HOW DID WE MAKE MONEY WHEN WE WERE KIDS...I REMEMBER RIDING OUR BIKES AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKING FOR GLASS BOTTLES FROM SODA OR POP WHATEVER YOU CALL IT...WE WOULD COLLECT THE BOTTLES IN A BAG ON OUR HANDLEBARS AND WHEN THEY GOT TOO HEAVY OR THE BAG WAS PRETTY FULL WE USED TO TURN THEM IN FOR A BAGFUL OF PENNY CANDY AT A LITTLE CANDY STORE KIDDIE CORNER FROM THE PARK ACROSS THE STREET FROM US. sOME BOTTLES WERE WORTH A PENNY OR TWO OR THREE CENTS MAYBE THE MOST WAS A NICKEL...I THINK SHE USED TO RIP US OFF CUZ WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY WERE WORTH AND WHY SOME WERE ONE OR TWO OR THREE CENTS....ANYWAY WE NEVER TOOK THE CASH ALWAYS THE CANDY...WE GOT TO PICK OUT THE CANDY WE WANTED FOR HER TO PUT IN THE BAG...FLYING SAUCERS, MARY JANES, BIT O HONEY, RED LICORICE,THERE WERE MORE BUT THOSE COME TO MIND... SO THAT WAS ONE WAY OF MAKING SOME MONEY WELL CANDY REALLY...I GOT A PAPER ROUTE WHEN I WAS NINE FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD PAPER THE BELMONT CRAGIN...ONCE A WEEK I WOULD GET A BIG STACK OF PAPERS DELIVERED TO MY DOOR WITH A BAG OF TINY RED RUBBERBANDS...HAD TO FOLD THEM AND RUBBER BAND THEM AND THEN DELIVER THEM. MY LITTLE BROTHER USED TO LIKE TO HELP ME FOLD AND RUBBER BAND AND DELIVER THEM...HE WAS FIVE....I THINK WE PUT THE PAPERS IN A CART AND ONE OF US PROBABLY ME WOULD WAK WITH THE CART AND THROW THE PAPERS UP ON THE FRONT PORCHES AND I THINK MY BROTHER RODE HIS BIKE AND THREW THE PAPERS UP ON PORCHES. I THINK WE HAD TWO OR THREE BLOCKS BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET AND INTO THE NEXT BLOCK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I USED TO GET PAID A DOLLAR A DELIVERY MEANING ONE DOLLAR FOR DELIVERING ALL OF THE PAPERS WEEKLY...LATER I WAS TOLD YOU COULD MAKE SOME EXTRA MONEY IF YOU WENT DOOR TO DOOR COLLECTING FOR THE PAPERS. I THINK IT WAS A QUARTER FOR A MONTH WORTH OF PAPERS YOU HAD TO CHARGE. I DIDN'T LIKE THE COLLECTION PART. MOSTLY BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE SAID NO CUZ THEY NEVER ORDERED THE PAPER IN THE FIRST PLACE AND DIDN'T CARE IF THEY GOT IT OR NOT....I REMEMBER AN OLDER GIRL SCOUT LIVED IN ONE OF THE HOUSES AND COULD BE COUNTED ON TO GET THE MONEY FROM HER PARENTS BUT OTHER THAN THAT...WE DIDN'T MAKE MUCH DOING COLLECTIONS AND IT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO GO AROUND ASKING FOR MONEY. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER GETTING PAID ANYMORE FROM DOING IT SINCE WE COLLECTED VERY LITTLE TO BEGIN WITH. I REMEMBER GETTING SOME KINDA COUPONS TO SPEND AT A STORE CALLED BLACKSTONE THE NEWSPAPER WAS SOMEHOW CONNECTED WITH...MAYBE THEY ADVERTISED IN THE PAPER OR SOMETHING...ANYWAY THE COLLECTION PART DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG...QUIT DOING THAT AFTER A FEW UNCOMFORTABLE WEEKS IF THAT...I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ELEVEN OR TWELVE BABYSITTING ONCE IN AWHILE ON A WEEKEND NIGHT FOR SOME KIDS I KNEW A FEW BLOCKS AWAY...I THINK I BABYSAT FOR A COUPLE OF FAMILIES AT DIFFERENT TIMES JUST EVERY SO OFTEN ON A WEEKEND NIGHT. