Another “Enterprising” experience

Thinking about the yard sale reminded me of another ‘selling’ experience – this one that Todd had, also in Alaska. Is it OK that I tell another old story on my blog?

One of Wrangell Alaska’s claims to fame is the garnet ledge on the mainland just across the tide flats from the island. It was mined commercially in the early years and eventually willed to the Boy Scouts for use by Wrangell’s children, any of whom can get a permit and go over to collect garnets. It is a great trip – a lot of work to knock the garnet-filled rocks out of the ledge, a long day because it has to be done on the high tides – but a lot of fun.

Wrangell children collect the garnets for one reason – to fleece the tourists who come into town on the cruise ships and ferries and buy them. Since the Naturalist/Interpreters on the ferries give a talk about the garnets just before the ferry docks in town, there is often some enthusiasm already generated on board for this souvenir. As soon as the boat is tied up, tourists pour off and flock around the children with their trays of garnets and garnet rocks. It is big business. Todd just HAD to try.

So we mined them, cleaned them up, sorted them by size and quality, commandeered a muffin tin from the kitchen cupboard to display them in and agonized over prices. Finally we were ready to go. A ferry was due, and we had to meet it anyway (relatives coming, I think.) It was late, the weather, as usual, wasn’t very good, but...

He was the only kid there that night. And the Naturalist had given a particularly interesting talk, evidently. Before we knew what was happening, our little guy (around 5 at the time, maybe?) was surrounded by clamoring tourists. He was darling. He had his little baseball cap on and he smiled and peered up at them from around the too-big bill. He talked to people. Told them all about where and how he got the garnets. The ferry was going to leave again quickly and all the tourists wanted their garnets so they were stuffing money in his coat pockets and little hands and rushing back on board. A furious flurry of activity.

Pretty exciting. Very soon they were gone again. The tray was in disarray. So was Todd. At home, he started checking in his coat pockets, under his hat, inside the tray, in his pants… and he kept pulling out more bills and coins…

How much? $87!