“Brr! It’s colder than I thought,” said Benny as he zipped up his jacket.
It was the first day of spring break, and Benny, Violet, Jessie, and Henry Alden were enjoying their new freedom by going on a walk through downtown Greenfield, Connecticut. The morning air was just beginning to warm.
“Aren’t you glad I made you wear your coat?” Jessie asked. She was twelve and always looking out for her six-year-old brother.
“It definitely doesn’t feel like summer yet, but it sure is a beautiful day,” said Violet, who was ten.
All around them, the green in bushes, trees, and grass was starting to show. The sun was warming the dew off of the grass.
“Where should we go first?” asked Henry. He was fourteen and the oldest of the Alden children.
“I’d love at least one new book to read,” said Jessie. “Why don’t we go to the library? We could all get books.”
Benny huffed. “Going to the library is almost like going to school,” he said. “We just got done with school yesterday!”
Jessie smiled. “All right, Benny. What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know. Something fun—and tasty!” Benny said.
Henry chuckled. “We just finished breakfast. Maybe you can wait a little while to eat.”
Benny shrugged and hopped from foot to foot down the sidewalk, ahead of the others.
“What if we decorate the boxcar?” asked Violet. “It’s been a long winter, and it could use some attention.”
The Aldens really liked the boxcar. It had played an important part in their lives. After the children’s parents died, the children had run away. They were afraid of their grandfather, whom they had never met. They worried he would be mean to them, so they hid in the woods, where they found the boxcar. For a while, the children lived in the boxcar. They had lots of adventures and even found their dog, Watch, in the woods. Later they learned that Grandfather was very kind and had been looking for them. He brought the Aldens and Watch to live with him, and he had the boxcar put in the backyard, to use as a clubhouse.
“Good idea, Violet,” said Jessie. “Let’s be on the lookout for decorating ideas for the boxcar.” Jessie patted her pocket where she kept her notebook and pen. She usually took those things wherever she went.
“And I’ll start thinking of projects to work on,” said Henry. “I’ve been meaning to—”
“Woah! Look at that!” said Benny, who had stopped ahead of them. He pointed across Main Street, where people were standing in a line that stretched far down the sidewalk.
“I wonder what they’re waiting for,” said Jessie.
“What does the sign say?” asked Benny. “The letters are all funny shaped. I can’t read them.”
Jessie read aloud from the colorful sign. “‘The Donut Dispensary.’ That place wasn’t here the last time we came into town.”
“What’s a disp…a dispens…a whatever it’s called?” asked Benny. “And did they spell doughnut wrong?”
“A dispensary’s a place that gives out things to people,” Jessie explained. “I don’t think anyone uses that word much anymore. But a lot of people spell doughnut d-o-n-u-t. I think it’s okay to spell it either way.”
“Another doughnut shop!” said Benny. “That makes two in Greenfield!”
The Aldens crossed the street. But when they got to the store, they couldn’t see very much. The crowd of people was too thick to see into the window or doorway.
“Maybe we should come back later when the line isn’t so long,” said Henry.
Violet agreed. “Even if people think this place is so great, I can’t believe their doughnuts are better than the ones they make at Delilah’s Doughnut Shop. And there’s never a line like this there.”
“These doughnuts look crazy!” said Benny, coming out of the crowd. “I ducked down and got close to the window, and I saw one that had bacon and syrup on it!”
“I don’t know if that sounds great or terrible.” Jessie chuckled. “But I am curious what other kinds they have.”
As the children watched, people strolled out of the busy doorway carrying small bags and paper coffee cups.
“It’s really full in there,” Henry said, standing on his tiptoes. “It doesn’t look like there’s any place to sit.”
“That’s weird,” said Violet. “I like to sit down and enjoy my food, like we do at Delilah’s.”
“I agree,” said Jessie. “Why don’t we go see what’s going on there?”
“And get some doughnuts!” said Benny. “Do you think they have ones with bacon and syrup?”
“Oh, Benny,” said Jessie. “You know the real attraction is our friends, Dawn and Steve. I wonder how they feel about the new doughnut shop in town.”
The children turned to leave, but a tall, thin delivery man in a brown uniform was right behind them. He had a two-wheeled hand truck loaded with boxes and was trying to get through the crowd.
“Sorry, folks,” he said. “Sorry. I need to get in the door. Thanks for moving aside.”
As the Aldens stepped to the side, one of the boxes started to fall and Henry caught it.
“Woah, nice reflexes, young man,” the delivery man said. “Thanks for the help.”
“No problem,” said Henry, setting the box back onto the stack. “Do you need help getting that inside?”
The delivery man shook his head. “I should be able to weave my way in. Thanks again.”
As the man disappeared into the crowd, the Aldens continued on their way. It was only a few blocks to Delilah’s.
When the four children stepped inside the shop, they breathed in the wonderful smell of freshly made doughnuts. There were plenty of tables in the large, open room. Customers sat, chatting and enjoying themselves. A few people stood at the counter, ordering.
“Aldens!” called a friendly voice. “How nice to see you.” A short, dark-skinned woman with big, smiling eyes came around the corner, wiping her hands on her apron. She gave each of the children a quick hug.
“Hi, Dawn,” said Jessie. “We came to see you and your husband.”
“And your doughnuts,” said Benny.
Dawn laughed. “Of course you did!” she said. “Please, take a table and come up and order what you’d like. Steve is really busy right now, but I’m sure he’ll say hello when he sees you.”
