20 years ago, when Papa and Mama and Peter, Petra, Froya, and me ring around the Christmas tree. I felt hot in my eyes and a lump grew in my throat.
I shook my head, as if it could shake aways all my memories. A tear trickled down to my foot. BRUH, STOP IT, STUPID! YOU'RE NOT A BABY I kept repeating it to myself. But it was no use. I started sobbing like a 5 years old kiddy. UGH.
The next morning came the second I opened my eyes. A stream of warm sunshine showered onto me like a waterfall. I leaped up and went to the window. The sun woke up from its cozy bed, and the moon greeted the sun as it lower down to the mountains. Birds sang a lovely melody, Tweet tweet tweet, Preep Preep Preep! Cars zoomed past the shop as though they're in a race. Beep beep! HONK HONK BEEEP!
IT'S CHRISTMAS!
I danced down the stairs, three at a time, and happily opened our Ice-Cream shop. Then I had a surprise! All my workers and their families squashed into the shop, shouting, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" I laughed and Mr. Johnson grabbed his guitar and played, "Jolly Christmas Time". Soon the greatest surprise came to me!
A loud, long jingle came to my ear and Wira rushed to open it. I was confused why she grinned so widely.
"ELLA!" A familiar voice boomed into my ears, almost breaking my eardrums. "Eleanor, my dear princess!" Another sobbing sound floated in my ears as if a ghost spoke to me. When I recovered from the booming and floating sounds, I rubbed my eyes and can't believe my eyes!
I nearly fainted. When I spun around, two elders with silver hair looked fondly at me. I almost screamed!
“PA! MA!” I yelped, “I MISSED YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!”
They smiled and hugged me and I clung to them tightly and ordered Wira to serve them a lemon jumbo pack at once. Once they’re comfortable, Mama began telling me what happened since the plane crash.
“It’s a long story, dear. When I fell down to the ground, I found myself in a forest. Meanwhile, a famished tiger surveyed at me, as if deciding I’m better with rabbit blood or fish gills. I screamed and ran as fast as I can! I ran and ran, ran for an hour, I guess, and I finally got rid of that tiger. I wandered around, worrying for you and your siblings, and I found your father by the gooseberry bush munching on some berries. I called to him, and he offered me some fruits he found. We tried to work out where we were and your clever father realized that we’re in the middle of the Tasimarian Forest!” Her father nodded proudly and I grinned at him.
My mother continued, “As I was saying, we were trapped in the forest, helpless. One day, we saw a little girl looking EXACTLY like you, wandering about too! Behind her was two wolf cubs, playing around with each other. We considered of getting out from our hide, but I was afraid she would be scared of us and run away! So we stayed hidden until she skipped away. Oh yes, I heard her calling her wolves Fortuna and Lucky, if I remember it well.” I squealed excitedly and shouted for my wolves. “FORTUNA, LUCKY! COME AND MEET MY PARENTS!”
My father choked on his Lemon ice-cream set and squawked, “So it’s you, the little girl we saw in the forest? Oh, my, my, Liana! Why had we missed you, oh I’m so stupid!” Mama sighed and place a wrinkled hand on my shoulders. I grinned from ear to ear, saying, “Ahh Mama, it’s okay! Because you didn’t call me, I can have Fortuna and Lucky for my pets! Because you didn’t call me, I can work in Mr. Rahman’s cafe! Because you didn’t call me, I can learn to be independent and start my own business! It’s okay, really, though I missed you and Papa. Because you didn’t call me, I can end up in this glorious time!”
Soon Christmas was over, and Spring came. Time sped away, Summer was on her way. My business became even busier because it was so hot and I decided to add milkshakes to the menu because.. Why not? But everything changed because many other ice cream shops opened and no one was coming to my shop anymore. They were all going to the other ice cream shops with other fancy flavors like Caramel Popcorn, Sea Salt, Candy Banana, Soy Sauce, or even Pickles ice cream! Business was going downhill.
8
Many workers in my store quit the job, but my fellow workers in Mr. Rahman's cafe refused to leave me alone even if I begged them to leave. I became poorer and poorer, so I decided to add fun features to my shop. During the weekly general meeting, I suggested my idea to the workers. We thought of giving free stuffs to customers who came to buy ice creams, adding a Kids Playground, and free weekly lessons to teach people how to make ice creams! So it was done.
