Читать книгу Bedtime Stories for the Child in You - Louise D. Jewell - Страница 11

I didn’t eat candy much as a child. That’s because I lived in the country, and it simply wasn’t available.

Now, when my Aunt Denise, who lived up the street, opened her corner store, life took a significant turn. I now had access to treats.

One day, Mom called me over. “Here. Get yourself a treat.” She planted a dime into the palm of my hand.

I now think she likely needed me out of the house. My very sick baby brother took up most of her time. And rightly so.

A hop and a skip and I landed at Aunt Denise’s front step. Her shop consisted of a deep freeze and a board with trinkets pinned to it. These two items sat on her screen porch.

Knock. Knock. The screen door swung wide open. Aunt Denise glanced down.

“Yes?”

How does a four-year-old child place an order? “Ummm. Mommy gave me ten cents. What can I buy for that much money?”

“A chocolate ice bar.” I could see Aunt Denise had things to do. She was wearing an apron. I knew I had to make it quick.

“May I buy one, please?”

Aunt Denise ducked under the wool socks drying on a clothesline above her head and flipped the freezer door open. The upper half of her disappeared inside. She handed me the frozen treat. With her other hand, she reached for my dime.

“Thank you,” I piped.

My aunt nodded and opened the screen door. I examined the wrapping and held the cold treat against my cheek. Ahhh. I peeled back the paper wrapping and studied my first purchase ever. Eyes closed, I took a lick.

Heaven on earth!

And that was the day I was introduced to my favourite childhood candy.

The most important thing about education is appetite.

~ Winston Churchill