138441.jpg -

"Just a ha'penny, please," said a little boy in a coat that was too small for him, pressing his nose against the display case.

If you wanted a story from a different context (like the photo of the or the turkey vultures ), just let me know! Hundreds of Turkey Vultures Invade North Durham ... - WRAL 138441.jpg

Mrs. Higgins smiled, a tight but kind expression, and used her small metal scoop to retrieve a handful of striped lemon drops—the last of the batch. Outside, the streets were shifting. The old terraced houses were slated for demolition, replaced by modern concrete that didn't smell like coal fires and freshly baked bread. "Just a ha'penny, please," said a little boy

The year was 1950, and the air in the small corner shop on Rotten Row was thick with the scent of boiled sugar, aniseed, and impending change. Mrs. Higgins, whose family had run the shop since her grandfather’s time, adjusted her spectacles, her fingers hovering over the glass jars. - WRAL Mrs

She knew she wouldn't be there long. The shop was a relic, and she was, too. But for now, as she handed over the twist of paper, the sweetshop still held its magic. As she watched the boy run off to join his friends, she picked up her paintbrush to document the scene on a small, primed wooden board, determined to capture the bright colors of the sweets before they were gone forever.