The SAFEWAY...

"My Pac-man maze"...

We lived across the street from this grocery store, Safeway, in the city of Pacoima. Whenever my dad, mom, or older brother wanted to go I was always ready and willing to go every time. Only because they had one of my favorite games over there titled: Berzerk. And,my older brother had this quarter with a hole drilled in it with a string attached to it so we could play countless games whenever we wanted to and keep that same quarter, providing we wouldn't get caught, you know. :)

During my exciting battle against these evil robots, my brother pulls me aside to tell me something. He wants me to help him with something. What?? I ask what could be more important right now than destroying these robots? He insists that I just follow him. With little debate I eventually follow. "What's so important?" I ask. He tells me to put a small canister of Binaca (mouth freshener) spray into my pocket. "What?? You want me to steal something? Why? Why should I?" I ask. "I will let you keep that quarter with the string" argues my brother. Hmmmm, I thought... Sounded fair to me! So, as easy as he said it, I put the mouth freshener spray into my pocket.

He had me follow him down an aisle in the store. He had with him a pack of Marlboro Red cigarettes. He looked with a quick left and right then tried to stuff the pack into his pocket. He struggled a little too long with it as I watched him do it and as did our father while turning into the aisle where we were at. When our father approached us, I could almost swear my brother was as white as a ghost. "What's that in your pocket!?" with a stern voice asks our father. "Uhh... It's my Pac-Man maze!" said my brother with utter dismay. "What! Don't lie to me!" said our father. "It's my Pac-Man maze. It is!" said my worried brother. "Show me! Take whatever you have out of your pocket, now!" insisted our father. At this point I was already worried I was next. So, I quickly pulled out the Binaca I had and confessed on the spot. My dad was quite surprised I had stolen something, too. But, he had his eye on my brother. We were both BUSTED!! He told us he was going to have a talk with us when we get back home. Being 8 years old myself and my brother being about 11, we knew what that meant. The "CINTO"!! Which was a good ole butt-whooping with a thick leather belt.

We got home and got what we expected except for me. I was puzzled as to why I didn't get the "cinto" but, our father explained that my older was responsible for my actions that day. And, that he should be setting good examples for me, etc. I believe my brother learned more than I did that day. For me, it was just...

The Safeway...