PENNY CANDY… GONE STREET MARKET (II)
BY STRESSLA LYNN JOHNSON
Crossing the wooden threshold, you are
greeted with the aromas of fresh bread, mixed
in with the smells of fruits and vegetables …
Your eyes drawn to the panoramic view of
penny-candy arranged with kids in mind.
Even now it makes the mouth water.
I hear the store is not the same ...
An old white lady stands behind the
counter and don't even know the smiling kids'
names ... That she has been suspiciously watching.
ever since their little feet crossed
the wooded threshold ...
The black security bars imply the distrust of the
strangers—gentrification — occupying the neighborhood,
strangers without a care for kindness — just a made-up
empty smile. A smile that read — why are you in my
store...?
There is no more penny candy spread out for
the kids to pick from ... I imagine a lot of things
are gone from the corner stores, especially the
people that loved the Black Community. | SLJ