Grocery Shopping (Childhood Memories)

One of our childhood chores was going to the neighborhood store to pick up items for our dinner. 

Of course we weren't real thrilled to do this as it interfered with our after school TV watching or play time. In addition it sometimes entailed not only shopping for our family but for my grandmother. She lived on the next street and we were always trying to discover new short cuts through neighbors yards to shorten the trip. We were mostly caught and turned away.

Another objection we had was going to different stores: one for baked goods, another for meat, and then my grandmother used the other meat market. 

Not to mention the hoodlums who lived at the corner of Pomona (my grandmother's street)  who constantly tormented us, "What's in the bag?" ( usually some odd assortment of housewares) which upon investigating they would immediately lose interestand and allow us to pass.

Of course my grandmother was wonderful so you had to smile and suck up your impatience with the experience or you would be scolded when you returned home.

 

One time my brother Marty was sent out on one of these excursions. When he returned home it was pouring rain and he had ridden his bike. 

My mother came out on the porch to greet him and retrieve the goods. He handed her a brown paper bag that was empty. It had been through soaked by the rain and the contents had fallen out. She kind of laughed (still in shock after losing 1 # ground beef) and asked," Where is the change?" 

"It was in the bag," Marty replied.