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I GOT PAID FOR BABYSITTING....NOT MUCH BUT USED TO BE ABLE TO ORDER A PIZXZA WHICH WAS NICE...WHEN I WAS FOURTEEN OR FIFTEEN I WAS A SHAMPOO GIRL IN A BEAUTY SHOP ON THE CORNER LA COIFFURE. I USED TO WASH THE LADIES HAIR AND DRY IT WITH A TOWEL AND SWEEP UP THE CUT HAIR OFF THE FLOOR FROM THE BEAUTICIANS...THAT WAS A DOLLAR FIFTY AN HOUR PLUS TIPS....MOST LADIES TIPPED A QUARTER...I REMEMBER MY HANDS USED TO PEEL FROM SOAKING IN THAT SHAMPOO ALL DAY SOME PINK STUFF...THEY WERE ALLOWED TO SMOKE IN THERE SO I WOULD COME HOME SMELLING LIKE SHAMPOO AND CIGARETTES...NOT VERY PLEASANT...SOMETIMES THEY HAD ME COME IN ON A WEEKNIGHT FOR A FEW HOURS AFTER SCHOOL...I REMEMBER A LADY WHO CAME THERE TO GET HER HAIR DONE ALL THE TIME WAS IN SOME KIND OF CLUB AND TRIED TO TALK ME INTO DOING AN INTERNSHIP IN WASHINGTON D.C. HER GROUP USED TO SPONSOR A KID TO BE AN INTERN AND LEARN ABOUT HELPING OUT IN GOVERNMENT. IT SOUNDED INTERESTING AND I TOLD MY PARENTS ABOUT IT. THEY LIKE PAID ROOM AND BOARD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THEY AGREED TO LET ME GO BUT AS IT GOT CLOSER TO TIME FOR IT TO HAPPEN I CHICKENED OUT. I WASN'T READY TO BE SO FAR AWAY FROM HOME ALL ALONE SO I PASSED ON IT. OH YA, WHEN WE WERE IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL WE USED TO DRAW PICTURES AND DISPLAY THEM ON THE COUCH ON THE FRONT PORCH FOR MY MOM TO LOOK AT AND WE CHARGED LIKE A PENNY A PIECE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT...SHE WOULD BUY SOME OF THEM FROM US...HA HA... OH YA, WHEN I HAD THE PAPER ROUTE I GOT A BANK ACCOUNT. I THINK IT WAS A SAVINGS AND LOAN...REMEMBER THOSE...NOT SURE IF THEY EVEN HAVE THEM ANYMORE...I THINK IT WAS A SAVINGS AND LOAN NOT FOR SURE...ANYWAY I REMEMBER AT ONE TIME HAVING A GRAND TOTAL OF TEN DOLLARS IN THE BANK AND I USED TO GET TEN PERCENT INTEREST ON THAT...THOSE WERE THE DAYS....NOWADAYS SOME BANKS CHARGE YOU IF YOUR BALANCE IS LOWER THAN A CERTAIN AMOUNT AND SOME DON'T GIVE ANY INTEREST AT ALL...GREEDY BASTARDS...ANYWAY...THAT IS ALL FOR THE WORKING MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD....OH YA, I REMEMBER THIS GAME MY MOM USED TO PLAY WITH US WITH COINS...SHE WOULD TRADE US COINS FOR OTHER COINS TO TRY TO TEACH US HOW MUCH THEY WERE WORTH LIKE I WILL TRADE YOU TWO DIMES AND A NICKEL FOR A QUARTER BUT SOMETIMES SHE WOULD TRADE LESS OR MORE TO KEEP YOU THINKING IF YOU WERE GETTING A FAIR DEAL OR NOT...I REMEMBER FOR SOME REASON I LIKED QUARTERS BEST SO EVEN IF SHE SAID YOU GIVE ME THREE DIMES AND I WILL GIVE YOU ONE QUARTER I WOULD DO IT CUZ I LIKED QUARTERS EVEN THO I KNEW THREE DIMES WAS WORTH MORE...OK...THAT IS ALL FOR NOW.... OH YA, DON'T REMEMBER AT WHAT AGE WE STARTED TO GET AN ALLOWANCE. WE USED TO HAVE CHORES TO DO LIKE TAKING TURNS WASHING AND DRYING DISHES AND PUTTING THEM AWAY AND THEN ONCE A WEEK WE WOULD GET A ROOM TO CLEAN LIKE THE BATHROOM OR FRONT ROOM OR LIVING ROOM OR KITCHEN LIKE SWEEPING FLOORS,, VACUUMING RUGS, DUSTING,STUFF LIKE THAT...I THINK OUR FIRST ALLOWANCE WAS A NICKEL A WEEK THAT WENT UP TO A DIME THEN A QUARTER OVER YEARS...DON'T REMEMBER IT EVER GETTING HIGHER THAN A QUARTER A WEEK...OK THAT IS REALLY ALL FOR THE OLD MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD I THINK....OK ONE MORE THING...IN GIRL SCOUTS WE WERE ALWAYS RAISING MONEY FOR TRIPS AND CAMPING AND STUFF LIKE THAT...YES WE SOLD GIRL SCOUT