Chapter 2: The Start of an Empire

Agent BM: Thx, and glad to hear that


By the end of the fair, the Potts were all packed up and ready to go home.

"Well Wanda, I think we did pretty good today." Trevor told his wife.

"I agree. How'd you do Honey?" asked Wanda.

Honey had just finished counting her money, and closed her box.

"I made $300." Honey told her parents proudly.

Trevor and Wanda were shocked.

"$300?" Trevor gasped.

"Congratulations, sweetheart." Wanda replied.

"This is definitely enough to afford a Walkman. Right, Dad?"

Trevor smiled at his daughter.

"Yes, that's right."

At home, Honey gave her father the money for her present. And she went to bed feeling very proud and excited.


On the day of her birthday, Trevor and Wanda threw her a little party. Trevor decorated the kitchen with balloons, streamers, and a banner that read "Happy Birthday, Honey", and Wanda baked a chocolate cake and cooked Honey's favorite dinner, lasagna.

Honey smiled as, her parents sang happy birthday to her. And when they finished, she blew out her candles.

"Happy Birthday, Honey." said Wanda, and she handed her her gift.

"Thanks, Mom."

She unwrapped the paper, and opened the box. Inside was a shiny black hand bag.

"The purse I wanted. I love it."

"I'm glad sweetie."

And the mother and daughter hugged.

"And now I'll go get you my gift." Trevor told.

And he left to go get it. As Honey posed with her new purse, her dad came up to her with a shopping bag.

"Before I give this to you, Honey, I just wanna say I'm proud of you earning this with your own money. You were a very good salesperson at the fair. But before I give you this, I want you to promise me you'll be responsible with the rest of your money, and don't go crazy buying music for this thing. You remember that twelve tapes for a penny thing you did when you were 11?" he told her.

Honey sheepishly nodded. When she was 11 she saw a too good to be true deal to get twelve tapes for a penny, and she took it. It was great til she started getting billed for more. She got grounded for a couple weeks after.

"I do remember. Don't worry Daddy, I promise to be responsible." Honey told him.

Her dad then gave her the bag, and she pulled out a Sony Walkman paid for with her own money and two cassette tapes and batteries.

"Thank you, Dad."

And then she threw her arms around him. Trevor returned the hug, and they all ate the cake.


That night, Honey was in her bedroom, jumping on her bed listening to her music and singing into the Walkman. Little did she know, her mom was watching her in the doorway. When Honey saw her mom staring at her, she froze.

"(Shrieks), Mom!"

She slipped off her bed and landed on the floor, landing on a few stuffed animals. Wanda quickly ran to her to help her daughter.

"You okay, sweetie? Are you hurt?" Wanda wanted to know.

"I'm okay."

"You must really like that song you were singing."

"Yeah. You're not spying on me are you?"

"No, I heard you singing and your bed creaking from the hallway so I decided to check on you. Happy with your Walkman and purse?"

"Yes I love them."

"You were a great saleswoman at the fair the other day. Have any money left?"

"About $150."

"Wow, nice amount of money you got there."

"Thanks. I can't believe I made this money myself."

"Well if you choose not to go into our family business, you'd make a great salesperson. Or maybe a nice baker."

"Maybe."

"Now promise me you won't lose that thing, I know you're planning to take that on the school bus."

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll be careful."

Wanda then kissed her on her head.

"Get some rest, and no more jumping on the bed tonight please. Don't need you to break your leg."

"Right."

"Good night sweetie. And don't waste the batteries on that thing in one night."

"I won't mom. Goodnight."

And with that, Wanda left the room.


At school, to Honey's surprise some other students went up to her.

"Hey Honey do you have anymore of those honey buns?" one asked.

"Well..."

"Cause they were delicious."

"They were?"

"So can you make some more?"

"Calm down everyone. I can make some more honey buns, I could bring some next week." Honey told them.

Everyone looked excited.

"Could you also make some of that glaze the buns were dipped in?"

"You liked that too?"

"Yeah, but you don't have to put it on the honey buns. Just make it separately."

Honey was surprised to hear this, but then smiled.

"Okay, no problem." she told.


That night she went to the kitchen, Honey got to work on her treats. When her father came inside from collecting the honeycomb, he was surprised to see Honey cooking.

"What are you doing, Honey?" he asked.

"Some of my school mates want more of those honey buns I made for the fair. And some more of that spread too." she explained.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, isn't it great?" Trevor smiled.

"Yes it is." he replied.


The next week, when Honey brought the honey buns and her special spread. She served them in the cafeteria, and they were a hit. Even some of the teachers and staff liked them, and at the end of lunch a teacher took her aside.

"You know Honey, the school bake sale is coming up. Do you think you could contribute some of these honey buns? You family will be able to half of whatever you make."

"Really?"

"Yes, I'm sure people would love to buy them."

"Hmm, will my parents be able to advertise their business?"

"That's no problem."

"Then I think I would."


Honey told her parents about the bake sale, and they all got to work. They made not only honey buns, but honey cookies, a honey cake, and even some hard honey candy. To put her own spin on things Honey decided to make something new.

She made some flavored honey. She whipped up some strawberry honey, caramel honey, and even chocolate honey. At the sale, the Potts' honey good sold pretty well, and the Potts were able to recognition for their farm.

"Here you go, ma'am." said Honey, as she handed a woman a piece of honey cake.

"Thank you. Your products are so good, you have a future with them."

Honey smiled at hearing that.


That night, she lied on her bed thinking. She thought about everything. How she created her spread, selling the honey products at the fair and bake sale, and how good it felt when she made money from them.

And then something in her mind clicked. So the next morning, Honey made an announcement to her parents.

"Mom, Dad there's something I want to tell you." she told them.

"What is it, Honey?" asked Wanda.

"I've been doing some thinking, and I've decided what I'm going to do career wise."

"Oh, and what's that?" Trevor wanted to know.

"I want to start my own business, and sell more honey products."

Her parents smiled at her.

"That sounds great, Honey." complimented Trevor.

"I'm sure you'll make a good businesswoman." Wanda added.


1995

After that, Honey worked hard to get good grades in school, and looked around for a college that provided good business classes. Honey was now 18-years-old and graduating high school.

In her bedroom, had just put on her nicest yellow dress and black shoes. Then there was a knock at her door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and her parents walked in.

"Almost ready, Honey?" asked Trevor.

"Just about, Dad."

"You look beautiful Honey, and we're very proud of you." said Wanda.

"Thanks."

"And we have a little something for you."

Wanda gave her a small box, and Honey opened it to reveal a lovely pearl necklace.

"It's beautiful."

"Your father and I thought since you're going to be a businesswoman someday, you need something to define your look."

And with that Wanda put the necklace around her daughter's neck.

"Thank you, Mom and Dad I love it."

Then she brought her parents in for a hug.


At the ceremony the class of 1995 stood in their black graduation gowns and hats. One by one the principal called their names.

"Honey Potts."

Honey went up and took her diploma from him. They stood for a picture, and Honey and her parents felt so proud. It was a whole new beginning.

That's chapter 2