Ella paced back and forth in front of her tiny, thatched-roof home, her shoes kicking up small puffs of dirt with each step. She was chewing on her bottom lip, impatiently glancing down the street. It had been three days since she commissioned the toothbrushes, and today was delivery day.
Where is he? she thought, bouncing slightly on her toes. Her mind buzzed with excitement. Toothbrushes. She was about to revolutionize personal hygiene in a village where people still thought rinsing their mouths with ale was a solid cleaning method.
Finally, the sound of creaking wheels echoed down the road. Ella turned to see Mr. Wainwright, the village carpenter, pulling a wooden cart. A crate balanced on the back, and his expression was the usual mix of skepticism and mild amusement he seemed to reserve just for her.
"Ah, there he is, the man of the hour!" Ella called, rushing up to him as he slowed to a stop.
Mr. Wainwright, a gruff old man with a bushy mustache, hoisted the crate off his cart and set it down in front of her with a grunt. "Here they are, girl. Twelve fine wooden handles with bristles, just like you asked." He wiped his hands on his apron, shaking his head. "Still don't know why anyone would spend good copper on brushing their teeth. People have been fine without it."
Ella grinned, opening the crate and picking up one of the toothbrushes. It was simple but well-crafted: a smooth wooden handle with stiff bristles made from horsehair at the top. She twirled it between her fingers, admiring the craftsmanship. "Oh, Mr. Wainwright, once people try these, they'll be begging you to make more. You might want to start crafting a few extra now, just in case."
He raised an eyebrow, smirking as he leaned on his cart. "I'll believe it when I see it."
Ella waved the toothbrush in front of him like it was a magic wand. "Mark my words! Soon, people will be lining up to get their hands on one of these bad boys. Imagine the praise when they realize their breath doesn't smell like the back end of a horse anymore."
Mr. Wainwright chuckled under his breath. "That's a miracle I'd like to see."
She tucked the toothbrush back into the crate and smiled up at him. "You'll see. I'm telling you, Mr. Wainwright, this is the future. Toothbrushes today, who knows—maybe tomorrow you'll be making electric lamps with me." She wiggled her eyebrows dramatically, her enthusiasm spilling out of her like a flood.
Mr. Wainwright shook his head, chuckling as he grabbed the handles of his cart. "I'll leave the inventing to you, girl. Just make sure you pay up."
Ella patted the coin pouch hanging from her waist, tossing him a wink. "You'll get every copper, don't worry. And when people are queuing up for toothbrushes, just remember—you heard it here first."
He waved her off as he walked back down the road, muttering something about "crazy ideas" under his breath, but Ella could see the small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
As she stood there with her crate of freshly made toothbrushes, Ella felt her heart race with excitement. This was it. The first step to making her mark on this world, one clean mouth at a time.
Let the hygiene revolution begin! she thought, a victorious smile spreading across her face as she carried the crate inside.
Ella stood back, hands on her hips, admiring her setup. The little stall she had crafted in front of her cottage was humble but neatly arranged, with each of her products displayed with care. The 20 bars of soap, 15 jars of toothpaste, and 12 toothbrushes were stacked in perfect rows, their handmade tags dangling proudly.
She'd thought of everything—the soap, priced at 2 copper for the regular bars, with a special 5-copper lavender-scented option for the fancier crowd. Toothpaste was 3 copper a jar, and the toothbrushes… well, she had priced those strategically. 8 copper for the standard version and 10 copper for the "deluxe" model, which boasted a shiny, polished handle. Because nothing says luxury like a toothbrush with some flair, she thought with a smirk.
Satisfied with her display, Ella stepped back and folded her arms. "Alright," she muttered under her breath.
But as the minutes ticked by, the street stayed oddly quiet. She drummed her fingers on the side of the stall, watching as people walked past, only casting her stall a quick glance before moving on. Some didn't even bother to look at all.
Ella leaned over the stall and sighed, tapping a bar of soap lightly. "Well, this is thrilling. Who could resist lavender-scented soap in the 1800s? Apparently, everyone."
