I woke up early today to head straight to my perfume shop, ScentSational. I got dressed, did my hair and makeup, and headed out. Today, we would have significant customers, and I had to be prepared.

When I got to the shop, Darnell, my assistant, was already preparing for the day. “Morning, Darnell!” I said cheerfully. “Oh! Good Miss Mattie!” He said, turning and waving to me with a huge smile. Darnell was only 15, but he was an outstanding, cheerful worker.

I was going over to my workstation when suddenly I sneezed. “Bless you!” I heard Darnell yell from the other side of the store. No, no, no, no! I can’t be sick! I have an important customer today! I’m known as the nose of the town because of my good sense of smell! I need my nose. Wait! Maybe I can still smell! I picked up a bottle of perfume from a nearby shelf and held it up to my nose, taking a deep smell… Nothing…

I let out a small cry. Darnell must’ve heard it because he came running over. “Miss Mattie! Are you alright?” He said with a worried look on his face. “No…!” I said on the verge of tears, “I can’t smell!” I was sitting on my desk chair with my head in my hands, and then, suddenly, Darnell hugged me tight. “It’s ok, Miss Hattie! I can be your nose till you feel better!” “Really? You would do that?” I asked, looking up at him. “Of course! Anything for you, Miss Hattie! See, look!” He picked up a bottle of perfume and, without reading the label, said, “This is Ash wood and rose petals with a hint of ivory.” He said with a grin on his face. “You’re an amazing teacher, Miss Hattie! I can do it! Not as well as you, but I can try!” I laughed to myself. He’s such a sweet young boy.

About an hour later, after the store had opened, I was sitting at my desk, with Darnell by my side, when I heard the bell to the shop ring. “Welcome to ScentSational!” I called, not looking up from my work. “Darnell, could you please go help the customer?” I asked him. “Yep! Be right back, Miss Hattie!” he said, jumping up and running to the front of the store.

A few minutes later, I heard the bell chime again, and Darnell was back at my side. “Who was it?” I asked as I added a rose petal to the small bottle in front of me. “It was some old lady wanting perfume for her granddaughter.” He replied, sitting back in the chair next to me. He was silent for about 5 minutes, then suddenly jumped up and started talking loudly. “I think I know how you can get your smell back quickly!” “Quiet down!” I hissed to him. I didn’t want anyone to walk in and hear him screaming about the fact that I couldn’t smell anything.

Unfortunately, someone had heard him… “Can you really not smell anything, Matilda?” I heard a deep voice say from behind me. Oh no… “S-Sir!” I stuttered as I stumbled out of my chair and to my feet. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Darnell’s once excited face, sink into a look of surprise and fear.

“Please say that again, Darnell.” The tall, intimidating man said, staring Darnell down. When I looked over at him, I saw that he was shaking and looked like he was about to sink into the floor. “M’Lord, I’m sorry, but my assistant has a job to do, so if we can get to business, that will be great,” I said, distracting the customer from Darnell. This man was our important customer. He’s the Duke of Strailinne. “Duke Ryker, please follow me; I will show you the prepared perfumes.”

After the Duke left, buying all the perfumes I showed him, I went back to my desk to where Darnell was sitting and noticed that he was crying. “Darnell, what’s wrong?” I asked, putting my hand gently on his shoulder. “I-I’m sorry!” He said, standing up and hugging me tight. “I almost ruined your business with my big mouth!” “It’s ok, Darnell; you didn’t do anything wrong.” I hugged him back.

“Well, it’s time to close up shop for the day. Go home and tell your parents you are doing a good job as my assistant.” I said, stepping back and smiling. “Y-yeah! My, uh, parents!” He said nervously. “Is everything ok?” I asked, suspicious about the way he talked about his parents. “Uh! Yeah! Everything is fine!” He said quickly. “Darnell…” I said, hands on my hips. “If something is wrong, you can always tell me.” “Ok… the truth is…” he said, looking down as if ashamed. “My parents… died a few years ago…” He’s an orphan…?

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner,” I asked, a plan brewing in my mind. “I- I-“It looked like he was on the verge of tears again. “Well… there’s nothing else I can do other than to…” “I get it… you have to fire me…” he said, looking at his feet. “Well, no,” I said, a smile coming to my face. “I was gonna say… the only thing I can think of to do is to adopt you.” I watched as his face lit up. He jumped into my arms, hugging me tightly and crying happily. I hugged him back before saying, “Well, we should head home.” “Ok, mom!” He said, smiling brighter than I had ever seen before. We both laughed happily as we went out the front door, heading home as mother and son.