Tuppence a Bag

“Daddy, when I grow up I'm gonna marry YOU!” That's what I would say to my daddy all the time... because I loved him, and, in my eyes, he was my hero. I was five years old. What little girl of five wouldn't love her daddy?

I think most little girls have those “special moments” with their fathers. I was an only child and I didn't have to share my daddy with anyone so most of his free time was spent with me.

Afternoons... I would stand out in front of our house, watching patiently until I saw my daddy walking down the sidewalk. I would even run toward him as fast as I could and when I got close enough, he would stretch out his arms to the side like a tree and I would jump... jump up and grab onto his arm and he would let me swing from them like I was a monkey. I thought he must have been the strongest daddy in the world.

Special Traditions... When my daddy would leave for work in the morning, the last thing I would shout out to him was “Bring me a surprise!” And he would.

Every single day!

Every day...

After work...

Religiously...

He would go by the corner store and buy me a bag of Penny Candy.

People my age know exactly what I'm talking about. Penny Candy—every piece cost a penny. My father would fill a little brown paper bag with Squirrel Nuts, Mary Janes, Bit-O-Honey, wax lips, black cows, candy buttons, candy cigarettes, wax bottles filled with flavored water, Bazooka gum... I could go on and on. It was like Christmas!

“Where’s my surprise?” I would say to him. He would smile as he handed me a little brown paper bag. It's a wonder my mom didn't kill him because this was right before my supper and I had to eat the candy right then. Give me candy over vegetables any day!

So, as I walk through the stores that sell barrels of mixed candy (but never for a penny), I think of how my dad would lovingly take the time every afternoon to pick out my favorite sweet treats and “surprise me” with a little brown paper bag filled with “something special.”

~ Jeannie Joyner