It looked like both Steve and Dawn were extra busy, even though the shop wasn’t full of customers. The children could easily see Steve because he towered over most of the customers. He had wavy silver hair and broad shoulders. He came hurrying out from the back room with a large tray of doughnuts to put onto the racks behind the counter. Then he turned quickly to help the next customer at the counter. Dawn rang up orders, brought customers their doughnuts, and refilled coffee cups for people at tables. She barely seemed to have time to say hello to customers.
“I’ve never seen Dawn and Steve so busy,” said Jessie. “Dawn usually loves chatting with people. Sometimes she sits right down at the table!”
“You’re right, Jessie,” said Henry. “I wonder what’s going on.”
The Aldens left their jackets at a table and went up to the counter. On the racks were signs with the names of each kind of doughnut: glazed, powdered sugar dunkers, chocolate dunkers, jelly doughnuts, and Delilah’s Classic Buttermilk Dollie Doughnuts.
“They all look so good,” said Jessie. “I don’t think I can decide. The chocolate dunkers are kind of gooey in a great way. And the buttermilk ones are so puffy and tasty. And then there are the glazed ones that practically melt in your mouth. Mmmm.”
“We could each order a different one and share them,” suggested Violet.
“You guys can do that,” said Benny. “I want one of each!”
Henry, Violet, and Jessie laughed. “You can order one, Benny,” said Henry. “We can each pick our own favorite. And let’s get some milk too.”
All this time, Steve hurried to and fro, carrying trays of doughnuts from the back room. When he saw the Aldens, he smiled and waved at them, and then he hurried away.
“Poor Steve,” said Dawn, after she took the children’s orders. “Our apprentice baker quit last week, and we don’t have a replacement yet. We have more work than we can keep up with right now.”
“What’s an apprentice?” asked Violet.
“It’s someone who’s training for a job,” said Dawn. “Nathan had been with us for a year. He was really getting to know the business.”
“Why did he quit?” asked Benny. “I think it would be fun to work here.”
Dawn sighed and looked down. “I wish I knew why he quit. Nathan was such a good worker, even though he and Steve sometimes disagreed. He told us he was leaving only three days before he went. That’s not enough time to find a good replacement.” Dawn looked frustrated and a little sad.
“We can help, Dawn,” offered Henry. “We’re on spring break now. We can do lots of things for you this week.” The other children nodded.
“That would be such a big help!” said Dawn. “But are you kids sure you want to be helping out here while you’re on break?”
“What could be better than being surrounded by doughnuts?” asked Benny.
Dawn broke into a smile. “Let me think of some jobs that you children could help me with, and you can get started tomorrow.”
“We can help you with that too,” said Jessie, pulling out her notebook and pencil. “I’ll make a list of the jobs you want us to do.”
“Great!” said Dawn. “But first, have your doughnuts. I’ll come over to your table when things quiet down.”
While they waited, the children ate their doughnuts and looked around the familiar shop. The walls were covered with old-fashioned, tan wallpaper that had tiny, pale flowers on it. There were knickknacks on shelves and hanging black-and-white photographs from old times. Brown ruffled curtains hung from the middle to the bottom of each window. The floor was made of dark, square tiles. The tables, chairs, and even the counter where the doughnuts were sold were all made of dark, smooth wood.
“This shop feels happy,” said Benny as he wiped crumbs from his mouth.
Henry laughed. “I think you mean that you feel happy being here, Benny,” he said.
“Delilah’s has lots of happy customers,” said Jessie. “Most of them stay and chat with each other.”
“I like hanging out here too. The old photos and posters are so interesting,” said Violet. “They seem like old friends I’m visiting.”
On the wall were photos of Steve’s parents, Delilah and Fred, who had opened the shop many years before. There were also old photos of the shop itself. One of them showed the huge neon sign that had once been outside.
The posters were very old advertisements with drawings of smiling soldiers. Young women offered the soldiers doughnuts from huge tubs. Some posters mentioned National Doughnut Day. Others had photos of women called “Doughnut Girls.”
Dawn was just passing by with her coffeepot. “Have you seen the new doughnut shop yet? My friend Hilda Ramirez is the owner.”
“Your friend owns The Donut Dispensary?” asked Henry. “Aren’t you worried that her store will take away your customers?”
“I don’t think that will happen,” said Dawn. “Our shops are different in many ways. I think Hilda will find her own customers. Besides, people who come to Delilah’s are very loyal. We always have the same five favorite doughnuts and the best coffee in town. More important, we give them a lot more than just doughnuts and coffee.”
Dawn’s big, warm smile got even bigger.
“What do you mean more than doughnuts and coffee?” asked Violet.
“You know,” said Henry. “Like Benny’s happy feeling. Right, Dawn?”
“Exactly!” said Dawn.
The door banged open. “Oh! It’s Charlie,” she said. “I have to go.” Dawn hurried to help hold open the door.
“That’s the same delivery man we saw at The Donut Dispensary,” whispered Henry.
The tall, thin man in the brown uniform frowned as he wheeled his hand truck through the door. He seemed to be complaining to Dawn, who was helping him. The hand truck banged into Jessie’s chair, and the delivery man swerved to avoid hitting Benny in the leg. The children heard the man grumble, “If you’d just clear a path to the back instead of having all these tables here, I wouldn’t have so much trouble getting my hand truck through the room!”
The Aldens watched the man push his hand truck toward the back room.
“That was strange,” said Jessie. “That man seemed so nice when we saw him at the other doughnut shop.”
“He was nice,” said Henry. “But not now. Not here.”
