“Oh, Pete! You just gotta give that scooter a spin! It flies like the wind! Just get Eliot to give you a quick lesson in how to use the brakes before you start off. Yeah, you’d think so. But it was a lot more fun once I could slow down and stop the thing. Speaking of which, are you done bringing boxes in, Eliot? Do you want us to carry that last load inside for you? Well, okay. Just let us know when you’re ready.”
“Hey, girls! Can we help you with that load? You sure? Well, just call if you need help. The Merry Men are always here to help! Just out of curiosity, what do you call . . . um . . . what you’re doing tonight? Can’t exactly call it a stall, but do you have a sign for your part of the event? See, guys. ‘5-Minute Portraits’. That tells you just what you’re going to get. I still don’t get why Bunty calls her place the “Sheep Shop”, when she doesn’t sell sheep.” [All stare at George in silence.]
“Thanks for the offer, but we’re good. Bunty did mention, Pete, that you’d make the easel stable and sturdy for us out there on the sand. Any time would be all right with us. Really. Take your time. We’ll just leave everything over there and come back later this afternoon to set up.”
“It’ll be ready by the time you get back. But don’t forget, Harold’s doing pizza for lunch for all the volunteers. And he’s got a special Spinach-and-Sheep-Cheese topping just for you! No, it’s free. Eliot paid for everyone. By the way, Harold, would you give Bunty a buzz and tell her all her boxes are here? I’m going to get Sun-Ho’s ice, but just call if you need anything. No, I don’t, but I think he took off on the scooter again.” Beep, beep, beep, beep.
“Hey, George. Do you have your radio? Your radio! George! Eliot, you’re going to have to take the key out of that thing before he hurts himself. Well, I’d better get the ice to Sun-Ho so I can start working on that easel. Which one of you thought that an art easel in the sand was a good idea? Oh. Sorry. Speaking of Bunty, I just saw the Redhead Club go into the Sheep Shop. If they need help, just let me know.” Beep, beep, beep, beep.
“Is that the last of the boxes? Good, because this store is full to the brim! No one can say we don’t get straight to work, can they?!”
“Oh, Brighton! Are you sure you should be carrying that many at one time? Lightweight? Then maybe that’s the rest of the yarn and roving I ordered. You can take those right over to where Natalya is, and she’ll tell you where to stash them. Good question. Hey, Nat! Have you got a box cutter?”
“In here somewhere.” Giggling. “I hope that’s the last for this area, because we’re pretty full. Why don’t we just stack those under the table and re-stock later? Mind, though, if we take a peek before we stash them? Might be something in there we need . . .”
“Ooh, glad I looked. Brighton, you’ve got to see this new color . . . and look at this one. What? Okay, but I want to go through them all before we open. It’s always so much more fun to be the first one to open the box. I was working with a friend at a fiber show once, and we didn’t have time to look through the boxes before we opened. I never want to live through that again . . . it was sheer agony. Everyone bought all the new stuff, and the two of us had to stand there and smile as they paid and gushed over what they’d found. Pardon me? No, I think we’re pretty full here. Let’s save those for later.”
“Where do these go, Bunty? They feel pretty heavy. Think they’re the rest of the Wool Week souvenir mugs that you’ve been waiting for? Why don’t you let me unpack these while you do something I can’t do? Oh, well. In that case, I’ll just put them behind the counter. That’ll be easy. What next?
“Can I help you with these? There’s a whole box of them, but I don’t see where the display is. All right, I’ll figure something out over here near the rest of the figures. What are you doing about those souvenir mugs?”
“I thought I’d just leave the three of them over there as a display. I’ve got the rest of the stack under the counter– Right there, where they’ll pay. I’ve got some unwrapped but had Jill & Silver gift-wrap the bulk of them. So, when you’re helping people, just ask them which way they’d like their mugs. No, I’d rather not sell the display mugs, unless we run out from under the counter. Unfortunately, that is all I’ve got. I don’t know. If they sell out, we’ll just have to spotlight these Wool Week ornaments. Yes, Jill is so fabulous with a paintbrush! I asked her for a few souvenir ornaments with RBST sheep on them, and she outdid herself! And look at these surprise “Bunty’s Sheep Shop” balls. Those girls are so clever.”
“While you’re up there, Georgie, would you mind putting these paintings on those easels? Jill just dropped them off and thought Bunty might like to put them in the sale. And when we’re done here, I’d like to borrow that crate.”
“What do you think of this picture, Georgie? I think it’s a Longwool Mama and her lamb. Hey, Bunty? Mind if I buy this one? Oh, no. That’s fine. We can display it, but please don’t sell it to someone else. I have the perfect place in my studio to hang this.” Giggling. “Wouldn’t it be funny if we bought everything and couldn’t open? Just kidding, Bunty. Only half kidding, though. I see a lot of stuff I might need.”
“Oh, Nat! Just feel these Leicester Longwool locks! Almost makes a girl wish she knew what to do with them. What, Bunty? A ram named Albert? How cool. Not only can you make something with these, but you know the name of the sheep they came from . . . I’ve never felt anything so soft.”
“Do you think it’d be silly to buy a bag of these to just feel when I get home? I’d like to show them to my friend, Carlotta. She loves everything arts-and-craftsy, and I’ll bet she could figure out something to do with them. Even if she just wants to feel how soft they are.”
“Is this what you had in mind, Bunty? Anything else to go up here? May as well do it all at once. Georgiana, could you please hand me that blue sweater? Thanks. There! That’s very nice. Bunty, this shawl is beautiful. I just love natural dyes! Why, hello, Eliot! She’s over there, in the corner. It’s going great, thanks.”
“Harold has a surprise for you. Got a minute to come with me to the diner?”
“You girls don’t mind, do you? Hate to run out on you like this. Thanks! What stuff? Oh, just put it wherever you think it looks nice. Just remember where you put it when people start asking later, okay?” Giggling. “Um, how about meeting back here a little before five? Well, the Street Fair begins at 5:00, but you’re probably right. We always have earlybirds. Okay, so how about 4:30? Have fun visiting, and don’t buy out all the stores. Did I tell you that Harold has pizza waiting for you at the Diner? Sorry, I forgot. He’s feeding all the volunteers, and you three positively qualify as volunteers. No, Eliot already paid for everybody. It’s his treat. Well, toodle pip!”
“Toodle pip?”