Walking through Welch's cleaners plate glass window in 1979 Pine Bluff, Ar

When I attended Lake Side elementary in Pine Bluff, Ar, I worked in the cafeteria. At 9 years old, it

helped me pay for my lunch fees, which really helped my family out. It was all good until one day I flew

through Welch's cleaners window and it changed my trajectory for Kitchen work. I had seventeen stiches

in my left arm, which I still hold a scar today. They put me on light duty, and I was still able to work in

the Cafeteria handing out milks. I had too much pride to accept free lunch, and I wanted to ease the

75cent burden on my mother everyday. She was single mom raising two rambunctious boys.

It wasn't much but it was my way of pitching in. I was proud that I found another way around not

receiving free lunch.

Lakeside was a beautiful school with what I called blonde brick as it was a lighter color than other

brick buildings in Pine Bluff. It had a beautiful playground, that had a line down the middle. If you were

in 1st or second grade, you knew where your side was.

Water slides of Pine Bluff

Going through Welch’s Cleaners window in 1979

WATER SLIDES OF PINE BLUFF (VINTAGE PINE BLUFF)

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