2-19-09

A sweet lesson in middle school economics

With all of the talk about the economy and greed on Wall Street lately, it got me thinking about a time when I was on top of my game and was loaded with money. Maybe I have a weak spot for money, but for some reason, I find myself relating. Let me explain.
I remember sitting a few seats up from the back of the school bus when I started sixth grade. Sitting in the back was a privilege for the kids that were cool, knew someone, or were in the eighth grade. I just happened to get on the bus early in the morning.
There was a tall and lanky guy that wore a light gray Members Only jacket on his back and a black “unbreakable” comb in his back pocket. He seemed to have a lot of friends on the bus.
I remember his name well. Sean O’Riley.
I soon found out that if you wanted a pack of gum or a sucker, or anything sweet, for that matter, he was the guy to go to.
He sold candy on the bus during the morning and afternoon rides. He was the only eighth grader that sat in the middle of the bus. I found out that this was so that everyone could get to him easier. Smart.
I studied his movements and procedures for about a month or so until I caught on.
While buying a pack of gum and a few Blow Pops from him one morning, we had a little talk. I asked him if we could work something out so that I, too, could sell candy on the bus so that I could make a little money for myself.
Sean didn’t have a problem with it, so that night I asked my dad if he would let me borrow $20 and drive me to 7-Eleven (a D.C. equivalent to Circle K).
“What in the world for, son?” Dad asked.
“I want to buy candy to sell on the school bus,” I said as if this was a normal request of every level-headed sixth grader.
We went back and forth trading the points of saving money and making dumb decisions.
“Dad, trust me. I can sell candy on the bus and make money. I will be able to pay you back the money I borrow and I shouldn’t have to borrow any money again.” I finally pleaded.
“I am going to do this just to teach you how quick your money can be lost and how it is important to save. If you don’t make the money to pay me back, then you will have to work it off,” Dad retorted with a bit of defeat.
Off we went.
After “shopping” for the type and brands of candy that I had learned would sell, I laid out my investment on the well-worn melamine counter. The clerk looked down at me and then at my dad as if to say, “What the heck kind of parent are you?”
Blow Pops, Hershey bars, Nerds, Sour Patch Kids, Atomic Fire Balls, Bazooka gum, Pixi-Stix, if it was popular and demanded a price, I bought it.
The next morning, I walked through the yellow double-hinged doors of the school bus like a man in Vegas that new his opponents tell.
It was on.
That night, I sat down at the dinner table and Dad asked me, “Well, how did the candy sale go?”
I told him, “Good.”
I think he was expecting to hear a sob story and give me a pick-me-up talk
“How much did you sell?” Dad asked.
“All of it,” I responded while shoveling in another fork-full of mashed potatoes.
“By the eleventh bus stop!” I finished.
There was a pause.
“How much did you make?”
“$45.25, not counting what I ate,” I updated.
From that day on Dad took me to 7-Eleven every Sunday and Wednesday.
Over the course of the three middle school years, I rose from “kid in the back of the bus” to a full-blown “Tony Montana.”
I began taking special orders and buying in bulk. Sam’s Club helped with my profit margin.
I bought a larger book bag to carry ALL of my books in so that my locker could be turned into a makeshift candy store.
Between classes I would sell from my locker.
Yes, my teachers knew. But I kept my grades up and there was no reason for alarm.
We always went to Ocean City for our family vacation. During those years I always had my own spending money.
Candy, baby. I was in the big time. That summer I bought the best skateboard that every kid wanted and I paid in cash.
Vision Gator skateboard, red Chuck Taylors, parachute pants. I bought them all myself.
By my last year of middle school, I realized that I wasn’t reaching my entire market. I was now in eighth grade and lost touch with my people. There were sixth graders going around without sweets.
I reined in my friends and began to make boxes of candy to sell. I would sell a box of $3.50 for $6.00 to my friends and explain how they could sell it for $12.00.
Why not? We were all winning and I was still on top.
Making money hand over fist, it was time for me to graduate to the ninth grade.
The next year I quickly realized that I was back on the bottom and candy wasn’t in demand. High school kids could drive to the store and get whatever, whenever. I had to find a new “career.”
So I guess with all of the economy troubles going on now, I have to be careful with my money. Although, if I were to lose my job, I think I would try my hand at being a bus driver.
Bryan Pinkey can be reached at bpinkey@nccox.com or now all of his stories are archived at jbryanpinkey.blogspot.com.