The Duck’s Stand
The duck wheeled his stand in the park. He opened the cooler and started setting out some wares. Then he hopped up on his camp chair and waited.
It didn’t take long for a customer to approach him. The young man walked up and grinned. “Oh good, a lemonade stand. I’m so thirsty!”
The duck looked down at the shiny row of caramel apples. “I don’t have any lemonade,” he said.
“Do you have any soda?”
“No, sorry,” the duck said.
“Water bottles?”
“Nope.”
The young man frowned. “But I’m thirsty.”
The duck nodded. “I understand that. It’s pretty hot out, isn’t it? I think they have what you’re looking for at the corner store, just over there.”
The young man thanked him and left, and the duck sat and waited for the next customer. He managed to sell several caramel apples before the young man returned.
“I bought some water at the corner store,” the young man said. He held up a bottle and shook it. “So now I’m not thirsty.”
The duck nodded. “That’s good.”
The young man grinned. “So, tell me what you’re selling.”
The duck pointed a wing at the caramel apples. “Caramel apples,” he said.
The young man looked closely at the apples. “Right,” he said. “I guess that makes sense. That’s why you have some sitting right there.”
“That’s right,” the duck said. “Would you like to buy one?”
“I don’t know.” The young man frowned. “What kind are they?”
“Just caramel and apples,” the duck said. “Some also have sprinkles or peanuts or chocolate chips.”
“Okay,” the young man said. “But are they the awful kind that rips out your teeth? I need to keep all of my teeth.”
“I haven’t had any complaints,” the duck said.
“But does it pull on your teeth when you bite into one?” The young man leaned forward. “Does it feel like it might pull your teeth out?”
The duck sighed. “Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t have teeth.”
The young man jumped back and held up his hands. “What? You’re saying that it pulled out all of your teeth? And you’re still selling them? Why?”
The duck flapped his wings. “I’m a duck. Ducks don’t have teeth.”
The young man dropped his arms. “Riiiiiight. So, what did you mean then? Are you saying that it is the teeth pulling kind of caramel apple?”
“No, I’m saying I have no idea.” The duck sat back in his chair.
“So, how do you eat caramel apples without teeth?” the young man asked.
“I don’t. I’ve never eaten one,” the duck said.
The young man gasped. “Then these could be terrible for all you know.”
“The ingredients are fresh and from trusted sources, and my focus group loved them. As I said, I’ve had no complaints,” the duck said. “Would you like to buy one and see for yourself?”
The young man scrunched up his nose. “No. I don’t like apples. Do you have any doughnuts? I like doughnuts.”
“No, but they may have some at the corner store,” the duck said.
“Why didn’t you say that sooner? I was just there,” the young man said. And he walked away.
