The Vendor's Tricks

The usta has a different trick every time. Here they all are:

• The flip

  Spins the cone upside down — the ice cream sticks. Your hand grabs air.

  “Hop!”

• The swap

  Hands over an empty cone while the ice cream stays on the rod.

  “Where did the ice cream go?”

• Stick trick

  Lifts the cone high on the rod, just out of reach.

  “Easy, easy!”

• The bell

  Rings the bell with the rod and startles your hand back.

  “Ding! Careful!”

• The stretch

  Pulls the ice cream into a long ribbon and snaps it back.

  “Stretchy like gum!”

• The fake-out

  Almost hands it over, winks, and pulls it back.

  “Next time!”

• The orbit

  Circles the cone all around your hand.

  “Here! No, here!”