The one snack I would eat now would be the grape Now and Later. It was the kind of treat you could get for a nickel from the corner store. After school, I’d make a little detour on my walk home, the kind of place where the bell on the door jingled every time a customer walked in.
The owner always seemed to know what I was there for, and I’d grab that small, shiny wrapper like it was the highlight of my day. I’d wander in with a few coins in my pocket, feeling like I had all the riches I needed. I’d grab that little purple pack, tear it open before I even reached the sidewalk, and let the sweet grape flavor carry me the rest of the way home. Those walks, sun warm on my face, backpack swinging, candy sticking to my teeth felt like the simplest kind of happiness.
Deloris Nash 