A Penny a Rock
Twelve thousand years ago, the glacier withdrew from our Iowa farm, leaving rich soil…and rocks. Our first job as kids was to pick up those rocks.
Picking Up Rocks
Putt, putt, putt, putt.
The two-cylinder John Deere banged to life.
We climbed into the loader and hung on as Dad drove.
The corn was eight inches tall, glistening with morning dew.
We were after the only guaranteed crop of the year: rocks.
Dad cultivated, stopping for big ones.
Eagle-eyed, we searched for our prey, leaping from the loader, scrambling to grab them and throw them aboard.
“Fourteen!”
Pay was a penny a rock.
Full loads dumped along the fencerow.
Back and forth, as the sun rose high.
Last row done, we headed home hungry, dirty, tanned,
and comparing scores.
Glacier’s Bounty
glaciers retreated
black soil with hidden stones left
rocks surfaced each spring
each a fortune for a kid
racing to capture them first
Invitation to comment
How did you earn your first spending money?