Found Money

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It was a Saturday and like most Saturdays we had to find things to do. When we were not playing in the backyard or on the street we ventured elsewhere. Elsewhere always led to an adventure and the best adventures required bicycles. 

Our destination was Fast Eddie's to play pinball. Fast Eddies was located on Oullette Ave and Riverside Dr. The route we took was always the same. The path always started with the Saint Jules path. We would stop a second just to make sure our hockey card mufflers were still in place and continue to Pillette Rd. We headed north towards Seminole St. From Seminole, we'd ride west to Walker Rd. Walker to Ottawa St, Ottawa to Howard Ave. Howard to Giles Blvd then west to Oullette Ave. I don't know why I felt I had to tell you this, maybe just in case you wanted to bike from the east side of Windsor to downtown. 

Kreske's was a department store located on Oullette Avenue. We couldn't just pass it, we had to stop in. This store had everything a kid could want. We would go there and buy French fries at the snack bar. The store was so big it had a snack bar in front and one in the back.  Their French fries were almost as good as the Hi Ho. Lard is lard and we didn't care. We could usually scrap up enough money to buy a pop or a shake to go with the fries. 

One day while looking for toys I walked by a table. The table was filled with balls of yarn. Yarn never caught my eye but this day it did. On top of one of the yarn balls was a one hundred dollar bill. The right thing to do was to look for some old lady who might be missing it or at least tell the manager but peer pressure got the best of me so I pocketed the cash. Finders keepers losers weepers applied to grown-ups too. I'm sure I never mentioned this story at confession. Lucky for me that old lady would have to get her revenge in heaven. That is if I make it up there. However, I do believe I should get brownie points because I did divvy the money up evenly.

Our food choices changed a bit that day. It wasn't just fries and a pop; it was a large combo. A big fat juicy cheeseburger, a large fry and a large pop. The money was burning a hole in our pockets so it was no surprise that our next stop was the Nut House. Just to clarify The Nut House is a candy store. Their specialty was popcorn and you could smell it from Kreskes. We were powerless against the lingering vapours of freshly popped popcorn.  We all bought a caramel cornball and walked our bikes up the road to Fast Eddies. We had enough money left to play pinball to our heart's content. 

The adventure soon was over and we pedaled back reversing the route. It was just a hot summer day riding around with friends. The story would soon be forgotten but I will never forget that day we found a hundred dollars and how we spent it. Those two friends are no longer with us. This story I have resurfaced to honour them, our lives and times.  May my bodyguard and his brother rest in peace.

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