Sweet Hot Chocolate
“Oh, that was cold,” said Bobby the Butcher, stepping out of the deep freezer in his tidy, rustic butcher shop. He shivered, pulling his coat tighter around him. “It is cold outside and even colder in that freezer. I could really use some warmth!”
A cheerful voice broke the quiet of the shop.
“You could always stop by my new cafe just up the street,” suggested the customer standing by the counter.
She was a strikingly beautiful woman with kind eyes and a warm smile.
“We serve the best hot chocolate this side of Storyland,” said the young woman, smiling. “First one’s on the house!”
Bobby perked up, shaking her outstretched hand.
“I like the sound of that,” said Bobby enthusiastically. “My name is Bobby the Butcher, and you must be…Clarissa?”
Clarissa laughed gently, drawing back her hand from Bobby’s icy grip.
“That’s me!” exclaimed Clarissa. “And, wow, you’re freezing!”
Her gaze lingered on Bobby’s frost-bitten expression.
“It’s a tough gig in the winter,” Bobby admitted with a shrug. “Not only is it freezing outside, but I’m constantly going in and out of that freezer. Makes it hard to stay warm.”
“Well, stop by the cafe when you’re off,” Clarissa offered, heading towards the door, then paused and laughed lightly. “Oh, silly me, I completely forgot what I came in for!”
She quickly ordered a selection of deli meats and cheeses.
Before she left, he added, “Don’t worry—I’ll deliver it myself in a bit. Just to make sure it reaches you fresh.”
Later, with Clarissa’s order neatly bundled, Bobby turned to his Aunt Jessica, who was busy tidying up the shop.
“Aunt Jessica,” he began, smoothing his apron, “I’m heading to the new cafe to drop this off. Could you keep an eye on the place while I’m gone?”
Aunt Jessica raised a playful brow at him, noticing the unusual spark in her nephew’s tone.
“Ah, I see you’ve met Clarissa,” she teased. “Be a dear and bring me back some of that famous hot chocolate. I’ve heard it’s to die for.”
Bobby grinned, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
“I might not be back for the rest of the day,” he replied, already halfway out the door.
Aunt Jessica laughed, waving him off. “Something tells me there’s more to that hot chocolate than meets the eye. Go on, have some fun, Bobby!”
With a spring in his step and a warm sense of anticipation, Bobby walked through the wintry streets towards the cafe. The thought of a steaming cup of hot chocolate and the chance to chat with Clarissa filled him with an unfamiliar but pleasant excitement. For the first time in a long while, the cold of the season seemed to fade, replaced by the promise of warmth, laughter, and perhaps something even sweeter.
Moral of this Story:
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