A couple of hours passed, and her enthusiasm was starting to wane. One old man with a scruffy beard shuffled by, eyeing her setup suspiciously.
Ella shot him her best saleswoman smile. "Interested in some soap? Or maybe toothpaste? I promise it'll make your breath smell like a meadow, instead of, well... whatever that is."
The man snorted, raising a brow. "Never needed soap before, don't see why I need it now."
Ella winced but kept the smile plastered on her face. "Because you don't know what you've been missing! Trust me, once you try this, you'll never go back to... um, whatever you've been doing."
He grumbled something unintelligible and hobbled away, leaving Ella to groan and drop her head into her hands. "Fantastic," she mumbled, rubbing her temples. "At this rate, I'll be lucky if I sell one toothbrush before I'm 30."
She straightened up, brushing the dirt off her apron. "Okay, Ella, time for Plan B." She cleared her throat, hands cupping around her mouth as she tried her best street vendor impression.
"Soap! Fresh, clean, lavender-scented soap! Toothpaste to keep your teeth sparkly, and toothbrushes that'll make you the talk of the village!" Her voice rang down the street, but only a few heads turned briefly before going back to whatever they were doing.
A woman with a baby in tow walked past, and Ella leaned over the stall, trying not to sound too desperate. "Hey, uh, wouldn't you love to try some of this soap? It's perfect for... uh... delicate baby skin?"
The woman glanced at the bars of soap, then at Ella, and wrinkled her nose. "What's wrong with regular water? I wash my baby in the river. He's fine."
Ella opened her mouth, then closed it again, biting back a laugh. Oh boy, I've got my work cut out for me.
She leaned back on her stall, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Of course they wash their babies in rivers. What was I expecting, a line of eager customers asking for exfoliating scrubs?"
Ella stood at her stall, growing increasingly restless as passersby threw quick glances her way but kept walking. She wasn't about to let this slow start dampen her spirits, though. If there was one thing Ella Foster was known for—besides being a genius—it was persistence. So, she took a deep breath and channeled her inner street vendor.
"Step right up, ladies and gentlemen!" she called out, waving her arms enthusiastically. "Get your hands on the latest innovations in cleanliness! Soap that doesn't smell like sheep! Toothpaste that won't knock your neighbors unconscious! And toothbrushes—yes, toothbrushes—to keep your teeth shining like the Duke's shoes!"
Her pitch was bold, loud, and completely out of place in this quiet village. A few people glanced her way, brows furrowed in confusion. One old man even gave her an odd look, muttering, "Duke's shoes?"
Ella pressed on, undeterred. "Come on, folks! Treat yourself! Or, you know, at least spare your friends from the smell."
Finally, a woman with two young children stopped in front of the stall, eyeing Ella suspiciously before picking up a bar of soap. She sniffed it with a wrinkled nose, as if expecting it to smell terrible.
"What's so special about this soap?" the woman asked, still skeptical.
Ella beamed. "Oh, only that it's made from pure plant oils! No animal fat, no weird mystery ingredients—just goodness! Plus, it smells like lavender, and it'll keep your skin soft, even after a long day of washing clothes or chasing after little ones." She nodded toward the two children tugging at the woman's skirts.
The woman's expression softened at the mention of "soft skin," and she picked up another bar, holding it a little closer to her nose this time. "Soft skin, huh?" she mused, her interest clearly piqued.
"Like a baby's bottom!" Ella quipped, eyes twinkling.
That earned a chuckle from the woman. "I'll take three," she said, pulling out a small pouch and handing over the coins.
Ella's heart practically leapt out of her chest. "Three bars, coming right up! That's 9 copper, thank you very much!"
As the woman walked away with her purchase, Ella stood there for a second, stunned. Did that really just happen? Her first sale! She quickly straightened her display, feeling a new burst of energy.
Before she could bask too long in her victory, a few more people started to approach her stall, drawn by the exchange they had just witnessed. A lanky man with missing teeth and a curious expression stepped up next, cautiously picking up one of the jars of toothpaste.
"What's this for?" he asked, shaking the jar like it might reveal its secrets.
