Scaled Up The Excitement

I’m working alone in the little outdoor gift shop trailer at a tourist attraction when a family comes into the shop: mom, dad, a little boy, and his older sister. The boy is fixated on the bouncy rubber balls, while the girl browses the plush snakes with mild disappointment.

Me: *Pointing upward.* “We also have bigger snakes on the top shelf.”

The girl looks up and freezes. Her eyes go wide. There, coiled on display, are 5’6″ plush snakes. She turns to her dad, excitement radiating off her.

Dad: *Groaning with a smile.* “Why did you have to point those out?”

Now the boy is bouncing with excitement too, chanting about snakes instead of balls. Minutes later, they walk out of the shop with enormous snakes draped around their necks like scarves, both kids grinning from ear to ear.