Purple Pop's Arc

Chapter 3 of 16

Purple Pop wheeled her cart beneath an ivy-covered stone arch, where purple crocuses bloomed at its feet. The shade kissed her jars cool. She tucked a weathered purple crate beside the wheel and packed it with smooth lavender stones to chill her stock. Her candies were safe at last. But the hours passed quiet again. The arch hid her cart like a secret. Footsteps clicked past on the path beyond, never turning in. Purple Pop watched her gumdrops glisten, perfect and unsold. A small figure paused at the edge of the shade. Pale hair, lavender dress, sharp eyes. Violet stepped closer and sniffed the air. "Cold violet. Faint honey. Tuesday's batch," she said. "Your candy is good. Your spot is wrong. Seventeen people walked by without seeing you." Purple Pop's jaw set. She gripped her lollipop tight. The shade saved her sweets but starved her shop. She would not choose between melted candy and missing customers. She would bring the customers to the shade — and she knew exactly whose name could pull a crowd. The mayor owed her grandmother thirty Christmases. It was time to collect.