Hard Stick Candy

The moon, perched in the sky on a cloud said, "I will protect you. My brightness makes the night like day." The stars, twinkling in the dark blanket of night said, "We will guide you just like we have guided the sailors and all of the others that use us to find their way."

She kicked at a stone with her sneaker and looked down the dirt road. Her black hair, plastered to her forehead and clinging to the back of her neck, was sticky with sweat. She was getting mad at how uncomfortable she was. "Damned heat," she mumbled to herself. Her mamma had sent her out for a pack of cigarettes. Being 13 and the oldest of 5, she got stuck doing this kind of crap. It was the middle of summer and there was no escaping the sun's torture.

As she neared the general store, she felt self conscious because she knew her shirt was wet in places she didn't want it to be. It's not like anyone would tease her but Buddy, an older classmate, worked there during the breaks from school and she didn't want him to see her like this.

The moon and stars, unseen during the day, watched the girl. They always did.

She pulled open the front door and walked in. The air conditioning felt wonderful, even with all of the goosebumps it produced. She pulled her shirt away from her skin. The feeling was gross and only produced more goosebumps in places she didn't want.

"Good afternoon, Susie. Now why did your mamma send you here on an errand when it's so darned hot?"

Frank owned the store. If you needed something in the middle of the night like medicine to take down a fever, all you had to do was knock on his door and he would greet you with you a smile and concern.

"She needs cigarettes," Susie replied as she looked around the store trying to scope out Buddy's location.

Frank reached over and grabbed a pack of Chesterfields. "He's in the back."

In horror, Susie looked wide-eyed at Frank. "What?"

"Buddy's in the back. Did you need him for something?"

Now Susie couldn't look Frank in the eye so she stared at the wooden floor. In response to his question all she could manage was a bunch of incoherent mumbling.

Frank, not born yesterday and certainly not a mean man, opened the glass lid to the jar that held a drool inducing variety of hard candy sticks. "I think you deserve a treat for running an errand in this heat. Pick one. No charge."

Susie's mouth watered with anticipation. How would she decide the best flavor when they were all so delicious? She concentrated so hard on picking the right one that she smelled him before she realized he was standing next to her, smiling. Susie could never figure out why he smelled so good all of the time. It sure wasn't cologne.

"Well, Miss Susie. Tough decision?"

Straightening her back to make herself taller, she replied gruffly, "None of your business, Buddy." Unable to think or see clearly, she grabbed whatever stick was closest to her fingers, thanked Frank, and walked quickly to the door. Holding up the pack of Chesterfields, Frank said, "Don't forget your mamma's cigarettes."

Susie turned around and both men were smiling. Running back, she grabbed the pack, thanked Frank again, and made it out the door.

The stars twinkled brightly and the moon smiled.

Susie felt pain in her chest as she tried to find her legs. She held the now sweat covered pack of cigarettes in one hand and the stick of candy in the other. Even with both hands full, she covered her eyes. Buddy was 3 years older and he spoke to her. Gaining back her composure, she felt excited as she looked up at the sky and smiled so big!