What Makes Me Sad In My Shop

The happiest place in the world should be a candy shop.  Kids come in, they get candy, eat it, smile, gone.  What about the kids that come in with friends that have the money and they have nothing?  Or the kids that find a quarter.  Yesterday a couple of boys came in.  They had some change.  Not much.  I gave them a deal on some candy.  They were thrilled.  The downside........they were back in no time at all wanting more.  I explained I cannot give free candy ALL the time.  Today they came back in.  One boy had $5.00.  One boy had $.25, the other two nothing.  The two with no money were trying to get money from their friends.  They were asking me for money.  I had some brownies that were getting stale.  I told them if they would water all the planters on my little block, they could each have a brownie and share a pop.  No freak out, I gave them glasses, and split it for them.  They were thrilled.  The flowers were thrilled.  I also told the boys they need to learn how to count money.  They will have change in their hand and ask me how much it is.  I said from now on, they have to tell me.  Kids need to understand money!
They sat down to eat their snack.  I explained I cannot give them free candy everyday.  I explained they cannot tell all their friends they got free candy.  I also explained if I ever catch them stealing from me, or with friends stealing from me, they would not get special treatment anymore.  They ate their treats, cleaned up their messes and went on their way.  When I was filling their water bottles they saw my backroom.  They said do you own this place?  I said yes.  They said, you are so lucky.  Are you rich?  Not at all.  As a matter of fact I am doing my best to put my family in financial ruin, thanks for asking.  Did all this candy cost millions?  No, but it sure feels like it sometimes.  So all the candy is this store is yours?  Yes, but I would rather share it with everyone else that has money to buy it.  One boy said, when I grow up, I want to work here.  Sweetie the chances of this place existing when you grow up is very slim. 
Here is something ironic, my Dad used to own a grocery store/butcher shop.  I can remember him talking about helping kids in need.  Giving them soda, some lunch meat, buying them shoes.  When I was talking to the boys I remembered the stories he would tell.  He told the boys if they needed something, just ask.  If they ever took anything from him without asking, they would be banned from his store.  He caught one boy stealing.  It made my Dad so sad.  He could not understand it.  He said he never told the boy no. 
I meet many nice kids in here.  There is only one that I thought stole from me.  Later a little boy told the kid stole from me.  When he is in my shop, I stand right next to him now.  He has not been in since the day he picked something up and I ripped it from his hand and asked him if he had money.  Gulp!  He did that day.  He has not been back in.  Think he figured out I'm on to him.  I grew up poor.  I did not steal.  My friends did not steal.  Kids need to be taught to earn their money.
Here is more irony, I'm a sucker in a candy store.
The End

Her Name Was Selena

I have not had a busy summer.  Does not put me in a positive frame of mind for blogging.  Today I had a pleasant visit.  Her name was Selena.  She was young.  I will guess low 20's.  She was taking pictures of our adorable store fronts.  When she came in she said it was her first time in our little village.  I asked her where she was from, up North.  She is on her way to California.  Near Los Angeles.  She is taking Route 66.  She is traveling alone.  I asked her if it made her nervous to drive all that way.  She said, No, God will protect me.  He wants me to do this.
We chatted.  She asked me about the candy shop.  I explained I felt that I was meant to open the shop.  (Been questioning, why lately.)  We talked more about her move.  She is a Speech Pathologist.  She will work mainly with Hispanics.  She said in  California it is a law that she has to do their treatment in English.  She said it makes her sad.  The families won't understand their language.  We talked about how in America people look down on citizens who still speak their home language.  It was just a casual conversation.
She told me she had not planned to come in my shop.  She felt like she was nudged to come in.  She said God wanted her to tell me that I am very brave.  That I am a strong person that does brave things.  I thanked her.  I said opening this shop was the first brave thing I had done.  Most days it feels like maybe it was not brave at all.  She said God wanted her to remind me that I am doing important things for my community.  Selena asked what I would like for her to pray for me.  I said for my shop to succeed. 
We hugged.  I pointed out some things she should look at in town.  She was on her way.  Nice little story.  Would have ended here.  Except while I was writing this a lady came into my shop.  She writes children's books.  She has written a couple of books about touring Route 66.  She stops at shops on Route 66 and sells her books.  Might have ignored her.  Felt like it was a sign.  Had to buy a few of her books.  Will see what happens.