Babe Delahunt runs the Busy Bee Bakery with her husband Bud. It’s over on Main Street here in Mahoosuc Mills. They’re open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week during the summer. Babe’s a real peach, give you the shirt off her back. But she has a limited tolerance
for snotty tourists and has her own unique way of handling them.
I was in there the other day getting a coffee frappe (got to keep up my strength) when I witnessed Babe at her best. This fella from away barges in, talking on a cell phone like we all want to know his business.
“Look,” he says, “I need to see some results in the next sixty days or we’re pulling out!”
Me and Babe exchange eye contact and smile.
Yeah, yeah,” he continues, “you’re breaking my heart. Later. Later!”
He doesn’t even wait for Babe to finish up with me. “Can I get a cappuccino?”
Babe doesn’t miss a beat. Winking, she hands me my change, and I settle in to watch the show. She walks up to the fella and says, sweet as pie, “Oh, I’m sorry, sir. We don’t have cappuccino. I can get you what we call a Maine Mocha Latte Grandé? That’s our special house brew, blended with domestic chocolate and topped with a dollop of faux crème.”
“Whatever.” he says. “That’ll do”
“Coming right up!”
Babe lets the guy cool his jets while she bustles about clearing tables and wiping down the counter.
“You on vacation?” I says to him.
“Yeah,” he replies, while texting someone. “Fishing.”
Fishing for what, I’m thinking, as Babe disappears into the kitchen and returns a few minutes later with a tray. On it is a teeny, tiny mug about the size of a juice glass.
“Here you go,” she says. “A genuine Maine Mocha Latte Grandé.”
The fella isn’t surprised at all by the size of his drink. He takes a sip, seems to like it, and chugs the rest.
“How was it?” Babe asks.
“Not bad! And that’s coming from a real coffee aficionado. There’s something about that flavor. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Bold, yet unpretentious.”
“We aim to please! Would you like another?”
“No, I’m good. How much to do I owe you?”
“Well,” Babe said smiling, “because I couldn’t help you with that cappuccino, I’ll give you a special price. That’ll be $8.50.”
The fella doesn’t even bat an eye. He throws a ten on the counter like it’s nothing, just as his cell phone starts ringing. “Speak to me, and make it good news!” and he bolts out of the Busy Bee. Babe and I watch as he wedges himself into some little sports car, fires it up, and blasts down Main Street like he’s late for a wedding.
We pause to savor the interaction. Then, I turn to Babe and say, “Maine Mocha Latte Grandé?”
“How about that, huh?”
“What’d you put in it?”
“Oh, our regular Maxwell House poured over a Hershey’s Kiss and topped with Cool Whip!”
“Babe, I got to say, if anything’s bold, yet unpretentious, it’s you.”
“Back at cha, Ida!”
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Maine Mocha Latte Grandé
Coming Up This Summer
August 22: The Best of Ida, ACT ONE Summer Festival, 2:00 & 7:30pm, Portsmouth, NH
August 24: The Best of Ida, Celebration Barn Theatre, 7:30pm, South Paris, ME
August 29: The Best of Ida, ACT ONE Summer Festival, 2:00 & 7:30pm, Portsmouth, NH
Check out my full schedule here.
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