‘Yeah. So . . .’ Gino looked at her expectantly as she finished chewing and swallowed.
‘So . . . I don’t know. Sorry.’ Mary slunk back in her chair and patted her stomach. ‘I’m too stuffed to think.’
Gino screwed up his napkin and threw it at her. ‘Well, that’s a great help!’
‘Maybe there’s a way of us working together?’ Ava was thinking on her feet as ideas popped into her head.
‘You want to work in the bar? We can’t take anyone else on at the—’
‘No, not like that. With a theme.’
‘What do you mean?’
Both Mary and Gino looked at Ava expectantly.
‘Well if you picked a theme where people needed a costume, and I had a rail of clothes suitable for that theme, in the shop, then bingo! Everyone’s a winner. I’d advertise your night and you’d advertise where people could get their outfit.’
‘That’s bloody genius.’ Mary grinned.
‘Yeah but what would work? If we pick a colour, the food could be hard to sort, and I’m not sure people would be bothered to be honest.’ Gino motioned for the waitress to bring them more coffees.
‘No, it’s got to be smarter than that.’ Ava leaned back in her seat. ‘The 50s night was busy because it appealed to people out of the village. Most of those there weren’t from Dapplebury. We need something that will get folks around here interested in going to their local. So from the events, you can build a steadytrade, remind them their pub is still there and able to offer them a decent night out. The village is dying, and people are letting it happen. We need to build some oomph.’
‘Oomph?’ Gino questioned.
‘Yes, oomph, back into this village.’
Mary smiled. ‘Wow, Ava, I haven’t seen you this fired up in a long time.’
‘Wait, I’ve got it!’
Mary and Ava turned to Gino, who looked fit to burst.
‘Countries!’ He beamed.
‘Countries?’ Ava pondered the concept.
‘Yeah, food and drink from different countries. The music would be secondary, and people could dress up if they wanted — with clothes from your shop.’
‘It’s a great idea. Cuisines from around the world. I like it. But, I’m not sure many people will be bothered to dress up,’ Ava said, attempting to hide her disappointment.
‘I could offer an incentive if they did.’
‘I wouldn’t want you to lose money.’
‘I wouldn’t if I accounted for it in my mark up. Say I offered a free dessert with their meal, for those who dressed up. They wouldn’t be getting the freebie if they hadn’t already had a meal. It could be a win, win.’
‘What if their outfit wasn’t from Ava’s charity shop? They could have already had it at home, or got it from somewhere other than All Critters Great and Small?’
‘Hmm, OK. So Ava gives them a voucher for a free dessert when they buy from her. What do you think?’ Gino looked at Ava. ‘We could start off with Italian. You know how long I’ve wanted Chef to add some Italian cuisine to the menu. Now he’ll have to.’
Ava was still pondering the idea. She wasn’t sure how well it would work when surely it would be cheaper for the peoplejust to go and pay for their dessert than buy an outfit, but she could see how enthusiastic Gino was about it and she wanted to be supportive. And who knew, anything that might bring more money into the charity shop was worth a try.
Established in the late 1980s — off the back of her mum’s passion for being there for all animals that didn’t have owners to look after them in their time of crisis — the wildlife rescue centre needed as much cash coming in as Ava could generate. Surviving on the revenue from the shop, bequests, donations and the goodwill of volunteers got them so far, but more money was always needed. Ava knew her mum’s mantra well. The aim was “rescue, recovery, rehabilitation and release” and that came at a price. While she was unable to go to Critters’ Lodge, and take a front-line role in the rescue centre, managing the charity, and the more recently established shop that supported it, enabled her to feel she was actively helping to keep her mother’s legacy alive; albeit that it required maximum dedication for a minimal wage.
‘It sounds like a plan to me.’ Ava smiled and lifted her coffee cup from the table. ‘A toast, to “Cuisines from around the world” and may the good people of this village support our venture.’
Mary raised her mug to each of them in turn. ‘May your gourmets be great and your outfits plentiful.’
