mother’s small pet business

Initially, she, her parents, and her brothers hadn’t exactly been well-off. Her father was stuck in a boring office job and spent his free time drinking.
But her mother was an intelligent, humorous, and inventive woman.
Over four years ago, to the surprise of those around her, she started a rapidly growing small business, with which the children helped, and from which the whole family benefited.
For just 5 euros each, she sold small, special pets, which parents and grandparents eagerly bought for their (grand)children.
The little creatures quickly conquered the entire country.
Sinterklaas and Santa Claus had a hard time stocking up enough of them.
Upon purchase they came in a cute cardboard box, with a little handle that fit exactly two fingers and with air holes in the little lid.
The little box also came with a cord, allowing children to carry the pet around their neck outside to take it for a walk.
And besides that, they barely had to worry about it.
They could teach the animals tricks. Especially ‘sit!’ and ‘lie still!’ did well.
‘Roll over!’ also worked, but then they had to lend a hand.
When the pets her mother sold had reached their peak popularity, their family’s financial worries became a thing of the past.
And as fads go, this one too passed quietly.
Her mother got time to do other things again and she too could enjoy her own free time again.
And if a little owner got tired of the special pet, no worries: he or she could then simply lay Rocky somewhere in the garden.