Malt was delighted. It had taken no small amount of paperwork to get his dream shop set up. There was the project proposal (tricky in itself), then the building application, renovation, inspection...;-basically more paperwork that the stallion had ever seen in his life and hopefully would never to see again.
But it was all worth it. The opening ceremony had been modest and now, there was a steady stream of regulars who made frequent visitations to his establishment. It was more than Chocolate Malt could hope for. Humming a soft tune to himself, Malt kept a watchful eye as bowls of cream, chocolate and almond fillings whizzed overhead while batches of hazelnut praline cooled on the table below. It was amazing really how it all came together. Removing a batch of chocolate brownies from the oven, Malt was just about to indulge in a piece when the doorbell jingled.
“Be right with you!” whinnied the stallion as he left the kitchen. Plopping on a goofy looking paper crown, Malt trotted out with a ready smile on his face. “Welcome one and all to the Chocolate King-,”
Here Malt stopped and stared. There was no mistaking it. The familiar carriage, the haughty stance. There was only one phony in all of Phonyland that could pull it all off. And she was here.
Gulping inwardly, the young stallion cautiously approach the mare. She seemed to be interested in a rather fine batch of dark chocolate truffles with a decadently rich caramel filling. So much so that his approach went unnoticed; which made Malt feel oddly flattered. You knew you were doing things right when the customer’s full attention was on the chocolate.
“Ummm...how may I help you?” whinnied Malt nervously; his paper crown perched precariously at an angle.
