When I was growing up on Eau Claire’s west side, my house was within walking/BMX stunt-biking distance of not one, but two different corner grocery stores. I probably only visited them a few times, but when I imagine my childhood, especially in the summertime, it feels like I was at one of those stores every day, buying candy and Matchbox cars and whatever else kids in the 1980s loved. Leg warmers? 

But when I imagine my childhood, I also remember venturing into an elaborate system of ancient caves and booby traps hiding One-Eyed Willy’s pirate ship full of gold so I could save my entire neighborhood from evil land developers trying to build a stupid golf course. So maybe you should take my recollections with a grain of salt.

One summertime trip to the corner store stands out in particular. My older sister and I walked up to one of the stores, we bought “sno-cones” from a chest freezer, and we ate them on the way home. That’s it. But along with thwarting the Fratellis, it’s one of my more vivid memories.

Getting to the store was a bit of a hike, so we didn’t go all that often. The name hanging on the outside of the store belonged to the old guy behind the counter. I remember him wearing a bow tie and smiling a lot, but I might have him mixed up with Orville Redenbacher ... yep, I’m thinking of Orville Redenbacher. Wow, I used to watch a lot of TV.

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After the first few licks, your mouth gets all numb, and before you know it, you’re 20 or 30 licks in and you’ve shredded your tongue into a raw, bloody mess on what’s become a tasteless ice orb with many, many sharp edges.

MIKE PAULUS

Anyway, the sno-cones we got weren’t anything special – just your average chunk of frozen sugar water injected with insane amounts of food coloring. I have no idea why kids eat these things. I guess they’re good for hurling at marauders trying to invade your tree fort.

“Shaved ice” I can get behind. Italian Ice? Mamma mia, that’s good stuff. But these straight-from-the-freezer deals were just a big lump of icy disappointment. They look so good at first. Cool, refreshing, sweet ... what could go wrong?

Everything. After the first few licks, your mouth gets all numb, and before you know it, you’re 20 or 30 licks in and you’ve shredded your tongue into a raw, bloody mess on what’s become a tasteless ice orb with many, many sharp edges. Searching for the FLAV-R you were promised by the packaging, you bite into the thing and immediately shudder as ice cold pain shoots through the nerve endings in your tender teeth. All the while, your sweaty hand is clutching the pointy paper cup (what scientists refer to as a “cone”) and sticky, melted juice solution starts dripping from the bottom – right down your arm and all over your favorite Darth Vader T-shirt. 

But hey, kids love ’em, and I was no exception. So we bought a couple of sno-cones and “ate” them as we walked home. I’m assuming this little excursion was my mom’s idea – a last ditch effort to get the kids out of the house so she could regain some amount of sanity and find a few quiet moments in which to pray for the sweet, sweet return of the school year. Mostly, I just recall walking down 14th Street and sucking on my little sphere of sugar ice.

I’ve always remembered this trip with much fondness and nostalgia, but it took me a while to understand why. It wasn’t the old corner store with the owner right behind the counter, it wasn’t the infinite freedom of summer break, and it sure as hell wasn’t that dastardly sno-cone.

It was my sister.

She was with me the whole time, watching for cars as we crossed the street, handling the money at the store, helping me open my cone, and a dozen other things I took for granted and have completely forgotten about. She took care of me. She made me feel safe.

How many of my childhood memories feel the way they do – happy and secure – because I had my sister’s eyes watching over me? We fought all the time, and I’m sure she didn’t enjoy looking after me most days, but now, all grown up, I am filled with gratitude. Sisters are awesome. And I’m lucky to have one.