COOKIES ONCE A YEAR...BUT WE ALSO DID PAPER DRIVES AND CAR WASHES TO EARN MONEY TOWARD GETTING TO GO ON THOSE CAMPING TRIPS AND OTHER TRIPS....LIKE ONE YEAR WE DID A BUS TRIP TO NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA...WE DIDN'T NEED A PASSPORT BACK THEN. A BUS LOAD OF GIRL SCOUTS WAS NO PROBLEM GETTING THROUGH TO CANADA...I REMEMBER HOW CLEAN IT WAS THERE. IT WAS MUCH CLEANER THAN OUR SIDE OF THE BORDER THAT WAS FILTHY FULL OF GARBAGE FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE...THAT WAS WHAT I REMEMBERD ABOUT CANADA THE MOST...HOW CLEAN IT WAS. NIAGARA FALLS WAS BEAUTIFUL EVEN WHEN IT WAS MISTY AND THE WIND WAS BLOWING TOWARD YOU SO YOU GOT WET FROM THE MIST...IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I ALSO REMEMBER THE CANADIAN SIDE OF THE FALLS BEING REALLY BEAUTIFUL AND THE AMERICAN SIDE LOOKED LIKE A LITTLE TRICKLE COMPARED TO THE HORSESHOE FALLS...I REMEMBER GOING TO BATTLECREEK MICHIGAN AND VISITING THE KELLOGGS FACTORY AND THEY GAVE YOU A FREE SAMPLE PACK OF BREAKFAST CEREALS....HOLLAND MICHIGAN THE TULIPS AND WOODEN SHOES.... ST LOUIS MISSOURI THE ARCH....KINGS ISLAND OHIO AMUSEMENT PARK...MILWAUKEE BREWERY WHERE THEY MADE BEER... WE WENT ON A BUNCH OF TRIPS TO NEIGHBORING STATES OVER THE YEARS... OUR FAMILY VACATION WAS ALMOST ALWAYS TO WISCONSIN DELLS JUST ABOUT EVERY YEAR...FORT DELLS, PAUL BUNYAN RESTAURANT, TOMMY BARTLETT WATER SHOW, THE AQUA DUCKS THAT DROVE ON LAND AND THEN WENT INTO THE WATER LIKE A BOAT...SOMEWHERE A DOG JUMPED FROM ONE CLIFF TO ANOTHER...THERE WERE SOME INDIAN PLACES. I WAS NEVER MUCH INTO JEWELRY OR STUFF LIKE THAT BUT I REMEMBER I GOT AN INDIAN NECKLACE BEADED THAT WAS LONG LIKE IT HUNG PRETTY LOW A BLUE BEADED NECKLACE WITH A BIG BIRD ON IT I USED TO WEAR ALL THE TIME RUNNING AROUND PLAYING AND ONE DAY IT BROKE AND THE BEADS WENT FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE. I REMEMBER BEING UPSET THAT IT BROKE AND COULDN'T BE FIXED. I NEVER GOT ANOTHER ONE BUT I WORE IT A LONG TIME BEFORE IT BROKE....GI ALWAYS LIKED MOCASSINS TOO... I WAS ALWAYS VERY SURE FOOTED AND USED TO THINK I MAY HAVE BEEN AN INDIAN IN A PAST LIFE. I HAD DREAMS ABOUT BEING WITH INDIANS AND I REMEMBER IN SCHOOL IT REALLY HIT ME HARD ABOUT THE PILGRIMS STEALING THE INDIANS LAND. I REMEMBER HAVING A NIGHTMARE THAT INDIANS CAME TO OUR HOUSE AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND SAID WE HAD TO LEAVE CUZ THEY WERE TAKING IT OVER. THAT WAS HOW STRONGLY I EMPATHISED WITH HOW THEY WERE TREATED BY WHITE MEN....IT IS REALLY SAD THEIR LAND WAS STOLEN FROM THEM. THEY MAKE MUCH BETTER EARTH KEEPERS THAN MOST PEOPLE IN THIS THROWAWAY SOCIETY FILLING OUR AIR AND WATER AND LAND WITH TOXIC STUFF...IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER OFF IN THE HANDS OF THE INDIANS THAT RESPECT THE LAND AND ANIMALS AND CARE FOR THE EARTH AND HAVE NATURAL REMEDIES AND STUFF. IT IS SAD WHEN INDIANS ARE DEPICTED AS SAVAGES IN WESTERNS AND STUFF WHEN THE PILGRIMS WERE THE REAL SAVAGES BRUTALLY STEALING THE INDIANS LAND...GOTTA WONDER ABOUT THE ONE SIDEDNESS OF HISTORY...WHO IS TELLING THE STORY AND WHOSE POINT OF VIEW IS IT FROM...NOT THEIRS...OK USUALLY MEMORIES LEAD TO OTHER MEMORIES AND ON AND ON WITH THE NEVER ENDING STORY SO I BETTER REALLY STOP HERE NOW...THIS IS UNEDITED AND UNABRIDGED JUST MEMORIES AS THEY HAPPEN TO POP INTO MY MIND AS I WRITE...IN CASE YOU CAN'T TELL...HA HA
