Capitalism by Elaine Fowler Palencia
Capitalism by Elaine Fowler Palencia published in Rattle, August 18, 2021 Along the two-lane blacktops of my childhood we stopped to buy watermelons. Mother thumped them, listening for that deep, ripe sound. If she hesitated, the farmer would take out his clasp knife, cut a square plug for tasting, offer it on the point of his knife. She always bought the melon he’d spoiled for us. Later, a high school friend who sold Bibles door-to-door for spending money, said he was sent o