Overheard at Chipperfields ... Part LV ...

"So, did you hear about the kids at the school collecting the lid plugs?" asked Jaydee, turning to Dani who was preparing an order for a customer.

"You serious?" marvelled Dani, as she pulled a double latte, "the kids are collecting them?"

"That's what my son says," laughed Jaydee, "he said the kids have heard that when you collect a certain amount you can trade them for things."

"Things?" asked Dani, slidding the order across the counter to her customer, "what kinds of things?"

"Well Brent said that for 25 you get a free ice cream cone," answered Jaydee, "and for 50 it's a free twister and for 100 you get any hot beverage on the menu board."

"Has Bonnie heard this?" asked Dani as she counted out the change for the customer and thanked her for dropping 75 cents in the tip mug beside the post.

"Has Bonnie heard what?" asked Bonnie as she strolled up from the kitchen.

"Oh!" exclaimed Dani, her voice sounding more like a yelp, "I didn't see you coming." As Dani spoke to Bonnie, Jaydee turned her attention to the customer standing at the counter.

"What did you wonder if I've heard?" asked Bonnie, her face set and serious, "what do you need to tell me?"

"Oh nothing serious," answered Dani, "we were just talking about a story going around the school about being able to turn in the little plastic lid plugs for stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" asked Bonnie, interupting, "and where did this story come from."

"Oh ... my son told me that if you have 25 of the plugs you can get an ice cream cone, or for 50 you can get a twister ..." Jaydee was pumping a large Colombian for her customer as she spoke.

"Oh one guess where this got started," muttered Bonnie, her jaw tensing.

"Who?" asked Dani, her eyes wide with wonder, "The Rev?"

"No!" scoffed Jaydee, "It could only be ..."

"Ross," snapped Bonnie, "he was talking at the table the other night with J-- and a Anna about the possibility of using the lid plugs as some sort of promotion."

"Did he say anything to kids from the school though?" asked Jaydee.

"He didn't have to say it directly," answered Bonnie, "there was three tables full of students from both schools there when he was talking about using the plugs for a trade in kind of promotion."

"Oh oh," said Dani, standing with her mouth hanging open, "and you know how the rumour mill in this town works, even amongst the kids ..."

"It only takes a spark," answered Jaydee, "and pretty soon the story is off like wildfire."

"So, what are the odds that any one will try to redeem any of the plugs for menu items?" asked Bonnie, "do we give away enough of the plugs to worry about it?"

"I don't think so," answered Dani seriously, then she glanced at Jaydee and the two of them smiled, "but are you sure that shipment of 14 million got back to the company and wasn't hijacked by a bunch of 11 year olds looking for free ice cream."

"Oh gawd," moaned Bonnie, "don't bring THAT up again." The three of them laughed.

"I wouldn't worry about it," answered Jaydee, "because if someone actually came in with 100 lid plugs and wanted a Mocha or something, I think we'd owe them just one for the sake of how much coffee they had to drink to get 100 of the silly things ..."

"Well, that's true," answered Bonnie, considering Jaydee's ideas, "just keep an eye on it and let me know if anyone comes in with plugs for redemption."

"Redemption?" asked Jaydee.

"Trade," laughed Bonnie.

"Oh, I was thinking you were talking to The Rev again and getting more of those double barrelled Churchie terms." said Jaydee, "I know what it means ..."

As the two of them spoke the grade five teachers from the elementary school came in the door, in their hands they clutched baggies bulging with lid plugs. Both Bonnie and Jaydee feel silent as the two approached the counter.

"Hi," smiled Carla as she set her baggie full of lid plugs on the counter, "we heard that you are exchanging 100 of these for a free hot drink. Is it true?"

"Um?" Dani turned and looked at Bonnie, "I'm not sure," Dani searched Bonnie for an answer.

Bonnie drew a deep breath and spoke, "Well, it's actually not true, but we decided tonight that anyone who collected enough of them deserves a free drink." She turned her attention to Dani, "give them a hot beverage from the menu in exchange for the plugs."

Dani looked at the baggie, "Should we count them to make sure there is really 100?"

"If you want," said Bonnie, "but you can do it on your own time ..." Bonnie shook her head and turned back to the kitchen.

Jaydee stood shaking her head as Dani took the baggie and smiled, "So Carla, what would you like?"

"Um," Carla paused and glanced at Debbie, the other teacher before answering, "I'll have the English Toffee Mocha, and she will have ..."

Debbie interupted her, "I'll have the B-52 Mocha please," as she spoke she placed her baggie on the counter.

"For here or for go?" asked Dani as she reached for the glas mugs.

"For here," Carla answered as Debbie nodded her head, "and two chipperdoodle cookies too please."

"Our pleasure," replied Dani as she turned her attention to preparing the order.

"Okay, I've just got to know," said Jaydee, breaking her silence as she stood in beside the post at the till, "how did you two collect two hundred lid plugs?"

"The kids in our classes heard about the exchange thing," began Carla.

"And they collected them for us," answered Debbie, "and gave them to us as a gift."

"Nice," exclaimed Jaydee.

"That deserves a free coffee just for the effort," agreed Dani.