Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 4)

38. Smart tactics

"I added extra," Muzaffer chuckles, handing over a bag full of oranges and apples. "Enjoy...Everyone! Come and see! Fresh oranges! Apples!"

Nihat is sitting outside with him, watching and taking a teabreak. Across the street Mevkhibe and Melihat were also having tea.

"He's killing my head," Melihat complains as Muzaffer yells. "Does he have to make so much noise this early in the morning?"

"Don't look at the one who screams but at the one making him scream," Mevkhibe narrows her eyes at Nihat.

"Well done son!" Nihat praises at that moment, grinning at Mevkhibe like he heard what she said.

"Eggplants! Cucumbers! Tomatoes! Ah, Aunt Saniya, what'll it be?" Muzaffer asks the newest customer coming over.

"Give me a dozen apples."

"Apples? Okay. I'll add 2 for love!" Muzaffer chuckles and starts packing, glancing over at Mevkhibe. "Let the whole neighborhood know we love them enough to add 2 more!"

"Look at him," Mevkhibe scoffs, "he's acting like he's the prince of 8 villages not the shop owner of one...You know, at home he's like a kitten who spilled his milk, all sulky and here he's acting like he sucked dry the cow. I don't know why he can't be consistent. If his customers had to deal with the sulky Nihat they'd never buy from him again." Melihat starts laughing and Mevkhibe chuckles too.

"Mevkhibe, why don't we start yelling a little bit? Hm? Attract some customers of our own."

"No, I won't sink to their level. I have my loyal customers, I don't need to attract attention. Organic food sells itself."

"If you say so," Melihat lifts a skeptical brow, looking over at the busy store again.

"You have money, I have things to sell! Come on!"

"Deeper Muzaffer," Nihat instructs. "From inside the belly."

"Okay uncle Nihat," Muzaffer nods and then raises his voice even more, growling in a deep voice. "Please come and support your favorite grocer! Apples! Oranges! Eggplants!" He steps into the path of two women. "Hello, I have some incredible radishes, just bought them today. And garlic cloves. How much can I give you? You need a lot in this cold, trust me."

"Sonny, we're on our way to see Mrs Fazillet, we'll see when we come back. But now we're in a hurry."

"Ah, nonsense. Take it now, they're going to go fast."

"No, no."

"We'll come later." They walk past him quickly and he stares after them a moment before he returns to what he was doing.

"Garlic cloves! Radishes! Onions! Ginger! Make your own beer!"

Nihat chokes on his tea. "Muzaffer!"

"Good Lord, it's like being at the theater," Melihat laughs and Mevkhibe joins in, shaking her head at Muzaffer shrugging sheepishly at Nihat's narrowed eyes.

**

"There's a lot of shelters that want to help homeless animals, but because they're not in the financial position to do it, they're struggling." Sanem looks at the table, the usual creative team present only now Polen and Yigit are also there.

"Unfortunately," JJ sighs in agreement.

"Well, I have a suggestion," Polen says and they look at her, "Yigit and I can go to the shelter that needs the most help."

"Agreed," Yigit nods.

"Perfect," Sanem smiles sweetly. "But I don't think that's enough." She goes on. "What if we create a center that unites all the shelters?"