Chapter 49. Sweet Coffee

Andrew followed the old man, surprisingly agile for his age, toward an old two-story building painted in yellow and mint green.

The entry to Pops candy shack was at the corner of the two story building, off the lane that led to the bus stop. The door frame was made of rows and columns of bright red metal.

Poppa entered first, unlocking the shack with a set of golden keys and three bolts. Andrew followed, into a dark room filled with the kind of treats that would classify this place as food heaven for children. It would also give the family dentist a headache.

For a large part of his childhood, sugar had been a very important part of his life. That was a long time ago. When he’d spent some nights sleeping on the floor so his mother could share the motel bed with her lovers.

“Sit here.” Poppa grabbed an old wooden chair from beside a shelf of brightly colored candy stored in glass bowls.

Andrew reached for it at the same time. “Let me get the chair.”