A juicy business opportunity

Hello everyone!

I'm late for this one (sorry about that!) but the challenge prompt for the first fortnight of November in the Sylvanian Families Collectors Community was:

Challenge #21: Gratitude

As the year’s harvest comes to a close, autumn is a wonderful time for Sylvanians to express gratitude for all sorts of things: a successful harvest, a full cupboard, family and friends, good health, warm clothing, comfortable homes, and all the abundance that comes with life in the forest.

There are many ways for Sylvanians to express gratitude. Some villages may celebrate gratitude with a harvest festival, feast, ritual, or other special event. Individuals might make a gift or write a special thank you message to a family member or friend. Gratitude can be expressed simply or extravagantly, in village-wide events, within families or small groups, or between individuals.

Make an item or items, photograph a scene, write a story, or do whatever inspires you to do something creative around the Gratitude theme!

And here's my contribution to it. Hope you enjoy it!

--

It was a chilly morning in the village of Arcfield, as Autumn was already in full swing and Winter was swiftly approaching. Nicholas McFarlane, the village's mayor, was saying goodbye to Arcfield's newest resident, Miss Ophelia Blackberry. They had just finished signing all the necessary documents in his home.
"And now that all the paperwork is done," he said, smiling, "you're officially a resident of Arcfield, Miss Blackberry. It's an honour for me to be the first one to officially welcome you here. I'm sure you'll enjoy living in our village!".
"Thank you very much for your help, Mr McFarlane. I'll just be on my way now". Not saying anything else, and barely giving him a slight smile and wave, Ophelia Blackberry turned around and started walking down the road that led back from the mayor's house up in the hill to the village itself. 

Nicholas couldn't help but think that she was a little strange. A young woman such as her, appearing out of nowhere and coming to live alone to a small village like Arcfield? She didn't speak much, and apparently hadn't told of her past to anybody. Still, Nicholas hoped that the friendly atmosphere in the village would help her relax and eventually open up a bit. He was certain that the residents of Arcfield could help her heal whatever wounds she might be hiding in her heart.
Or maybe she simply preferred to be left alone. He couldn't be sure, but she didn't really strike him as a timid person. Shrugging, he went back into his home. As mayor, there was always so much to do!

On her way towards her small new home, Ophelia passed by the town square. The Harvest Festival was already in full swing in Arcfield, and many of its residents had set up stalls and carts to advertise and sell their goods and food. Two of such residents were Arthur and Molly Waters, who were selling their home-grown produce on their fruit cart. Their fruit looked very appetizing, plump and shiny, and so it caught Ophelia's attention.

"Good day, Miss Blackberry" Arthur smiled when he noticed that Ophelia was looking at his fruit. "Could I interest you in some fruit? I can assure you it's delicious!"

Ophelia didn't have time to reply, as Molly Waters suddenly appeared at their side, smiling brightly at her. She had been attending to another customer, but had quickly sent them on their way as soon as she had spotted Ophelia. Molly was very interested in this quiet, lonely girl, who was a mystery wrapped in an enigma. She swiftly and abruptly interrupted her husband and took control of the conversation.
"Oh! Dear Ophelia, what a pleasure to see you here! Would you like to try one of our oranges? Come here, come here, I'll weigh one for you... Even better, two!"

Mrs Waters quickly led Ophelia away from her husband and next to the weight they had installed on their cart.
"Mrs Waters, wait a moment..." muttered Ophelia, but to no avail, as Molly ignored her and just kept talking and carefully weighing the fruit.
"My husband wasn't lying, you know? Our fruit is the absolute best around. We grow it ourselves, see? Whether you eat it as is or use it to make a pie, we guarantee the best flavour!"
"Mrs Waters..." 
"Oh my, my dear, please, just call me Molly!". Molly Waters' smile was as bright as the sun. Ophelia slowly blinked, twice, and finally managed to utter a complete sentence.
"Molly, please... I'm grateful for your kindness, but I don't currently have any money on me".

At these words, Molly Waters smiled even wider, if that was even possible, and quickly put the oranges in a basket to give to Ophelia.
"Oh, but that's no problem, no problem at all! Here, take them, consider them our welcome gift to you. Take some pears and grapes before you leave, too. Have you already finished your paperwork with mayor McFarlane, good old Nicholas?"
"Ah, well, yes..."
"Of course, of course, I knew it! I thought you had come from the hill. Don't worry about the money, please don't! All I ask is that when you come by my house to return the basket, you stay for tea and a little chat, hmm?"
"Oh... Well, yes, I guess I can do that". Ophelia seemed somewhat taken aback, and her voice was soft, but she nodded. "Thank you very much, Molly. And you, Mr Waters".
"Don't worry about it" said Arthur, smiling softly at her. "And just Arthur is fine".
"Thank YOU, my dear!" Molly Waters was over the moon at the perspective of learning all about young Ophelia's life and past. "And welcome to Arcfield!"

After Ophelia left, Arthur approached his wife, a frown on his face.

"You were too pushy, Molly. Do you really care about her past and her reasons for moving in so much? What if the girl just wants to keep it private? It's really none of your business".
"Ah, nonsense, nonsense, Arthur! I just want to make her feel welcome, I just invited her for tea, that's all! I want to be her friend, she's always all alone, the poor thing! It's that so bad, really? Don't be such a grump! It makes you look old".
Arthur sighed. He adored his wife, he truly did; he admired her generosity and honesty, and loved her candour and warmth, but he found her prying ways truly annoying at times. He knew it was futile to argue with her, so he decided to just drop the subject.

