
Photo Larry Clark
As an 9 or 10 year old, I didn’t receive a regular allowance (probably didn’t deserve one) and searched for a way of making some money. I helped occasionally, a friend that had a paper route. I couldn’t get one myself as they had to be purchased from someone giving it up ($20-30) which was beyond reach for me. I found a Veribest ad on the back of a comic-they sold seeds and all forms of greeting cards. The good part was that you didn’t pay up front. My first venture was to send in an order for seeds-I became a salesman. The name of the company was both a blessing and a pain especially with the cards.
The company name was printed on the seed packet for all to see. Not so the cards-people would ask me the name of the company and I always replied, “the very best”. Reactions varied but most would repeat the question and get the same answer, which invoked either a slamming of the door or an engaging conversation-the latter usually to my benefit. Not always an easy career because most people didn’t have a lot of money to spare At some point I must have realized that collecting bottles was more lucrative and less stressful, so thus ended this budding career although I did work at it for a least a couple of Springs.
Related Reading
A Personal Story — Caught in the Ice– Rocky Point- Larry Clark
The Watts Bros Seed Company Lanark Village