CHAPTER 32

 

When the six of us stroll into Willy B. Williams’s Taffy Shoppe, we see Victoria busily arranging the different colored and striped taffy pieces in their bins.

And since she knows everything about everything, she’s also boring a tourist family out of their gourds. As she organizes and reorganizes, she gives them an unwanted history lesson, occasionally gesturing with a fistful of candy.

“Saltwater taffy isn’t made with salt water from the ocean like you’d think,” she explains. “So how did it get the misleading name? you’re probably wondering.”

“Um, no,” says the dad. “Not really.”

Victoria remains oblivious. “Allow me to explain. In 1883, a big storm hit Atlantic City. The waves washed over the boardwalk and flooded all sorts of shops, including a candy store. When a young girl came in after the storm, hoping to buy taffy, the owner looked at his soggy merchandise and said, ‘All I have is saltwater taffy.’ The little girl didn’t get the joke. She just bought the saltwater taffy. The store owner thought it was a catchy name. So it just sort of stuck. The same way taffy sticks to your teeth…”

Jeff Cohen’s eyes go wide as Victoria explains the history of the shoppe. His jaw drops. “Wow. That girl is soooo smart.”

“That’s Victoria,” I tell him. “She’s my sister.”

“Really? She’s so much prettier.…”

I want to slug Jeff in the arm, but I can tell: He’s been hit by an arrow from Cupid’s bow, which is even stronger than that one made by a Tartar.

If Jeff’s heart were a big red balloon, and Victoria’s gaze were a squirt gun, it’d probably be popping right about now.