RANKIN'S GROCERY : The Terminal's Redfish Rally @thekittygirlphotochallenge Extra Challenge - WEEK 1

Occasionally as time permits, I join in the fun with the Redfish Ralliers as a way to provide support and a sample for the type of blog they are asked to create. We strongly believe that you lead by example, and that is exactly what the Terminal staff do.

So for my participation in Week 1 of the Rally, I chose to create a fictional story based on one of the lovely photographs offered to the Ralliers by one of the Terminal founders, @thekittygirl, for this Challenge.

RANKIN'S GROCERY

As Henry gathered his friends in the yard, his mom stepped onto the front porch smiling, then extended her hand towards Henry. He grabbed the ten dollar bill and gave her a warm, crushing hug. She washed and ironed an extra load of clothes last week to be able to save a bit in the jar for Henry's special day.

That day came on Saturday as her only son managed to graduate from middle school to the next level. Yes, he was growing up. How he managed to keep up with his studies was no less than a miracle. His dad demanded he help with the farm full time. This afforded Henry little time to study and no time to just be a kid, free from the worries grown ups dealt with.

Ellen's constant struggle with her husband not to burden Henry with their financial problems only managed to widen the distance in their own relationship these last few years. Coupled with the fact that she was the only source of income since his accident on the job.

Walter was also feeling the effects of his prolonged injury. Now he had to rely solely on his income from their farm. That meant he needed help working it. Not part time, either; but he couldn't afford to pay anyone.

^{Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay}

Things were changing all around. Now that Henry would be going to high school, he would need more school necessities. And he wasn't the only one changing. Their lives would be different now that Walter received notice that the paper mill was scheduled to close permanentlyat the end of the month.

Ellen turned slowly and stopped short of entering the house as she watched Henry and his friends dart down the road. They were headed straight to Rankin's Grocery.

"Slow down Henry and friends," Mr. Rankin laughed as the boys poured through the door jostling for position to be the first one to enter.

Henry placed the money on the counter. Mr. Rankin looked at him, then laughed saying, "by golly, you're rich Henry. Is that your graduation gift?"

"Yes, Mr. Rankin, and I'm not rich yet, but one day I will be. Then I'll be able to take care of my mom and dad. He lost his job at the paper mill. I need to find work to help them out," Henry said solemnly. "But for today, I have a list of items my parents need. With the remainder, I'll pay $2.00 on our monthly gas station account. Then, I'm treating my friends to whatever they want."

Mr. Rankin stared at Henry for a moment before filling the order. He left nothing for himself. Another time and place during the Depression interrupted his thoughts as an old gentleman's face stared down at him from behind the grocery counter. Handing Henry his order, he said, "young man, promise me you'll graduate and attend college. You can't see it now, but you'll need it for that whole other world out there beyond our small town."

Henry nodded as he and his friends grabbed the bags and headed. A few months later, the family sat in church celebrating the home going for Mr. Rankin. He was a private man, and no one in Centerville realized the extent of his illness.

^{Image by keysluising from Pixabay}

Six weeks after Mr. Rankin's service, Henry received a letter requesting his attendance in town at an attorney's office. He was nervous as he couldn't figure out why he wanted to see him.

By the time Henry left the attorney's office, his head was swirling with the knowledge he was the sole beneficiary of Mr. Rankin's estate and the proud owner of Rankin's Grocery, provided he graduate high school and attend college.

As Henry drove home, his mind was filled with thoughts of how he would convert the entire stretch of land owned by Mr. Rankin to erect a memorial in memory of him and revitalize Rankin's Grocery. By the time he reached home, plans for his parents, the paper mill, and Centerville was solidly entrenched in his mind.

Why me? Henry wondered as he stepped onto the front porch.