Wira, Exoca and I were to teach Ice-Cream making, Almaria and Serena were the youngest in our shop, so they were assigned as "playmates" for the children. Of course, Fortuna and Lucky will be in the playground, too! Toyota and Anthony were to make and give balloons, ice cream cakes, puzzles, and books to the customers. Mr. Johnson and his second son worked as musicians, like always.
Serena and Almaria were having fun with the children at the kids playground. They played freeze tag, hide and seek, hopscotch, AEIOU and many more other games. The children were having fun. Serena and Almaria were having fun, too! it was perfect and business was getting better and better because the shop had everything the children could play with Serena and Almaria at the kids playground, while their parents could chat with each other while enjoying ice cream and milkshakes. Meanwhile, the ice-cream making section were lively too!
Anthony and Toyota worked hard in the kitchen. Blending, mixing, and battering were happening all at once. ZROOOOOOOOOM! TICK TICK TICK TICK! BAT BAT BAT BAT! The table were full of chocolate and whipped cream.
“I wish all this hard work will accomplish something good..” Toyota said. Another batch of Ice-Cream cake were put on the table to cool. Anthony grinned like a Cheshire cat. He was enjoying it! They worked speedily and the cakes were done. They moved on to book writing and balloon making. Fortunately, they were good writers and illustrators. Fine novels and children books were ready on the shelves beside the entrance.
9
As for us, we are free of the time, because not many customers are coming to our store. One day, a family of seven came into our shop. The parents were quite young. They had 4 daughters and a son. The mother, first, and third daughter decided to learn how to make ice creams while the boy and the remaining daughters played with Serena, Almaria, Fortuna and Lucky. The father ordered apple milkshake and a honey ice cream. While the father was enjoying his milkshake, Exoca and I were teaching the mother,first and third daughter how to make chocolate ice cream. Serena, Almaria, Fortuna and Lucky was playing with the son and the other daughters and they found out the son was Daniel , the oldest was Rachel, the second was Ella, the third was Ruth and the youngest was Jonna.
Rachel and Ruth were having a great time learning how to make ice creams. They already tried Mocha, Coconut, and Oreo ice creams! We were pretty proud of them (Or ourselves?) and their mother was delighted. They spent the whole day at Frozen Wolves and soon evening came. They said goodbye and the father, we acknowledged later that he is Mr. Spark, promised to share with his friends about our Ice cream shop. Poor Fortuna whined at them, longing to play games again, and Daniel promised her that they will come back again. Wira patted her and we had dinner together, satisfied. We went to bed early that night, Looking forward to the next day.
10
That day was the busiest day for our ice cream shop. There were so many customers that we had to take out more tables just so we could fit more people. Suddenly, a handsome young man came into our shop. He went and set at the bar, ordered a blueberry milkshake and sat there grumpily. He finished the milkshake, paid, and left. On his way leaving, he knocked over the cups and boxes on the counters rudely, he even kicked the children’s brick castle that took them a long time to make. I noticed it and approached him to question him why he did that. He grumpily said in a deep voice “I don’t care, why would I, the son of the town’s Mayor, care about it?” I was deeply in anger of his rude and obnoxious behavior… I was so mad that I told him if he won’t stop this attitude, he would be banned from Frozen Wolves forever. Suddenly, he softens his tone and apologized sincerely, “I am so sorry. I was having a really bad day, and I couldn’t control my mood, so I made a serious mistake by being impolite to your staffs and the children.” I am a good-natured girl and didn’t want to make a tantrum of a small issue so I accepted his apologies and forgave him.
It rained heavily last night and a flood gushed around the area of Frozen Wolves. Most of our shops were ruined.The young man from yesterday came to our shop and saw the damages so he offered to help us save our shop together. It turns out his name was Tom Nicholas. He said he would ask his father to donate some money for Frozen Wolves to repair the damages. We thanked him heartily and he set off to inform his father. A half an hour later,he came back to inform us his father agreed to donate some money for Frozen Wolves’ to repair what had been damaged from the flood. We closed the shop for a week to clean up the mess the flood had made. My heart broke when I see all our efforts we put into this shop was destroyed overnight… Fortuna and Lucky seemed to understand what was going on and came slowly to my side as if to comfort me. A week later, we are finally able to reopen Frozen Wolves. The day of our reopening, Tom Nicholas and his father, Tim Nicholas came, leading a group of people behind them, cheering loudly and celebrating the reopening of their favorite dessert shop of all times! After the party was over, I asked Tom Nicholas why he helped us to repair our shop.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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