Walking Down “Penny” Lane

“Jingle’ “Jingle’ “Jingle’ went the little silver bell  as the door of the neighborhood corner store swung open. Dimly lit, the narrow little aisles were overflowing with a little bit of this and a little bit of that. In through the door and to the left were the fingerprint laden cases that held the sweet treasures that all the children sought. With a quarter in her hand, she peered into those cases trying to decide what to buy.

“Ready?’ asked the owner of the store. “Yes!” she said. “How much is the Bub’s Daddy?”      “5 cents,” said the owner. “Can I please have a watermelon one? she asked.”Sure! ” said the owner as he put the eight inch long piece of gum into the little brown candy bag. “Anything else,” he asked.  “Can  I please have five Swedish Fish…. Um ….two Tootsie Rolls……a red licorice whip…oh two Flying Saucers, two Now &Laters… One of those candy necklaces…….and three Mary Janes?”  Quickly he placed the candies in the little brown bag. “Twenty-five cents please,” said the owner. She placed her quarter on top of the case and slid it towards the owner. “Thank you! ” said the owner as he handed her the little brown bag. “Jingle jingle jingle” rang the bell on the door as she walked out the store and skipped the block home with her treasure clenched tightly in her hand.