"That, my good sir, is toothpaste!" Ella said proudly. "You spread it on a toothbrush—like this one—" she held up a brush for emphasis, "and you scrub your teeth. Minty fresh breath and a healthy smile! Revolutionary, right?"
The man narrowed his eyes. "Teeth scrubbin', huh? Never heard o' that."
"Well, today's your lucky day!" Ella chirped, nudging the jar toward him. "Imagine your mouth feeling as fresh as the morning dew, and your breath? Why, it'll smell like a spring meadow instead of a barn!"
He blinked, then nodded slowly. "I'll give it a try." He handed over 3 copper, and Ella quickly packaged the jar for him. She couldn't believe it—another sale!
And just like that, more people began to gather. Ella barely had time to catch her breath as she explained the benefits of soap, toothpaste, and toothbrushes over and over again. A farmer bought a toothbrush for his wife after marveling at the "fancy handle," and another woman who had overheard the lavender soap pitch grabbed a few bars for herself.
As the afternoon wore on, the crowd around her stall grew larger, and soon she was surrounded by curious villagers, all eager to see what the fuss was about.
"This one's got a deluxe handle," Ella told a particularly curious woman as she held up the polished toothbrush. "Perfect for, you know, impressing guests—if that's a thing people do here."
"Fancy!" the woman cooed, handing over 10 copper without hesitation.
Ella, wide-eyed, muttered to herself, "Holy cow, this is actually happening! I'm selling out!"
By the time the sun began to dip toward the horizon, her stall was wiped clean. Every bar of soap, every jar of toothpaste, and all 12 toothbrushes were gone. She counted up her coins quickly, nearly giddy with excitement.
Twenty bars of soap, gone. Fifteen jars of toothpaste, sold. Twelve toothbrushes, all snapped up. Ella looked down at the pile of copper coins in her pouch and grinned from ear to ear. I made a small fortune today.
As she packed up the empty stall, she couldn't help but let out a little victory cheer.
Back inside her tiny house, Ella dropped herself into the creaky wooden chair at her small, makeshift table. She was exhausted, her feet aching from standing all day, but the grin on her face refused to fade. In front of her lay a small but glorious mountain of copper coins, with a few shining silver ones sprinkled in.
"Alright, let's see what we've got here," she mumbled, rubbing her hands together as she began sorting through her earnings like a kid counting candy after a successful trick-or-treat haul.
First, the soap. "Twenty bars of soap, three copper each... that's 60 copper," she counted out the coins, placing them neatly into a small pile.
Next, she picked up the jars of toothpaste in her mind. "Fifteen jars at three copper... 45 copper." She nudged that pile next to the soap earnings, trying to contain her excitement.
Finally, the toothbrushes. She chuckled, still amazed that people had bought them so quickly. "Eight of the regular ones at eight copper, and four of the deluxe ones at ten." She took her time with the math, not wanting to rush her favorite part. "That's... 136 copper."
She leaned back, eyeing her grand total. "Two silver and 36 copper," she said, almost in disbelief, running her fingers through the coins like a small dragon hoarding its treasure.
Ella grinned to herself, barely able to contain her glee. "Two silver coins on my first day? Not bad for soap and toothpaste!"
She leaned back in her chair, letting out a long sigh. Her body felt like it had been through a war, but the victory was sweet.
Her stomach rumbled, but she waved it off. "Food can wait. I'm too rich to care right now," she muttered with a laugh, her voice trailing off into a yawn.
She stared at the ceiling, her mind already buzzing with new ideas. She'd go back to Mr. Wainwright tomorrow—double the toothbrushes. No, triple them. And she still had more ideas tucked away in her genius brain. Maybe she'd start thinking about her next product—a hairbrush? Better laundry soap? Oh, the possibilities were endless!
Ella closed her eyes, still grinning, her mind spinning with dreams of future success.
"This is only the beginning," she whispered to herself. "Next stop... total village domination."
With that, she drifted off, exhausted but victorious, knowing she was onto something much bigger than just soap and toothpaste.
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Ella has a mouth on her (～￣▽￣)～, anyways hope you like.