"Thanks Ernie." Jake, Emma, and Noah said as Ernie placed their drinks in front of them at the breakfast bar. Almost viciously, they dug into their sundaes.

"Anything for some of my best customers." Ernie said with a wink. After an enormous bite of his own sundae, Jake noticed Ernie looking past him and smiling nervously. Discreetly, Jake followed his gaze and to his surprise was met with a lean man in a formal suit sipping on a smoothie examining the whole store.

"Hey, Ernie..." Jake said quietly. "Who's the dude in the monkey suit?" Upon hearing this, Emma and Noah both turned to where Jake was pointing and looked at Ernie with curious smiles.

"He is a critic." Ernie said just as quietly, but with a friendly smile. "He's here to survey the store. From the licensing company."

"Licensing?" Noah asked. "Why?"

Ernie leaned closer. "You three can't tell anyone. But I'm planning to expand Ernie's."

"Really?" the three of them said increduously.

Ernie's smile grew with much more light, they noticed. "Yes," he replied with excitement. "I want to create a bigger space for the customers, maybe add a lounge and a TV here and some more walking space there."

"Ernie, that's great!" Emma said cheerily.

"Yeah, you're gonna do so awesome!" Jake added.

"And you know if you need any help, you've got us." Noah reminded and gestured to the three of them. Jake and Emma nodded in heavy agreement.

Ernie smiled thankfully at three of the city's best teens. "I do. Thank you all."