"What ya doin', Grandpa Hosea?"
"I'm making good old fashion snake oil."
Jack's face scrunched up, his little mind whirling with thoughts. He watches Hosea stopper another bottle and label it carefully with a new brand.
Lafonde & Son
He sets it down on the table next to the others and starts on another bottle.
"What is snake- snake oil?"
"Snake oil is whatever they want it to be," Hosea said looking down at Jack as he continued to mix. Jack's face peered over the edge of the table, eyes wide as he looks at the other bottles.
"Anything? So it could be, um…," he falls silent, face set in concentration. His eyes light up a moment later, a smile spreading across his face, "Chocolate?"
Hosea chuckles, setting the mixing bowl down on the table.
"Well not exactly… It's more like," he pauses, scratching his chin, "more like, a wish for something else. Let's say you're bald… Like Bill for instance. Well, for him I would say that this can help him with whatever ails him. Maybe even grow his hair."
"But isn't that lying," Jack whispers, tiny hands gripping the edge of the table.
"No because I didn't tell Bill that it would help regrow his hair. I told him that it can help with whatever ails him. You see the best way for a sale is to give them the hint of an idea. Most folks if they're desperate enough will be more than willing to do rest of the work. But it has to be good and it can't be anything fantastical or else they'll run you out of town."
He wipes his hands on a rag and reaches into his jacket, taking out a large chocolate bar.
"Now, don't let your mama catch you eating that. She'll have my head!"
He chuckles as Jack nods solemnly before grabbing the chocolate from his hand and running off. He picks up the mixing bowl, thoughts sailing back to another little boy with wide curious eyes.