Soda Rock

[favoritebean_writes]

My first time was when I was fifteen.  We had an open campus at school, which meant we could leave for lunch.  My friends Steve, Crys, Randy and I set off for a lunchtime adventure.  I had forgotten my lunch, and the cafeteria food was unappealing.  I figured I’d just skip lunch completely, and go for a walk.

 

Crys tried to convince us to go to the park across the street.  Unsuccessfully, I might add.  Last time she tried, some sophomore pantsed me and tried to throw me into the irrigation ditch.  I knew better than to go to the park.  It was October, and hazing rituals of the freshmen were still going strong.

 

Steve suggested we walk to Crys’ house, hoping that maybe the two of them would hit it off, and he could spy her bedroom in the process.  Crys played coy though. 

 

“Dad’s home,” she said. “He’ll know you’re up to no good.  But you can walk me home, and I’ll meet up with ya at sixth hour.” 

 

Steve seemed okay with this, Randy was simply waiting by the gate, and I rolled my eyes.   I didn’t understand romance, and I thought they didn’t make a good couple, although they were fine as friends to me.  Randy told me that there was a shop on South Gaylord street, about a half a mile away that he wanted to get some candy from. 

 

“You ever been to Soda Rock?” he asked me, as we walked away from the campus.

 

“What’s a Soda Rock? Is it landmark of some sort?”

 

“Nah, it’s a candy shop,” Randy said.  “They have pop too, but I just go for the sweets.”

 

I shrugged.  “I’ll go with you, but I’m not allowed to spend my money on candy.  A pop sounds kind of good though.” 

 

Steve and Crys trailed behind, holding hands.  Randy picked up the pace, and I had to jog to keep up.   About two blocks from school, Steve and Crys stopped in front of a bungalow. 

 

“I’ll uh-“ Steve looked down shyly, “I’ll catch up to you in a few.”    Crys smiled, and waved at us, hinting that we really should go. 

 

As Randy and I walked, I focused on the time.  It was only my second time leaving the campus, and I was afraid I’d be late for class.  Our teacher had a strict attendance policy, and three tardies meant one unexcused absence.  I didn’t want to make her mad.  It was easier if I didn’t talk, so I listened.  Talking slowed me down, and then I thought about how hungry I was.  Randy didn’t mind talking.   Randy talked a little about everything, and I listened. 

 

He told me more about Soda Rock, and how it had just opened two weeks before.  As he extolled the finer points of their Super Colossal JawBreakers, we reached the entrance to the shop. 

 

Everything was baby powder pink, and it had an old timey general store feel to it.  The shop was empty, and cardboard boxes lined the walls. 

 

“Is this place even open?”  I asked softly.

 

“Welcome!” came a voice from the back of the shop.  “Be right there!”  An elder woman with gray curly hair approached the counter from the back wearing a clean white apron, and a big smile. 

 

“Welcome! How can I help ya?” 

 

Randy’s eyes were like saucers.  “Can I get some gummies and a Super Colossal JawBreaker?  Oh, and a Coke.”

 

The woman’s eyes seemed to smile at Randy, who was beaming.  “Of course,” she said.  She rounded up some sweets, and pulled a bottle of Coke out of the fridge.  It was an older looking bottle, with the type of cap you have to remove with an opener.  She did so, offered it to him, and gave him the total. 

 

“$3.50 please?”   

 

Oh no way was I going to be able to spend that on candy and drinks.  I had five singles to my name, and I was hoping to grab some chips from the vending machine back at school. 

 

“How about you?  What can I getcha?” The woman smiled at me.

 

“Um, I’m just keeping him company, I don’t need anything sweet,” I said. 

 

At that moment, Steve burst through the door, looking very sweaty. 

 

“I ran all the way here. You get stuff, Randy?” Steve said in between gasps for air.

 

 “Young lady, we sell food too.  All made to order. Want to try?”  the woman asked, hoping to coax a ‘yes’ from me.

 

I glanced at the time.  We were already twenty minutes into lunch.  ‘Oof,’ I thought, ‘not much time.’

 

“Um, do you have any chips?” I asked shyly.

 

“We do.  Today, we also have a special.  Frito pie, $1.25.” 

 

“What’s a Frito pie?” I asked.  I liked Fritos okay, but had no idea what a pie with Fritos would involve. 

 

“Frito pie is a bowl of Fritos topped with chile and shredded cheese.  It’s our specialty.” 

 

“Um, will it take long to make?  We have class in 25 minutes.”

 

“No time at all, Dear,” the woman smiled at me.

 

“Sure, I’ll try it.  Oh, and wait.  You have Green River soda?”

 

“I sure do,” the woman smiled. “Seventy-five cents for a cup.”

 

“I LOVE Green River.  I’ll take some!” 

 

“Hey Jilly, what’s a Green River?”  Steve asked, having fully caught his breath.

 

“It- it’s a lime soda.  It’s green.  I assume it’s named after Green River in Wyoming.  It’s seriously old school.”

 

“Huh, maybe I’ll get one too,” Steve shrugged. 

 

“Here’s your Frito pie and Green River.  That’ll be two dollars,” the woman said.  I gave her two ones, and she thanked me.  “We’re just take out right now, but next month, we’ll have tables you can sit at.  Do come again.  Enjoy the Frito pie.”

 

I went outside and sat down at the curb.  I set my soda on the sidewalk, and with a plastic fork, I set out to try this new dish.  True to the woman’s word, it was chile on a bed of Fritos topped with some shredded cheddar and chopped onions. 

 

It was heaven.  I think I devoured the dish in two minutes flat.  By the time Steve and Randy emerged from Soda Rock, I had thrown my paper plate into the nearest trash bin, and was casually sipping my green soda. 

 

“Mmmm, that hit the spot!  Hey, where’s Crys?”  

