Accalia filled her bag with different sizes of the perfumes and oils and set out. Although she didn't plan to step out that day,she changed her mind. She would sell the bottles to some of the town's people,who had pre-ordered.
She had four stops before returning home to rest. Her first stop would be at her landlady's house. The old lady had requested some moisturizing oil for her frail hands. Accalia walked up the porch and knocked on the door.
"Who's there?",Lady Belle called out.
"Oh it's me, Accalia", Accalia replied.
"Awww! My sweet child. Come on in",the old lady said sweetly leading Accalia in.
"You have a lovely home,Lady", Accalia complimented.
"Thank you. I love a warm home",the lady replied.
"Explains why the fireplace is crackling", Accalia joked to herself.
"I made the sweetest bread buns you can imagine. Please sit, let me get you some coffee to go with the buns' ',Lady Belle offered.
"No.. please Ma'am. I'm afraid I won't stay for tea. I still have three houses to deliver some oils today", Accalia declined politely.
"Really? In that case dear,let me package some bread buns for you. Would you like that?",Lady Belle asked.
"Of course. I'll love that. Thank you", Accalia replied smiling broadly.
Lady Belle was the sweetest old lady she'd met. She wouldn't hesitate in sharing her popular baked bread buns. Everyone loved her because she was very heartwarming. Lady Belle pushed a little box filled with freshly baked bread buns into Accalia's hands.
Accalia placed the oils on the cabinet and hugged Lady Belle, before leaving. She wished she could have spent more time but she had business to meet up with. Lady Belle walked Accalia to the door and handed her some cash, the negotiated amount for the oils she ordered.
She didn't know what to expect but with the warm reception of Lady Belle, Accalia was spurred on. Taking a turn at the corner, Accalia stumbled across a young girl sitting by the road and sobbing quietly.
Accalia paused and took a long look at the girl who hadn't noticed her presence,then decided to approach her to investigate what was wrong with her. Accalia crouched on her knee and tapped the young girl gently.
"Hey! What's the issue?", Accalia asked calmly.
"I'm.. sorry. It's nothing",the young girl said between sobs.
Accalia persisted and finally got the girl to raise her head,then it struck her. She had seen this before but she couldn't place it. Oh! Right! That's true. It was the shy freckled-face girl,who walked with her friends sometime ago.
The girl on realizing that it was Accalia,she dabbed her face quickly, trying to shield her tears. Accalia stretched her hands and persuaded her to join her for a walk which the young girl obliged.
After a few steps, Accalia spoke up. "Do you agree with me that today is a lovely day?".
"Yeah.. maybe",the young girl replied calmly.
"I'm sorry..I didn't get your name?"Accalia suddenly remembered.
"Right..my name is Eunice",the young girl smiled softly.
"It's a beautiful name and it's a beautiful day", Accalia announced excitedly, making Eunice to chuckle for the first time.
"And it's too beautiful for a beautiful girl like you to cry,"Accalia finally said, turning to face Eunice.
Accalia looked around for a quiet spot to sit along the way,while Eunice fidgeted with her hands. They spotted a comfortable place and moved to sit there,as Accalia placed the bag of bottles gently on the ground and brought out the box of bread buns for them, to eat as they chatted.
"Lady Belle makes the best bread buns I've ever eaten", Accalia said, sinking her teeth into the soft snack for a bite.
"Yes. Everyone loves her bread buns", Eunice agreed.
"Do you think I'm not pretty enough?", Eunice suddenly said.
"What? No..I think you are beautiful. Very beautiful. You have the best flow of brown hair and it matches with your eyes", Accalia answered honestly.
"Thank you. It's just that I don't seem to be getting any attention from the guys like the other girls", Eunice said sadly.
"Listen I know you are beautiful and kind and very smart and those are the main traits people look out for. You have a beautiful heart and that's it. If no guy can see that, it's their loss", Accalia said firmly, looking at Eunice.
"How old are you?", Accalia asked
"I'm turning Seventeen in two months. But there's this guy I fancied,but I don't know if he likes me too", Eunice replied.
"Darling! Look! You're still too young to get cramped up because of issues like this. All I need you to do is never entertain self doubts. All this fuss better not be because of these sparkling freckles on your face cause that's what stands out beautifully", Accalia said lovingly.
Eunice laughed hard and hugged Accalia tightly. "I knew you were special and kind",she said.
"Oh really? I'm blushing hard", Accalia joked and they laughed together.
"I'm curious though to hear about those young crushes of yours but I have some sales to go back to", Accalia said.
"Sales? Can I come with you? I could help",Eunice offered.
"Mmm.. okay. Eat up then. We have three houses to round off", Accalia said hurriedly while eating the bread buns.
Accalia had filled her water flask with some cold water,so they drank from it and rose to leave,with Eunice trudging behind her. Soon,they finished up the houses and Accalia notified that she would take Eunice back home.
Eunice held Accalia's hands as they climbed the stairs to her door. Eunice turned the door knob and walked in while Accalia walked in carefully.
"Mom? I'm home!", Eunice shouted at the stairs.
"Coming honey. You took some time out there. What have you been up to?", Eunice's mother said, walking down the stairs.
"Mom. This is Miss Accalia", Eunice tried to introduce before her mother cut her off.
"Honey. I know who she is. She's the beautiful large emerald green eyed beauty in town",her mother joke and everyone laughed.
"Mom?", Eunice tried to protest.
"Forgive my manners. I'm Vera, Eunice's mother",the plump woman said.
"It's so good to meet you. I've heard favorable things about you", Accalia said politely.
"I'm sorry. It's been a long day. I'll leave now. Just wanted to make sure Eunice was home safe. But here,I saved the last bottle for both of you. It's one of the best scented oilsI made", "Accalia said, handing over the bottle to Vera.
"Oh my! I'm so grateful. Please come around next time,let's catch up, okay", Vera said warmly, waving to Accalia who smiled out.