Libby and Matthew ✘

Four | A TIPS JAR?

[ this chapter is dedicated to cynosure- because she is my bub ily <33 ]    

The rest of the day is pretty laid back, a few customers here and there but mostly just Seth, Richard and I. I had pocketed the ten dollars in my shorts pocket until I knew what to do with it.

"Seth, you okay?" I'm just going to the back room for a second," I inform him. Seth looks up and nods his head, I just had a great idea.

Once I was in the back room, I turn on the little light bulb above me and look around the small room.

"Now if I was a jar where I would I be hiding?" I mumble to myself searching through the few boxes we have in here. I find old tins of paints, a few paint brushes and an old mirror but no jars. Sighing, I'm about to give up and go back out empty handed when I spot one on the shelf right beside me.

"Stupid jar!" I say as I grab it, it's probably around 20 cm high which is what I'm after. "But you are the perfect size," I say smiling as I turn the light off and make my way back out.

"Here is your ice-cream miss, that'll be um..." I look up to see my little brother standing on a little wooden box behind the flavours. Seth has also managed to grab one of the aprons and put that on over his uniform, although it drags on the floor he looks so cute.

I look up towards the young lady who is smiling at Seth and takes her over-filled ice-cream, laughing. I recognise her as Miss Heather, a local and also our neighbour. Laughing too, I leave the jar on the bench and come over to stand beside my proud brother. Leaning down, I whisper the price to him.

"That'll be three dollars please," he says smiling as he takes the change and looks at the cash register, then looks up at me.

"Here, I'll do that," I say taking the change and putting it in. "Have a lovely evening Miss Heather," I say waving as she leaves. 

"You too and Seth."

"Did you see me Libby, I was just like you!" Seth exclaims loudly, grinning from ear to ear. "I got the cone from the pile and then added the ice-cream," he frowns as he looks down at the floor beside my feet. "Although I made a bit of a mess, I'm sorry!"

"You did an amazing job Seth, I'm so proud of you," I say leaning down and hugging him. He's the sweetest littlest brother you could ask for, and I adore him dearly. "Could I use a piece of your paper and a marker?" I ask him as I grab the mop behind me.

"Yes! I'll go and get them," he says carefully stepping off the wooden box and rushing over to the booth where his stuff is. I quickly get to work cleaning the ice-cream spill that is on the floor as I wait for him.

"Here you are Libby," he says coming back to me with the paper and a red marker. I put the mop back away in its place before turning and taking the objects.

"Thanks little guy," I say glancing at the clock above our heads. "After I finish this we can head on home, okay?" Seth nods his head and goes back over to the booth to pack up his things. While I on the other hand grab the marker and scribble a message on the paper.

TIPS JAR
ALL MONEY RAISED IS APPRECIATED!!

Smiling I take the sticky tape and stick it on the jar before placing it on the counter near the register. I feel someone tugging on my shorts and look down to see Seth with his bag on his shoulders.

"What's a tip jar?" he asks tilting his head to see the jar sitting up on the bench.

"It's a jar which people can put money in, you can also raise money for someone or something as well." I explain as I take the ten dollar note from the back pocket, I know where this is going to go now.