 

Steve pouted.  “Her dad saw us outside, and called her in.  She’ll meet up with me later.  Want to hang out after school?” 

 

“I have marching band,” I said, “Some other time.” 

 

We set off for school, sipping at our Cokes and Green Rivers.  

“Hey Ran, why the old fashioned bottle?” Steve asked.

 

“It’s Mexican Coke,” Randy shrugged.  “It tastes better, it’s got sugar instead of corn. Want a taste?”

 

I shook my head.  In doing so, I spied that a very large German Shepherd had been following us. 

 

“Uh, guys?” I squeaked.  The dog barked. 

 

Suddenly, Steve, Randy and I were running as fast as we could, shepherd in pursuit.  The dog was barking as we ran.   We cut through an alley, and I chucked my empty cup into the nearest dumpster, hoping that having free hands would help me outrun the dog. 

 

“Over here!” Steve yelled.  He pointed to the right, and suddenly, we were running through random backyards.  One homeowner, still home, opened the back door, and raised a cane at us.

 

“Hey!”  He shouted, “Get outta here!”

 

“We’re trying!” Randy yelled back, I didn’t dare look behind me.  One giant dog and an angry man, I really did not need to see we were leading a procession.  I just needed to get to safety. 

 

“Jump!” Steve yelled, as a white picket fence loomed ahead.  Randy, Steve and I hurdled the fence without difficulty, but Randy’s Coke spilled in the process.   To our relief, the fence acted as a deterrent to the German Shepherd, who stood there, barking.   His tail wagged in the air like a flag declaring victory. 

 

Dog- 1.  Three teenagers- 1.  Bottle of Mexican Coke- 0.   Well, you can’t win them all.

 

We made it back to school with five minutes to spare.   It would be weeks before I left campus for lunch again.  By that time, Steve and Crys broke up.  Crys found new love, and Steve joined the wrestling team.   Marching band season ended.  Randy still pined for Super JawBreakers and gummies.   Soda Rock became THE spot for students. 

 

The Green River came from a tap and continued to do so for decades.   The candy sold quickly.  The Frito Pie?  That was a once a month special. 

 

 

Comments

[adoptedwriter]

We call Frito Pie “Walking Tacos” if you eat it out if a Frito bag.
Cute story. It has a Wonder Years vibe.

[favoritebean_writes]

Aww, thank you. I never watched "Wonder Years," because we didn't have a tv when it aired. I was definitely going for the rose tinted vignette sort of feel.

The shop that sold the Frito Pie served it on a cardboard plate like what hotdog vendors use. In retrospect, I should have included that in my story. But there's a trendy restaurant that makes Frito Pie for $7, and they serve it in a 1 oz. Fritos bag. The region we live now is pretty specific about tacos - Baja style (soft corn tortilla, seasoned protein, cabbage, radish), so the term 'walking tacos' is definitely one I've never heard before.

Thanks for teaching me something new, and thank you for reading. Your comment put a smile on my face.

[erulissedances]

That Frito Pie sounds wonderful, even though I'm not eating almost all of those ingredients any more - LOL.

- Erulisse (one L)

[favoritebean_writes]

Thank you for reading. We're starting to see a Frito Pie trend here with other restaurants putting their own spin on things. My favorites are the vegan pies, but it's definitely a once every six months treat or less treat for me now too.

[roina_arwen]

We make Frito pie at home when we have extra chili. Lightly crushed Fritos on the bottom of the casserole dish, layer of chili, layer of shredded cheese, more chili, then a thin layer of Fritos on top. Bake about 30 minutes and yum!

great minds think alike!

[favoritebean_writes]

Ooh, that sounds similar to a casserole I make with extra chili. I use blue corn tortilla chips though, since yamyam_kat usually eats all of the Fritos before we can make any. I also use pepper jack cheese instead of cheddar now, and add spring onion and cilantro at the end for garnish.

I'm hungry now.

Re: great minds think alike!

[roina_arwen]

We don’t do spicy around here, me because I don’t like it and hubby because of a history of ulcers, but otherwise your version sounds good too. 😊

[banana_galaxy]

This was a nice story about your youth. Makes me remember when I was around that age and kids used to get specific candies from a store on the way to school. It wasn't a candy shop; I don't recall exactly what kind of shop it was. All I remember is the coke-bottle gummy candies covered in raw sugar.

Man, those were the days when you could spend such little money on food like that!

[favoritebean_writes]

Ooh, I've seen those at one of the local halls in downtown LA. Are they good?

I know there are some retro candy shops around, but their stuff is always pretty expensive. So I just end up looking at their wares, and never actually buying anything.

[banana_galaxy]

I recall liking them back in the day, but I also still drank coke back then. I haven't had them in, gosh, must be over 20 years now. Maybe even 25 years. (How am I that old? XD)

[ofearthandstars]

This is a great story - I realize it may not have been funny at the time, but I laughed out loud at the idea of the group of you being chased with your sodas by the dog with the homeowner also fussing. I've never had a Frito pie, though it sounds tasty.

[gunwithoutmusic]

Oh, man, I love Frito pies - whenever I make chili I have to make sure I have a bag of Fritos around, too, because the whole house will end up basically making their own Frito pies in a bowl. They always remind me of high school football games. :)

[marlawentmad]

What a lovely stroll through nostalgia.

[tonithegreat]

I'm glad your main character got to eat lunch! The frito pie does sound good.

[alycewilson]

I can see and taste all of this. A fun slice of life.

[mollywheezy]

We had to be seniors before we could leave campus for lunch. I love Frito pie!!! :)

[drippedonpaper]

I miss Frito Pie. They aren't healthy, but oh man, they taste SO GOOD. I think it's partly that Fritos taste like childhood to me.

I love your story. What did you play in marching band?