I was enjoying a quiet moment in the bookstore when bursting through the door
followed by her mom and dad…came a little girl…I imagine around four.
She was wearing sunglasses…her hair was full of curls
and the minute she entered the store she waved, she smiled…and she twirled…
She ran right over to an orange book and held it over her head,
“Mommy, orange is my favorite color…let’s bought this book” she said.
“That book is orange but it’s not for children.” Her mom said.
The little girl did not get mad
Instead she smiled and ran to the back of the store saying “I think I’ll go ask Dad.”
Dad agreed with Mom.and the little girl told me, “We’re not going to bought it.”
as she gently returned it back to the very shelf from which she got it.
Next she saw a Pokey Little Puppy shirt and she did what young children do
She said, “Mommy can we bought this…it’s my favorite color…blue.”
Again her mom refused and I must admit this is the best time, in a while, I’ have had
watching her run with the shirt to the back of the store saying, “I think I’ll go ask Dad.”
As she returned the blue shirt to the rack she found another and quickly changed her tune,
when she held it up and asked me, “What color?” I answered, “That one’s maroon.”
She smiled and said, “That’s my favorite color….Her third since she came in I might add
and clutching that maroon shirt to her chest she quickly ran to Mom and Dad.
As I witnessed the way her favorite colors changed I couldn’t help but feel glad
at the innocence of one so young…but also at the patience of her Mom and Dad.
They spoke to her respectfully, they didn’t get annoyed or mad…
I believe you can learn a lot about the child by watching Mom and Dad.
And as this little adventure unfolded before my eyes it was plain for me to see
just by watching her mom and dad…the kind of person she’ll grow up to be.
As they were leaving, with a book in hand, she stopped, she waved and she twirled…
and I found myself smiling as I waved goodbye…to one of my favorite little girls.
Budding child
Cried for joy
laboured books
Arrested for hours
Exploring the nature
Strong desire of hour
Realising all stress
Father took out for ride
Joyfull looks
tried capturing all around
All at once a gentle blow
Hammered by mom
How did u do!
I did well mom
Double hammed mom
Was it just well or best
I did very best mom
Oh! god you are so kind
My son! did best in test
Shuttered all joy
Hammer upon hammer
Or father drove home quick
All at once
Remembered how i were
In screwed childhood.
Golden hour
Madhanala Shaila Prasad
Golden hour reminded by gone days,
Tit- bits of being together
Still fresh as love at first sight
Courtship days filled with hope and sorrow
Travelled all the way as Adam and Eve
Till heavenly one bestow an angle
Day in and day out no other to do
Each day fell too short to
Narrate how she grew
Cloths that she put on
Alerted mere childhood
A quality time to hangaround
Material world would allow me
Conquer the world around
But, not at the cost of
Flitting childhood days of angle.
Sally came running in the door…”Grandma I have a secret!” She yelled.
It’s a really, really good secret…but I promised not to tell.”
