Caramels and Apples

Thirteen bottles and six cans at five cents each gives Val ninety five cents. One more and she's got a buck, enough for an apple and three caramels from the penny candy jar. Why it's still called penny candy baffles Val. She even argued the point with Mrs. Han one day saying it was false advertising. Paying ten cents for a piece of candy labeled a penny is highway robbery. Not to mention a cruel tease. But Val shut up when Mrs. Han threatened to ban her from her store. Since its the only depanneur that still sells candy by the piece and carries bananas and green apples, Val backed off. She should check the back garbage can on the football field at recess, see if some of the high school kids or maintenance guys threw away their bottles. They're always drinking those expensive rainbow coloured sport drinks, chugging them back like water. Their stupidity, paying four dollars for something you can get for free from the tap. Grab an apple and a few caramels and voila, energy and water. Well, not tons of water but fibre, and fibre's important. Val's been reading up on nutrition and healthy eating. Mom and dad aren't big on vegetables or salads; they're more of a shake n bake, kraft dinner, meal in a box, Friday night pizza kind of family. But Val's growing now and she needs nutrients to keep her muscles and bones strong and healthy. That's what Miss Foster says in phys ed. Val likes Miss. F. She's a wicked fun volleyball coach. She played varsity ball in university and taught them all these cool aggressive cheers with swear words and stuff. Val's starting to feel like a real player now. Miss F says she's a great setter and could grow into a solid power hitter. Val's tired though, and hungry all the time. She can't afford much on her monthly allowance outside of clothing and bus fare. Personal bottle drives have become her part time job. She doesn't care what the other kids think- a few of them even save their empties for her and leave them at her locker. Plus, being four inches taller than most of the bullies seems to have it's advantages. Val thinks she could be a professional athlete when she grows up, maybe get a scholarship and go to America or Europe to play, be on the Olympic team. She's read that what you eat is just as important as how you practice. Apples are her afternoon snack, bananas are the morning. Caramels, well they're just delicious and taste great with a bite of apple in her mouth. Thirty cents for 3, seventy for an apple. That's a deal Val can afford.