(Author: John Yarbrough, Vol. 64, No. 2, Rosh Hashanah 2009)
Mr. Thomas said it was ok if I sat in the corner of his neighborhood grocery and read comic books as long as I was careful not to bend the pages so they looked used. Miss Wison who worked the cash register said an eight-year-old boy shouldn’t be out running the streets unsupervised all summer even if he did have a dog which I did name Pokey who sat outside the store until I came out no matter how long that was. Mr. Thomas said he would rather have a kid reading comics and not bothering anyone than one who came in running and breaking things and looking to steal candy bars. Miss Wilson said none of the kids had to steal anything on account of Mr. Thomas letting us sell him coupons from the newspaper at one-half their value. Mr. Thomas said he only bought coupons for items he carried in stock so what was the harm. Freda Walker who had finished paying for a half gallon of milk and some potatoes said she would come back and sit with me but first she had to take the groceries home because the milk needed to be put in the ice box. Miss Wilson said its funny how kids call refrigerators ice boxes when they never even saw an ice box. Mr. Thomas said it’s just language kids pick up from their parents and grand-parents and that one time Freda’s dad asked where were the goobers and it took a minute to remember that is what old people used to call peanuts. Freda came back and said my dog was still sitting outside the store which I already knew. She said when I was alone looking at Lulu she would like to see it and she sat down and folded her knees under her dress and started reading Nancy.
Mr. Thomas said we could have a soda pop if we promised to both bring in a coupon worth at least ten cents because pops cost five cents each. Freda said we would and she drank a Mission Orange. I had a Nehi Grape. Miss Wilson said don’t spill your drinks on the comic books and if your hands get sticky the reading is over for the day. Freda said we had read long enough anyway, and I should walk her home because that’s what a gentleman would do. Mr. Thomas said come back and don’t forget about those coupons.
John Yarbrough is an award-winning poet and short story writer and a frequent contributor to Jewish Affairs.
