THE CANDY GIRL CAN

I am on my way to the other end of the street where we live. I’m five big years old. Daddy gave me a nickle for being good and told me I can buy anything I want. A sweet chocolate smell comes out of the bakery door but I go past. Walk slow like Daddy told you. I tell myself to step over every crack in the sidewalk. I love my mommy and don’t want to step on one and break her back.

Kelley’s is the last store on my block and my nickle is still in my hand. I didn’t lose it. The screen door opens easily but I can’t turn the knob on the glass and wooden one, so I knock. Oh, good. Billy lets me in and goes with me to the candy case next to the ice cream counter. ‘What’ll you have, Izzy?’ he asks. ‘Billy, my mother told you not to call me Izzy. My name is Isobel. I feel like having candy instead of ice cream today.’

I stand in front of the tall glass case, look at every box, every shelf, and decide on a Milky Way. Billy slides the door open and hands me my choice. Slowly I look at it. ‘Billy, I changed my mind. I don’t want this. Please give me a box of Good and Plenty instead.’ ‘Sure, Izzy,’ and changes the candy for me. ‘Billy, don’t call me Izzy. I’m going to tell my mother on you.’ The licorice pink and white candies rattle in their box. I am anxious and start to open one end and stop. ‘Billy, Daddy told me licorice makes my teeth black and makes me go to the toilet too many times. Will you give me a box of Walnetto’s instead?’ ‘Ok. Izzy, but this is the last change. A customer is up front waiting for ice cream. ‘Give me your nickel.’

I open my fist wide and there is no nickle. It was there before I tried to open Kelley’s door. ‘Billy, Billy, somebody stole my nickle right out of my hand. ‘ Isobel, you must have dropped it and didn’t hear it fall. Give me the Walnettos back.’ ‘Can’t you help me look for it? Honest, I had it at the door.’ Billy takes the Walnetto’s out of my hand and I stand at the candy case crying and looking sad.

The girl on the ice cream stool looks older than I am, maybe 7. She is already eating a chocolate cone Dr. Kelley gave her. Billy goes over to say hello and she tells him how lucky she was. She found a nickle. ‘This is the first ice cream cone I have had in two weeks, she says. Her tongue goes round and round the ice cream until only the cone is left. That sounds crunchy as she finishes it, wipes her hands on a paper napkin and jumps off the stool.

‘Billy. I told you I had a nickle. That girl ate my ice cream.’ ‘Tough, Isobel. Maybe your Daddy will give you another nickle, but no money, no candy.’

I walk back down the street, extra stepping on every crack. Daddy is sitting on our green bench outside of our house. ‘Hi, Honey, what did you buy?’ He sees my tears still on my cheeks and I have to tell him what happened. Daddy pats me on the head and tells me to be more careful with money. It doesn’t grow on trees. He goes inside. So do I.

Under my bed I keep a tin cookie box for my special marbles, the ones my brother Sol doesn’t play with any more. I have aggies, bloodies, shooters. The lid is very tight. When I finally get it off the marbles roll off and slide all over the linoleum floor. I find all but one. It has to be here and I will look for it later. The lid goes on the tin and I hit it closed with my shoe.

A plan is ready. From my window I see Robert and Harvey playing marbles in the dirt around Miss Higgens tree. The old lady who lives there lets them play and never hollers. With one hand I hold the stair railing and keep the tin box close to my body with the other hand. Daddy is on the bench again. I feel his eyes watching me. I show him my cookie tin and ask him to open it for me. ‘Are you now a good marble player, Isobel?’ ‘No, Daddy. I have to talk to Harold and Robert about them.’ I walk over and the boys stop their game long enough to tell me to go away. I don’t go. Instead I show them my beautiful marbles. ‘My brother told me this black one is the best shooter he ever had. I can sell you some of these. I’ll sell you 3 marbles for 2 cents. The boys are old, about 9, and have the money. They each select 3 and hand me 4 pennies. ‘

‘Daddy, Daddy, guess what I did. I sold 6 old, rotten marbles to Harold and Robert and they gave me 4 pennies. I only need one more to make a nickle. Right? Will you please give me one little penny, please?’ ‘Child, I’ll give you the penny now if you promise to bring in the Sunday heavy paper and put it near my kitchen chair.’ ‘Daddy, I love you. I promise.’ I jump on his lap, hug and kiss him and he hands me the penny.

I run to Kelley’s . ‘Billy, here take my 5 pennies before I lose one. I want two long strips of the white paper with all the colored candy beads on them. They last me two days and I will be able to give my friend, Dolly the lemon ones. They are sour.’

‘Billy, Sunday when you come in to work, will you please put a Milky Way into the ice box for me? I am going to sell Harold and Robert six more marbles and tell them the price is 5 cents instead of four. They will pay it and I’ll be here in the afternoon for my Milky Way.’