I think it was about 1947/48 when cash money first came into my life. Most of the things I had eaten up to this point was things that came out of our garden or had been grown on the farm or hunted. Now I am talking about the good things of life, a ‘cold RC Cola’ I highlighted those three words because I never heard it any other way. Things are a bit fuzzy from this far out but I think my Father was in town working, my big brothers were at school and Mom ran out of baking powder for her homemade biscuits, a real crisis.
Now you have to remember with 3 older brothers and 1 younger brother, being needed was sort of a shock, heck just being noticed was a novelty. Mother dug around and came up with the money for the baking powder. She said there would be a couple of pennies left over and I could spend them if I wanted to.
My mind was racing as I got ready for the big trip to the store. I headed out of the house with money tied up in a note in my pocket and lots of cautions and a big hug from Mom into one of the biggest adventures of my life, going to the store by myself. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks lived just down the road about a quarter of a mile and they had a dog I had to look out for. As I passed the Hicks house, Mrs. Hicks called from the porch and ask me where I was going. I stuck my chest out and proudly told her I was going to Mr. Pugh’s store for some baking powder for mother, thinking all the time how lucky I was that she was on the porch and would not let the dog bite me. She needed something from the store, I don’t remember what, and ask if I would pick it up for her.
When she brought the money out to me she said there would be a penny or two leftover and I could have it, life was getting better and better. I resumed my journey knowing that the real danger was just past the creek and across the road. There was a little dirt road that led up to the crazy mans house. I had never seen him but I had heard stories about the way that he treated his horses. I passed there in a dead run and made good time until I got to Mrs. Slayton’s house. I always called them Papa and Mrs. Slayton and knew them from church. Mrs. Slayton called out and ask me where I was going, she too needed something from the store and with her extra pennies I was getting rich.
As I passed the Gilmore house I began to realize just how big this trip was, the trees and bushes were growing right up to the road and I couldn’t see the end of it. After what seemed like hours I got to where I could see the store and knew I would make it. Mr. Pugh spoke to me as I opened the screen door and I gave him my notes. I had a look around while he filled the order, patiently waiting for the pennies I had earned and the real shopping to begin. I walked around the store for what seemed like forever. There was so much to choose from but my mind never left the ‘cold RC’ in water-cooled soda box. I looked at the Nehi Orange and Grapettes but the RC won out. I proudly, but with a little reluctance handed over my hard earned pennies. Mr. Pugh ask if I wanted help opening it and the next crisis began. I had just earned my first money and spent it on my first cold RC. Too much was going on in my head, if I drank it in the store, no one would know I even had it and if I took it home it would be hot and I just might have to share it with all my brothers. I decided on the latter and was thinking all the way home that I could be there before they got home from school and that Mrs. Slayton, Mrs. Hicks and Mom would see the fruits of my labor.
On the way back I came across a big black snake sunning itself in the middle of the road. The road was just a small dirt and gravel road not nearly big enough for the snake and me. I back tracked a ways and found a stick long enough to scare him off. I made my deliveries with the not so cold RC held proudly in one hand and hurried home, hoping to beat my brothers. Just as I was showing Mom the RC I hear my brothers coming through the field and as they filed into the kitchen Mom got out 5 glasses and opened my RC.
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