My first real job was at the A&P Supermarket on E. 31 street & Lexington. After school (in my senior year) I’d take the 4 train down to Grand Central and the 6 across the platform to 33rd street.

It was there I learned about produce, dairy, stocking shelves, packing PAPER bags, working the cash register. I had to give out change and count it back to the customer… no digital display on the register telling me what was owed to the customer. Yeah and I learned how to mop and dry seven aisles of a supermarket. And, oh, I hated truck night. It would arrive around 7:00pm and we’d be done by 10:00pm. I had to take the train back to Bronx on a school night.