Panda wrestled and tossed in his bed for hours, his excitement was too much to let him fall asleep. He tried rationalizing it so maybe he wouldn't get his hopes up but nothing seems to have worked.
'She won't even know who I am, I can just pretend I'm another customer not the weird guy online who never replied.'
He thought maybe this would help his anxiety over what expectations she might've had. He hoped at least. With a few more turns he finally fell asleep, exhaustion defeating the worry that had kept him awake.
A few hours of sleep was his reward although the alarm seemed to go off the next minute as his red eyes flew open in panic as he smacked the alarm off and rolled off the bed, flopping onto the floor. Manic energy filled up his body as he stood right up stiff as board and ran to the bathroom hopping in and out of the shower and out the door before any of his brothers awoke to his thrashing around the house.
His energy settled as he stood for the bus, initially reeling back and forth on either foot in excitement slowed down to simply leaning his weight back and forth. After an eternity of waiting (10 minutes) the bus came and then the wait to ride into San Francisco.
The sunrise climbs up over the horizon in gold and yellow as the bus screeches to a halt across the street from a lot littered with tents and tables. Stalls filled with fruits, vegetables and various things all homemade save for the staple t shirt and novelty vendors. Panda walks around nervously holding his own hand, glancing around for Dana's stall hoping to find it quickly.
'Oh man there's no hope, I've been around this place twice now and there's no sign of her stand anywhere!' He thought scanning each booth again, feeling defeated he sat down at an empty booth and stuck his head down.
"Excuse me, I know I'm late but could you move I've got to set up." He heard a chipper voice announce, presumably to him.
"Oh right!" He said jumping up from his seat. "Sorry I didn't know this was someone's spot." As he apologized he noticed she was carrying a large box brimming with plastic signs and holders for things. "Do you need some help?" He volunteered.
"Sure that'd be great" the woman said "Hopefully I get ready quick and won't lose too much business!" She set down the box and waved her hand "this way" she gestured leading him to a large van with something on the side he couldn't make out as she was almost touching the other cars beside hers.
"This is a lot of stuff!" the back of the van being packed almost entirely. "Are you really gonna sell all of this?!"
"Well that'd be nice, but it's really wishful thinking and variety. I have a lot of every different kind but no one's buying five dozen pecan sandies more like one of this, one of that." She heaved another box and started towards the stall.
"That's true I don't think I'd even buy one" he chuckled as he followed her setting the heavy box down below the table.
She set her box down beside his with gusto. "And why is that?" She had a slight downward twist to her mouth that showed little irritation, but her voice revealed she was more than that.
He started waving his hands back and forth. "Oh no no no not like that I mean, I just mean…" he stumbled between his words "I meant I'm allergic to nuts I can't eat those not that I wouldn't eat something else you made" he turned red and started heading towards the van again.
Her frown disappeared and she followed in step, the rest of the unpacking went down in relative silence. Moments later…
"Well that's the last one" she said letting down a sign that draped over the table "I appreciate all the help Mr…."
"Oh! Panda just Panda no mister or anything like that" he blushed again looking down to his feet "it was no problem, I hope you sell lots of these…" he gestured to the boxes "...well whatever's in all these"
"Right! I forgot, I guess I never told you what I sell" she tore into a box pulling out multiple metal trays and clanging them onto the table. "I sell…" she wiggled her fingers above the tray like a magician revealing that she'd just split a person in two. "...Cookies!" She pulled off the foil revealing dozens of cookies sitting on the trays. "Well more than that but saying baked goods and other assorted pastries doesn't sound too nice in the moment" she gleamed with joy as she stuck her tongue out at him. She picked up one and placed it out towards him "here try one!"
He took it out of her hand and hurriedly stuffed it in his mouth still feeling the warmth from them sitting under foil in a hot van. "Wow! These are some of the best cookies I've ever had! You could sell these!"
"Well that's the plan" she said gesturing towards the other stalls and her own.
"Oh yeah" he blushed and looked towards the ground twisting his toes into the loose dirt.
"Yep, before you know it everyone will know that Dana's Delights is the first name in great baked goods!"