The following afternoon, Ophelia Blackberry knocked on the Water's door. Molly was delighted, as she was expecting her. She went out to invite her in... And was very surprised to see that she was carrying a huge blackboard with her.

"Welcome, dear Ophelia...! Oh, but what is this, my dear? It sure looks like it weighs a ton!"
"It's... indeed a little... heavy. Molly." Ophelia was out of breath; she left the blackboard on the floor with a deep sigh. "I've brought it because... because I'd like to make you and your husband a... a business proposal".
The expression on Ophelia's face was deadly serious, and Molly was quite astonished, so much that she didn't even know what to say. And that was rare for her! She had expected to have a heart-to-heart with Ophelia, sharing the tea and cookies she'd made for them both. But, a business proposal? She sure hadn't been expecting that.
Taken aback, she called her husband so that he'd help the young rabbit take her huge blackboard inside.

Once everything was ready, and the blackboard had been installed on the Waters' living room, Ophelia asked the couple to sit down on the sofa and began her presentation. She was quite earnest, and Molly was so shocked that she didn't even think of bringing out the tea and cookies. Only the coffee Arthur had been drinking was on the living room table. The afternoon was surely shaping up differently from what she had expected!

"First of all" Ophelia said, solemnly, "I wanted to thank you for the delicious fruit you gave me. I enjoyed it very much; this is why, being that I am new in town and that I do not yet have a job, I'd like to propose you a business collaboration. And what I'm proposing is that you sell me some of your fruit, which I will use to make juice and jam. I will, of course, clearly announce that they're are made from your delicious fruit. This will thus benefit us both".

The Waters couple were astounded. It was the first time someone proposed something like this to them, and besides, it was quite surprising to see Miss Blackberry talking so much, and in such a resolute way! She was normally so reserved and quiet! She attentively studied her reactions, and then kept talking:

"How many pieces of fruit do children need to eat per day? How many do your children eat, Molly and Arthur, even though you grow the fruit yourselves? I'm sure you have to fight with them sometimes to get them to have their daily rations. But, what do children love? Precisely, juice and jam. One glass of fresh juice contains a great portion of the vitamins children need to stay healthy. And it's also wonderful for adults, of course!"
After making a small pause to clear her throat, she continued.
"Furthermore, I'm sure that, even though you work so hard to harvest your delicious fruit, there's a lot that goes to waste; pieces that don't look good enough to sell, for example, but that I could use for my juices and jams. If we collaborate, we'll be able to use your whole harvest, sell delicious fruit, juice and jam to the villagers AND make a profit!".

As she finished her proposal, Ophelia breathed deeply through her nose and stared at the Waters, waiting for their reply. Since they didn't immediately react, she uttered a final sentence:

"And that is why I'm proposing that we work together". Her voice sounded a bit softer, her adrenaline levels lowering. "If you'd like, of course". 
Finally, Arthur Waters let out a laugh and started clapping. Molly looked at her husband, smiled, and started doing the same. 

"Now, that's an entrepreneuring young woman if I ever saw one! I think you managed to convince us!".

Ophelia blushed almost imperceptibly and gave them a tiny smile. Molly thought that she seemed happy, and felt like she was already starting to understand her a bit better; and she hadn't even needed to ask any questions!

Several days later, the big day arrived at last! Ophelia had been tirelessly working on her fresh juices and jams using the Waters' delicious fruit, and she was now slowly carrying her things to a bench that was near where the Waters usually parked their cart. She hoped no one would mind if she sold her products there until she could get something better.

So, as you can imagine, she was very surprised when Mr Waters appeared with her sons, Fred and George, carrying a big piece of furniture and a small table!
"Oh? What's this?" she asked, confused.
"Well, you see" Arthur Waters said "Even though I run the fruit cart with my wife and we grow our produce together, I'm also quite good at building and fixing things; and since we're now business partners, I figured you needed a place to properly sell your delicious juice! You'll even have room to display some fruit on it".

"And I also made you a small table for your juice makers and jams. You can set your things as you'd like, of course!" Arthur smiled as he looked at Ophelia and at the furniture he had made for her. He looked quite satisfied with his work.
Ophelia was speechless. She stared at both pieces of furniture, dumbfounded. It even looked like Molly had sewn a small mantelpiece for the juice bar.
"But... Arthur, Mr Waters... I... I can't pay for this".
"Pay? Who has said anything about paying? There's no need; as I mentioned, this is simply part of our business collaboration". Still he smiled sincerely at her. 
Ophelia opened and closed her mouth several times, looking for something to say, but couldn't find anything. She couldn't believe the Waters where being so nice to her, when they barely knew her at all. Her feelings overwhelmed her, and brought tears to her eyes. She wiped them with the back of one hand and looked at Arthur, her voice slightly trembling.
"I'm... I'm so grateful. Thank you, thank you very much!".
"You're welcome, of course!".

And that was how young Ophelia Blackberry ended up working with Arthur and Molly Waters, selling delicious fresh juice and homemade jams using their carefully grown fruit. Her products are quite popular in Arcfield already! I wonder if Molly managed to learn of her mysterious past, of if she has decided to give her some space for now!

I tried to reflect the theme for the challenge by incorporating both the Harvest Festival and the gratitude Ophelia felt for the opportunity and the help the Waters gave her. 

Hope you enjoyed this story, and sorry it took so long to get it finished!

Have a wonderful rest of November!