Milk man

Belle opened the door, only letting her head pop through the space.

"Oh, good morning, Monsieur Trayeur." Belle smiled.

"Oh, good morning Belle. I'm here with your delivery." The kind old man said.

"Oh, but I'm afraid we didn't order any." Belle replied, perplexed.

"Oh I know. Just that, I heard whispers around town that you have a secret." The old man leaned closer.

"Um...what kind of secret?" Belle asked, blushing as she instinctually pressed her body against the door to keep hidden despite the fact she was already mostly obscured.

"I heard rumbling that you're in need of...a couple jugs." The man said.

"I beg your pardon?" Belle asked, offended.

"I just heard whispers, but I figured if you truly needed some milk, I'll stop by." The old man smiled.

"Huh? Oh! Um sure. I'll take the, er...jugs, but I'm afraid we can't pay you for your service, only the goods." Belle explained.

"Its ok. I'm here to serve. Besides, if your in dire straits, I'm sure you can deliver the goods." The man said.

"What?!" Belle asked, shocked at such an insinuation.

"If you need money, you can be my assistant and help deliver milk to the town. Not everyone can pay you, but it's better than staying inside and hoping your father sells one of his dangerous doohickeys." The man said.

"Well, thank you for your offer, but I think we'll be just fine. Let me go get your payment." Belle said closing the door.

Belle shook her head, unsure of if that old man was toying with her, or if she was merely projecting her own fears and insecurities onto the conversation. She quickly got the cash and walked back to the door, opening it enough for her head and arm to fit through. She casually held out her hand.

"This should he enough. Just set the, er...jugs downs and I'll take them in." Belle stated.

The old man tipped his hat as he set the milk jugs on the front step, and took the money form her hand before saying a quick farewell as he walked back to his cart and pushed it down the road.

Belle looked at the two large glass containers of milk and sighed. It was either a prank or a genuine misunderstanding, but now she had these, and not sure how she and her father would drink or use this much milk. She heaved one with both arms and walked into the kitchen, setting it on a table before open their ice box. She placed the milk inside and went back to the front to repeat the process.

"Oh! Did you order milk, Belle?" Her father asked emerging from the cellar.

"No, Papa. It was a misunderstanding, but I still paid the man for his trouble. He now have two large jugs of milk, and I have no clue what to do with them." Belle lamented.

"Oh, I was saving some money to buy you clothes that fit your new body, but I suppose we don't need to do that if I can reverse the effects. Speaking of which..." he said.