Readers Remember

Back in the late 1950s when I was about 10 years old, I became my grandmother’s shopping helper. Being the oldest, I got elected. On Saturday morning my mom would say, “Get ready, you’re going downtown with your grandmother to help her with her bags.”

We lived one house from the railroad tracks and my grandmother lived five houses away. My grandma and I would wait under the cabana for the Red Car and off we’d go to the Grand Central Market. When we finished, we would ride the electric buses to other stores while I carried the bags. The bus would pass Clifton’s Cafeteria. I always wanted to go inside, but we never did. I usually had a hot dog at the Grand Central for lunch. My grandma would finish her shopping and off we’d go home on the Red Car.

All of that on Saturday and a dime to boot.

SERGIO HERNANDEZ

From the Internet

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Today’s generation may not believe it, but there was a time when big brother walked little sister (or brother) to school. When I started kindergarten in 1926, my brother, Bob, was two years older, so he inherited the duty. As we left the house, he dutifully held my hand until we were out of sight and then left me on my own as he took off with his friends. I didn’t care because I was busy looking for rocks to add to my collection, which I placed in a pouch bag with long straps that I carried on my shoulder. I even added bits of concrete that had broken off the sidewalk.

One day, I got out of school and saw a couple of bullies beating up my brother. I waded into the melee with my rock-laden bag swinging. The bullies were soundly beaten. My brother took my hand and said, “Come on Eileen, let’s go home.”

Once we were adults, he told me that he didn’t mind walking me to school after that.

EILEEN DIAZ

Palm Desert