Errand Boy (story #25)

As a five year old, my grandpa Wilson was often sent to the grocery store alone. His mom would get out a handkerchief and put some carefully calculated coins in it. She would hand him a list of groceries and tell him to give the coins and the list to the lady at the store. Not knowing how to count or what the list said, he just handed it to the shop keeper. If his mom had given him a few cents extra the store lady would simply tie the extra change up in the handkerchief and send it back. If he had not brought enough change, she would send home a note telling his mom what she owed. Later on he ran even bigger errands for his dad. At ten, my grandpa was sometimes sent with money to buy cigarettes or a six pack of beer. Things were different in the 50’s.