Cotton Dollars

Cotton Dollars

I had my note sheet with several totals that were quite a bit more than the twenty, one dollar bills I had rolled up in my hand that held my pencil. Twenty one-dollar bills, my reward for picking a ton of cotton which would wind up as one bale.

I went back over the racks of shirts looking for some a little less expensive, writing the price down in the column. Then to the pants, shoes, underwear, same thing. I could do without a new belt as I could buy a smaller waist size and get by without one. The total was still too high.

I sat down to rest in a chair used for fitting shoes while staring at the holes in the knees of my pants. Those weren't holes I mused, there was only a strip of pants cloth two or three inches wide holding the bottom of the pants on below my knees. The holes in the toes my shoes gave witness that I still had ten of them. Worn from dragging the cotton sack while on my knees for miles and miles down those hot dusty rows.

"Hi! Have you decided which items you'd like to buy?" Mrs. Leibermann kindly asked.

"I'm still a couple or three dollars short so I'll have to pick some more cotton at night and on weekends for a few weeks and wear these last years ones to school for awhile." I replied, looking at the ceiling wondering and knowing the subtle stares and chuckles I'd have to endure from classmates until I could get some new clothes.

At least I had enough to eat stored at my several camps in the woods that friends and their parents had given me. They would last awhile since thirteen year olds don’t eat much.

"HMMM! Let me see those." It was Mr. Leibermann pointing at the bills in my hand.
"HMMM! These look like cotton dollars, are they?" He asked.

"Yes sir, I've been working everyday, into the night and weekends trying to get a few decent clothes to start school. I haven't had any new ones since last year when I was here." I sadly told him.

"Well you know we have a secret sale going on for old and loyal customers and these cotton dollars are worth a dollar and twenty five cents since they are harder to get." He said while looking at his smiling wife.

"Really?" I said amazed.

"Yes, lets gather up the things that you need and we'll total them up, you may have enough to get what you need and after you finish this cotton season you may have enough for some more." He said as he put his hand on my shoulder leading me to the clothes racks.

After picking out a couple of shirts, some blue jean pants and a belt we sat down in the shoe section again. There was enough for a good pair of ankle high boots and some socks. A pair that would be good for the fall and winter approaching and tough enough for the woods where I lived most of the time.

They rang them up and there was nearly a dollar left over. I couldn't believe it. I would be able to get a few lunches in the cafeteria on my own.

Leaving I told them that they were so kind to help me and I knew that God was certainly looking over me to have them for storekeepers in our small community.

"Shalom my little friend." were the words I heard from them as I carried my new clothes with me down the street.

Mark Crider (c)2006

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS4OxoebcSQ&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Story ID:	3589
Written by:	Mark Crider (bio, link, contact, other stories)
Organization:	Corpus Christi Coating & Machine Inc.
Location:	Robstown Texas U.S.A.
Year:	1951