“I want to keep my promise but you don’t know how hard it’s been.”
“Trying not to tell anyone…trying to keep this secret in.”
Sally looked up at her Grandma…her wide eyes, big and blue…
“Grandma can you help me? Grandma tell me what to do?”
Grandma took Sally out to her back yard saying…“There’s something I want you to see.
They sat down under a very large oak… “This is my secret tree.”
“Grandma…” Sally laughed …”This is not a secret tree!
Everybody knows about it…everyone can see…”
Grandma put a finger to her lips…and gently shook her head
“The tree is not the secret, silly…it’s what it holds.” she said.
Ever since I was a little girl…and a secret was given to me
I’d hurry home and sit right here…underneath this very tree.”
“And when I was sure I was alone…that secret I’d retrieve
then I would let that secret out and share it with the leaves.
And so this tree is filled with secrets…every secret I ever brought
secrets she will never tell…and some I’m sure I’ve long forgot….
With that Grandma stood up and walked away…happy as can be
leaving Sally all alone in the shade of her secret tree.
On her way to the house Grandma turned around and smiled…
She couldn’t be sure but she believes
Sally was whispering to the tree
sharing her secret with the leaves.
October's raring to get us high on sugar
with temperature falling
In an elevating freight elevator
I overheard a conversation between two adults
behind their ragged full grown beard
which could hide their faces
but failed to hide their
childish love for colorful things
They were discussing if
skittles were even considered candies.
Elvin and Leroy were baseball players
From the time they were six years old
And best friends since the early days
A million baseball stories to be told
Their entire lives had been consumed
By the game of baseball which they
Played together all through school
Then pro-Negro league as Blue Jays
Even in retirement baseball was key
Games at the ball park and on the t.v.
Indeed – it was a sad day when Elvin
Passed away from a cardio infraction
Poor Leroy was hurt and felt so alone
He had always had Elvin by his side
And now without – was totally thrown
Unable to handle that Elvin had died
Leroy missed Elvin so much that he
Kept talking to him – always his plea
“Please let me know how you’re doing
So I can quit all my silly brooding”
But nothing – no answer from Elvin
Until late one night – in the kitchen
Leroy was talking - asking his friend
For a message – some sign to be sent
Leroy was sitting at the table and
Heard Elvin so asked – “that you man”
Without hesitation the voice of Elvin
Clear as day – “It’s me – good friend”
Leroy was both shocked and ecstatic
He started talking and then did ask
About baseball in heaven – and Elvin
Said – “Leroy – it really is heaven”
“They got baseball everywhere and
You should see the fields and parks
Just like we used to dream and plan
And got beautiful lights after dark”
“That is wonderful news” – said Leroy
“Wonderful – is there any bad news”
Elvin began tentatively – “well old boy
There is some bad news I brought you”
“What bad news - Elvin ” – Leroy asked
“Tell me – whatever - be what it might “
So Leroy started slow then said it fast
“Elvin - you’re pitchin’ tomorrow night”
There are certain things
That all children know -
Flowers bloom in spring
When all the birds sing
The sun helps things grow
And melts the fresh snow
Rain washes things clean
And helps with gardening
The good times - playing
And bed time for praying
The very best balloons
Big ‘n round as full moons
And without any strings
Moving as the wind blows
Yep - children know things
Like - don’t step on toes
The moon is Swiss cheese
Leprechauns wear green
And all angels have wings
Yep – children know things
He was both not there
And my savior
All in one
Because when he WAS around
He protected me
I was his daddy's girl
I was the most abused
He did what he could to help
Usually by doing dishes
Mother would get pissed
How dare a parent help
Their child
Their blood
Let them flounder
Let them fail
So I can win at one more thing
And hold it over their head
He helped
But only so much so
Too timid to really fight
Too quiet to speak up
She ruled over us all
She was the queen
If she wanted something
You fetched it
And I did everything
To take care of our homes
The many apartments
We called "homes"
As soon as I was old enough
To hold a sponge
I was doing dishes
Once I was old enough to cook
I made dinner every night
If not
You faced her wrath
The anger that would spew
From her nostrils
Her eyes glowing red
And a quick flick
Of her tongue
And the beatings
She would give
Once he passed
It was free for all
Into early adulthood
The abuse continued
I was conditioned
When I left
It trickled to my brother
She continued to abuse her child,
But now it wasn't me
And my father wasn't there
To save him