Quick Candy Shopping

'Ms. Johnson,

I am glad to hear you have my bag, and that we have established contact. Where might I ship your diaper bag? My address...'

The email continued with some information, and a picture of her laptop. That was the one! Typing out her response, Alexa bit her tongue in thought. As she thought, a message from Devin popped up.

Devin: Watcha up too? :D

Alexa: In the airport still....

Alexa sent a picture of the airport to him, and continued some light conversations as he talked about his college campus.

A slight tug on the leash of her backpack made her stop staring at her phone, and start looking around her.

"Want to grab some last minute candy? This place is a local business with a spot in the airport." Carol said, eliciting a thumbs up from Alexa.

The two used the card given to them to check out the small little candy shoppe. Alexa filled a bag with all the sweet junk she could find or remember she liked; several times, Alexa went too far from the leash, and realized she had to track with Carol more closely. Carol was a bit slower, grabbing candies she knew her husband liked or might want to try. He was a psycho who liked the spicy candy, so he would like this stuff.

"Candy for the little lady?" The old man in an apron said, smiling at Alexa.

"Yes, uhm, yes please sir." Alexa said, putting her bag up on the counter.

"Good manners. Your mom has trained you well." The man said, taking Carol's bag as well. Ringing them up, he offered them a few samples, all of which Alexa took and gave a good review. No other customers were coming in, so the old man made conversation with the two women.

Carol was enjoying talking to the man, especially since the alternative was sitting in their seats until boarding began. Discussion veered into business, and Carol mentioned her husband and his constant travels nearby. Taking the candy sellers card, she exchanged it with her husbands. A little bit of promotion never hurt anybody. When it came time to finally pay, Carol made sure to tip extra well, especially since the money wasn't even her own, it was left over from the backpack and Lexi's diapers cost.

"Thanks so much, traffics slow. Your business is appreciated" The kindly older man said, then looking down at Alexa, who had been eager to try her candy. He reached under the counter, pulling out a very cute pink water bottle, decorated with the company logo and lollipops. Along with it came a large swirly lollipop, and a sticker which stated 'Candyman's Lil Helper', which was promptly stuck to Alexa's backpack shoulder strap. Carol knew part of it was the man schmoozing her indirectly, but she saw the excitement on Alexa's face at the lollipop.

"Thanks so much sir!" Alexa said, unwrapping the large circular swirly pop and licking at it. If Carol hadn't known Alexa's true age, she definitely would have a completely different image in front of her; she was sure the candy man thought she was just an excitable young girl. Whether it was the cute ponytail and headband, the dress which gave no credit to any curves, the slight puff around her waist that an observant parent might know, the angelic white tights, the schoolgirls shoes, or the leashed backpack, Carol didn't know. They all were childish and without much adulthood in them.

Saying their goodbyes, Carol took the two of them to fill up Alexa's new stainless steel pink water bottle, then to their seats where boarding would begin soon.

Alexa was desperately trying to polish off the lollipop before that happened.