Rolling in the Dough

Dad earns big money

Father was a watch and clock repairman. Not a jeweler, as some might assume, but a man who made watches and clocks run again and keep good time. He had catalogs from which he could order jewelry for customers, but he never stocked any. Most of his business came from the poor, and his prices were the same as they had been twenty years previous, during WWII.  (This was the sixties)

There were two proper jewelers in the small town who could repair watches, but they didn't take in clocks. Dad was friends with them, and he'd sometimes help them catch up on watch repair if they got behind. (A good deal for them because he worked so cheaply)

I would often get angry with Dad because we were so poor. "Why don't you charge more?" I'd ask him, and he'd reply, "Because these poor people need their time pieces to get up on time and make it to work." Some of those poor people, I knew, weren't good at paying, but he would never turn them away.

I think it may have been a Saturday when I went by his shop to hit him up for some spending money. Still a kid, my earnings at odd jobs weren't enough to keep me in movie tickets, Cokes, and other essentials, so Dad was always there and would cough up a little cash if he had it. On this day, he seemed happy and generous.

Opening his wallet, he forked over three bucks. I smiled, having received so much mullah.

"Thanks, Dad. You been raking in the money?"

"Well, you might say that. That banker up at the new bank came down and hired me to go up there and set up a big, fancy clock they have in the lobby."

I knew Dad was the only person in town who could've done that job, and hoped he stuck it to them.

"How much did they pay you, Dad?"

 

"I only spent half an hour up there, and I charged that ol' rich banker five dollars! Heh-heh!"

Yep, that was my Dad, the shrewd business man!

Author's Note

It's true, every word. I have a lot of my dad in me.

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

Your dad may not have been a shrewd business, but your description he was a kind man, a good father and he helped others in their similar businesses…what a guy… it shows me that you don’t have to be rich to be content…..a very good story Sam, I enjoyed it
Warmly, B🌷

[Samuel Dickens]

Thanks, Betty. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome Sam🌷
Warmly, B

[Beccy]

Really enjoyed reading this Samuel. Your dad sounds like a lovely and generous man; and as Betty points out, you truly do not have to be rich to be content.

Beccy.

PS. 3 bucks in the sixties, at 10 cents a can, that was an awful lot of coke. :))

[Samuel Dickens]

Thank you so much, Beccy. Yes, three bucks went quite a ways back then. It was 25 cents for a movie ticket and 15 cents for popcorn. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

This made me think of my dad. Never put himself first, and never felt money was the be-all and end-all.
And reminds me of all the watches I accumulated over the years when I was young. I hated wearing them and they all ended up collecting in my dresser drawer. I would always get new ones for Christmas or Birthdays because my folks would think I lost the previous one.
Yay for your dad.
j.

[Samuel Dickens]

Thanks, Jacob. You're right about the money, and Dad passed that attitude on to me. (And I think I'm better for it) I've never understood those forsake so many important things in life just to acquire wealth. We can't take it with us and it won't buy love. It sucks to not have any, however. I appreciate you stopping buy.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am sure it was the same for your dad. Although, my dad lost his dad when he was only sixteen, and thus had to be the breadwinner...such little money and such struggle back then.
a good lesson in humility and strength of persistance to survive.

[Mariej]

What a lovely heart-touching, heartwarming story of your dear Dad's kindness and generosity, Sam. He gave you more than half of what he had earned that day, bless him. I like the story v-e-r-y much, it is wrapped in so much fatherly-son love. I enjoyed reading it too! Thank you so very much for sharing, Sam...

[Samuel Dickens]

Thank you so much. It's the first thing I've written in a long time.

[Mariej]

Oh, I am so pleased you wrote it and are back writing again, dear friend. Keep writing! Never give up! Even if it's only two lines and add to it when you are inspired, without realising it you will have a wonderful poem or story ready to publish! It is a very beautiful story, Sam and thank you again for sharing it...