GUESS WHATS

                                                                       
Candy for a penny
I ask for more than a penny now
I’ve grown very wise, you see.
       From  “Cabaret”

When Jenny and Susan discovered the Guess Whats, they were no longer interested in their former penny candy choices. They found that for just a penny they could get a pastel-colored paper-wrapped packet containing three taffy kisses and a trinket. Printed on the inside of the paper would be their fortune and a wise saying., but the part they liked best was the perfect miniature they often found inside. They really didn’t like the cream -colored taffy kisses, which had a sweet bland taste and threatened to pull out their teeth when they chewed them. They saved them for friends who actually liked them.

After looking in stores and also doing some window shopping, going to the library, finding new restrooms to inspect, and taking a long walk to unexplored parts of town, they did their favorite thing, which they had made themselves save for last. They hurried to the bakery for the Guess Whats. Susan’s mother suggested that each might be better off spending her nickel on a candy bar, which was good to eat and contained more nutrition. It would be far better, she said, than wasting money on all that junk. She couldn’t possibly understand.

They opened the bakery door with the tinkly bell overhead and went directly to the penny candy section. There was no more deliberating about what to buy. They now knew exactly what they wanted. Each plunked down her nickel and asked for five Guess Whats. The clerk smiled and put five in each white paper bag.

Then it was off to the car. First they took a look through the magazines and books they had just checked out. Then, with excited fingers, they took turns unwrapping the Guess Whats. They made the fun last as long as they could. They would first read the fortunes and the wise advice, and then slowly unwrap the inner wrapped surprise. Today they were lucky. Out of ten Guess Whats, six were the coveted miniatures. There were four celluloid animals in their authentic colors and perfect miniature furnishings in brown or silver, that could be used in tiny doll houses. All had little loops on them so they could be attached to links in charm bracelets or necklaces. What wonderful gifts these would make for their sisters and friends, and with such bounty, they would have some left for themselves. The rest were little games, which were okay. They might trade trinkets, if there were duplicates. They gathered up the trinkets, papers and miniatures and put them back in the white paper sacks. They were very contented with their surprise bags of baubles.