I posted this story a year ago and had many touching responses. With all the new members and the special time of year I thought it was worth posting again. Anyone remember Lauras Candy store in Money Island? I met my no ex husband when I was twelve. He had the exact birthday as my father, April 1, April Fools Day. He was a city boy but his parents had a summer house in Toms River and eventually they moved down permanently. I met him a little candy store across the street from the tiny beach in Money Island, two blocks from my mothers house. I can still picture that little candy store where Id spent so many of my teenage years. There was a jukebox, two pinball machines and a round, white painted set of table and chairs. An old wooden screen door led to a patio with a cement park bench across from the beach where I received my first kiss. There was an old fashioned wooden phone booth with a rotary phone. We would and see how many of us teenagers we could pack inside. It was a mom and pop type store, owned by an older woman named Laura. She opened it only during the busy tourist season. She has a small, skinny frame and a voice similar to Glenda, the Good witch in the Wizard of Oz. She spent a lifetime in the second floor apartment nursing her invalid mother until she died, leaving the store to Laura She never married or spoke of a man in her past. She made a meager living serving hamburgers, sandwiches, ice cream and penny candy during the summer. In the winter she worked at a dry cleaning store. Laura was great to all of the kids. We spent hours in her store, playing records. pinball and growing up. The store was a meeting place for every teenager in the neighborhood and surrounding beaches. Parents knew their children were safe if they were there. Laura took no bull and ran a tight ship. This tiny, squeaky, splinter of a woman boldly threw anyone out who used bad language or did not behave. She never sold cigarettes to teenagers who were underage or let us smoke inside. The good kids were rewarded with a wonderful Happy Days type of place to socialize. When Laura broke her hip, my friend Virginia Davis and I ran the store for a few weeks and would take no pay. We were happy just to keep it open. Years went by and Laura could not keep up with the pace of running the store any longer. It was sold and the new owners promised Laura they would keep it open for her kids to continue to enjoy .It was a promise they never kept. Our happy days was gone forever. Laura stayed in Money Island, buying a small home a block away from her beloved store. Over the years I visited Laura, taking both of my children trick or treating there on Halloween . Many times when I visited my own mother I just dropped in to visit and listen to her tell stories of her youth. Our visits continued for more than 20 years. I was still one of her kids. Laura’s frail little body began to wear out in the spring. She spent the spring, summer and early fall in a nursing home. My daughter Noelle and I visited her once a week. When Noelle walked through the lobby to Laura’s room, many sad and forgotten seniors sitting wistfully in front of the television were grateful to see a child. One woman touched her cheek to Noelle’s head to sniff a wisp of her hair. They were lonely. I brought Noelle around a lot. It turned out to be one of her life lessons about love, friendship, life and death. She learned to help the elderly and respect them. You must be good to your parents. Watch over them when you are grown as they cared for you as a child. That is love and the way of life. One little effort on your part could mean much to some one in need. A few weeks later I received the news of Laura’s death. I went to her funeral, hoping for a big turn out. She raised most of us. When our parents were at work, we were with her. I pulled into the Anderson Campbell Funeral home and saw the parking lot was full. Good, I thought. Everyone remembered Laura. When I walked inside I was disappointed to find that there were two funerals being held at the same time. One was packed. Lauras was almost empty with the exception of three elderly people who left a few moments after I arrived. I was alone with Laura at her side, just staring at her frail little body in her casket, surrounded by empty chairs that should have been filled.. I could not believe I was the only one of her kids there to say goodbye. This went on for a quarter of an hour. It was almost closing time when a beautiful blond woman about thirty years old dressed in a smart black suit walked into Lauras room and sat down next to me. She said, “I was at the funeral next door and stopped in to see the woman whose last name was Lynch. That was my maiden name. I hope you dont mind if I sit with you and say a prayer.” She approached Laura’s casket. She gently touched her cheek and caressed her tiny hands. We said a prayer together. Then the clock chimed nine and Laura’s last day on Earth was over. The beautiful woman thanked me and then she was gone. I never saw her again. I have no doubt she is one of my angels.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 19:31:40 +0000
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