Thirteen Short Summers: Chapter VI

I rode my bike proudly across the street. My first job. I wasn't nervous at all.

"Hello." Jerry said.

"Hi." I replied walking up to the desk.

"Alright, since you're already here I can show you around and all."

Half an hour later I was set. I sat at the front desk. Jerry was upstairs cleaning and unpacking. He was going to turn the whole upstairs into a room for rent so he could make some extra cash off the place. Where someone could live! With everything they would need, even an oven.

It was 10:30, about seven customers had come in already. Mostly boys and girls my age and older, not wanting to buy anything, just sit around in the air conditioning.

Jerry told me when there weren't any customers to unpack new shells, mail business letters, stamp journals, and bracelets, stuff like that.
I had NEVER stamped so many MONTEREY and VACTION bracelets in my life! The stamper in the back room was big and clumsy, and hard to operate too.

So many boxes of shells arrived from the ocean. Divers got them. Jerry paid them to deliver them to the shop everyday.
I had to clean, polish, and wax the shells. Then sort them into colors, sizes, and shapes, THEN decide rather we need more necklaces, bracelets, picture frames, and things like that, or shells in the buckets.

At twelve Jerry had me go get his lunch while he worked the cash register. I walked slowly down the coast, Dave's was two streets over, it wouldn't take too long.
Once at Dave's I got Jerry's food and quickly made my way back.

Jerry sat at the cash register talking to...Aunt Jennipher?

"Aunt Jennipher?" I asked as I walked into the store.

"Virginia." She smiled.

"What are you doing here?"

"Visit Jerry-my friend, we have been talking."

"Alright." I said with suspiciously, handing Jerry his lunch. "I'll be behind the store on the sand.

"Ten minutes." Jerry advised.

The day went by smoothly. Jerry payed me $1.75! I couldn't believe it! I told Jerry it was too much, but he insisted. "You worked very hard today and did a very good job."

I felt overwhembled. "See ya Thursday." I waved to Jerry as I rode home.

Liz And Aunt Jennipher were working in the garden. I told them all about my first day at Shell Heaven.

"Save your money, Virginia." Liz advised. "Don't spend it all on candy. Put a dollar in a jar for savings and the rest is your spending money." I did as I was told.

I couldn't believe I'd have to leave this perfect place soon. Dad would come back, take Aunt Jennipher and I to Seattle and I'd start school.

I got up to my bedroom I went straight to to my table. I opened my began to write.

Dear Dad, May 19, 1941 Monterey, California

Things here are just fine. Aunt Jennipher has a new friend, my boss Jerry. I have a new job now. At Shell Heaven, on the coast. I made $1.75. I like it at Shell Heaven, Jerry is real nice. What is Germany like? Do you like living there?

I have to go to bed,

Love you till Nigera Falls,

Viginia