When I was a kid, for Christmas money I sold Christmas cards. It was not any big project, and I doubt it was even a good buy for my customers. But I would manage to sell enough Christmas cards to be able to by Christmas presents for my Aunts and Uncles, Grandparents, and my Mother and Father.
There I was, a nine or ten year old boy, having his once a year experience at playing big-shot, out buying Christmas presents. I was loaded, I had almost twenty-nine dollars which was a big sum of money for a little kid. I had spent about twenty dollars of my money on the Aunts and Uncles, and Grandparents presents, which left me about nine dollars for my folks. That was two gifts, and perhaps a candy bar and a Pez for myself.
My folks wanted to go to Goldfines, which was a new super department store in our city. Because I had nine whole dollars I wanted to get something really neat for my folks, something they would really like. I was walking, going from one part of the store to another when I spotted two sets of silverware in boxes. Wow, silverware was just the thing! We did not own a real set of silverware, but rather most of a complete set, and parts of other sets. This set said it was complete and had service for eight people. Seeing there were only three of us, I thought that would be a great gift. I was all excited as I saw the price was nine dollars and twenty-three cents. I checked my pockets and I had twenty-three cents, I was in business!
I picked up one of the boxes and worked my way back to the cash registers and stood in line. I was so excited, and my parents would be so surprised and excited! I had never seen brand new silverware before, and I wondered what it was like to eat using brand new silverware? I finally made it to the cash register and placed my purchase on the counter.
It was a woman cashier, and when she finished with the woman in front of me, she took my silverware and rang it up. She looked at her cash register, and said to me, “Nine dollars and eighty-six cents.” I was shocked, I was sure the price was nine dollars and twenty-three cents, and I said so. The cashier told me I read the price wrong, and I did not include the sales tax. Tax, what was tax I asked? When she told me, I said I only had my nine dollars and twenty-three cents, and could she take that? She said no, I had to pay the tax too.
I was crushed, and I did not know what to do. I told her I didn’t have the extra money. She told me I could not buy the silverware. I didn’t want to let go of the silverware because I was sure someone else would pick it up and buy it. I took the box, and stepped away, absolutely stunned. As I stood there watching the people pay, I had an idea, a terrible and low idea, but it could work. I started asking people leaving for sixty-three cents so I could buy the silverware.
Of course no one gave me any money, I was a kid begging, and who is going to give money to a kid. I received a few mean remarks, but mostly was ignored. Someone of course was put out enough to tell a salesman what was going on. This man showed up and asked what I was doing bothering customers?
I explained my problem to him. He told me he was Mr. Goldfine and in his opinion this one time they could take my nine dollars and twenty-three cents for the silverware. I was so excited! Here was the man who owned this huge store doing business with me like I was a grown-up customer! Better yet, I could get the silverware too! I don’t remember what I got for Christmas presents that year, but I still remember what I gave out, and I remember the man that made it possible.
