Often on Friday afternoons, my youngest two kids and I will stop at an old fashioned general store in a tiny town on our way home. We park alongside the railroad tracks. When we’re really lucky, a train will pass.
“I love trains,” the youngest will say. Naturally followed by, “And bong clocks and bowling.” (Aren’t these the three things that all three year old boys hold dear? I hear this phrase at least eight times a day!) “Do you think we’ll see a train, Mom?”
“Maybe,” the five year old will say.
“Stick close to the car, Steph, cars come through here,” says my voice of reason . . . or perhaps repetition.
We go in through the back door. “Mmmmmm, strawberries,” Sam says, “And a big hunk of cheese.” He’s right, it is a big hunk of cheese — bordering on bigger than he is!
Steph has already trekked across the ancient hardwood floor to the candy counter.
The owner of the store for the past fifty years, steps up. She already knows we’re after the gummies. “What would you like?” she smiles.
“One sweet worm, one sour worm, and a ring,” Steph asks. I look at her a smile, then raise my eyebrows. She adds, “Please.”
Each item goes into a tiny brown paper sack. The grey haired woman hands it to Stephanie. “Thank you,” Steph says.
“And how about you?” she turns her smile to Sam.
His order is always different. “Hmmmm . . . ” he smiles at her, his eyes sparkle. She grins back. “I think I’ll have three peachy-rings. Please,” and more smiles.
As she hands him his sack, he says “Thank You! These are so delicious!”
She giggles.
“Let’s pay for them, Mom,” Sam says, peeking into his bag.
The smiling woman and I exchange pleasantries. “It’s all about making memories,” she comments as I pay the 35 cents for the gummies.
As we skip out to the van, laughing, and feeling sweet inside, I realize she’s right. The simple routine of stopping for three gummies has become something much more than getting candy. It is a lesson in civility and purchasing and kindness.
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What a beautiful slice! Brought me right back to my childhood and the candy store my friends and I stopped in on the way home from school. I loved being able to pick just one of something, and that everything was tiny, so you could try a couple or three and not feel sick from too much sugar!
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I think about that thrill of buying candy and the local candy store often. I loved that part of my life that’s long gone. Now I start to tingle as I walk closer to my Apple store at the Palisades Mall.
It’s wonderful that you can still share that experience with your small children and then capture it so well in words.
Wonderful slice Ruth as your Slicing community is growing and growing…
BRAVO!,
Bonnie
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Another ritual your children will always remember. The fact that the sales clerk is another adult who is part of the ritual, is just a great bonus!
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What did you get?
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I love this moment. The sweet comment from the sales clerk resonates in me.
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I also like how your SOL captures the type of candy counter that seem to have been long replaced by gas stations and super grocery stores. This resonated with me.
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Yum! There was a store in my town growing up where a dollar could get us a brown bag filled with 94 pieces of candy (plus 6 cents for the tax man!) My sisters and I loved going there. The bag was always filled with assorted gummies, sours and hard candies. What a nice memory for your kids.
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This was such a nice slice…It made me want to go back to being 5 (and to go eat some gummy worms!)
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My Grandmother owned a small country store when I was growing up. I remember Chicken Legs (now called chick-o-sticks), Chocolate Soldiers (in a bottle that looked like a soldier), and fresh bologna (we’d cut it in thick slices).
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Your SOL sparked memories of my grandmother and her small town store. I couldn’t wait to go when we would visit. Hold on to those memories you capture with your kids. They grow so fast. Mmm – I could hear your voice, Ruth.:)
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It’s those little things that we did as children that carry us into adulthood. I love this slice! I’m also sort of craving some gummies right now.
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