Being out of school for the summer time was the best feeling being an 11 year old in Southern California. Palm trees, clear skies, temperature at a mellow seventy five, and four older sisters to tag along with. After leaving my mother’s house in Lynwood I would always jump in the back seat, on the driver’s side, in my sister, Shiniqua’s, dark green 96 Taurus. Traveling to her house in Long Beach, I would always look out the window and admire some of my favorite places to go on a nice sunny day. Tam’s was always a good option with their cheesy chili cheese fries, but Baskin Robins 31 flavors was always my number one choice when it came to food. However, once we reached my sister’s house on Long Beach Blvd and Mountain View Dr, was my favorite store of all because it carried my favorite candy in the world; Eddie’s Liquor Market, and I planned on getting some Fruit Punch Now and Later’s.
Almost by routine, as soon as Shiniqua set her purse down in the house, I would ask her to walk with me across the street to the store. She would usually oblige since I was the baby sister and give me two dollars worth of quarters. Walking up to the small liquor store there were only 5 parking spaces in front, one a handicap, but people never paid the “Handicap Parking Only” sign any attention. As well as didn’t pay the “PUSH” sign that was tapped to the door; I would get tickled watching people, on several occasions, get frustrated that they couldn’t pull the door opened. So I always made sure that I remember to push and not pull upon arrival, so that I didn’t put myself in a situation to get laughed at in case someone was watching.
Once in the store, the first thing I always saw was this great big Icee machine. The clerk, Ahmad, posted behind the checkout counter to my left and the four aisles of various treats to choose from. In the first aisle was the chips and dips towards the front, with some beef jerky at the back. Walking Down the first aisle reaching the back of the...