#WorldWatercolorGroup Red Orange Sucker Lollipop in Wrapper on stick
By Charlie

A Sucker For Lollipops

Written by Charlie O'Shields

Today we have a sucker or a lollipop or both, depending on how you were raised. When I was little, we actually called these suckers and they were the only good thing about going with your mom to the bank or the dentist’s office. It’s a simple little treat as candy goes, other than the unfortunate name, so I opted for a quick 2-color doodlewash to illustrate it. My mom loves to tell a story about taking me to the bank when I was a tiny kid and how I had an aversion to green suckers which can be found in a previous post. But it’s true that I liked cherry best, or whatever artificial stand-in they injected it with to roughly approximate the idea of cherries. It also painted your tongue a bright red so it was quite possibly my first experience with painting. Well, at least it was fun to stick out your tongue and look in the mirror to see just how bizarre it looked.

Truthfully, suckers were extra amazing because they never appeared at home. Not once was a candy dish filled with these little gems. So the only way to get them was to be given one as a gift, usually from a complete stranger. This was always a bit confusing, as I was obviously told to never accept candy from strangers. I knew the dentist, of course, I just wasn’t a big fan. I didn’t like people sticking their fingers in my mouth, so he wasn’t someone I could consider as a friend. But everywhere we went, from bank tellers to gas station attendants, there always seemed to be someone ready to offer me one of these. I would look at my mother imploringly each time to see if it was okay to accept the gift and she would always smile and nod. So, I had to assume, it was only okay to accept a stranger’s candy when you were in the presence of your mother. Thankfully, my mother was a good judge of character and so I managed to survive into adulthood relatively unscathed.

I haven’t had one of these suckers in years. It’s not that I’ve completely lost a taste for them, it’s just that I’ve never purchased one in my life and nobody has been nice enough to give me one recently. Perhaps I just don’t look quite as cute as I did back then. I’m not entirely sure of the reason, but I now leave my dentist’s office with a toothpaste sample and a lecture on the importance of daily flossing. I’ve no idea why they suddenly thought that since I’m now over 6 six feet tall, I no longer require a bribe to come back. But sometimes, I think it would be rather nice to still be offered a little treat. Well, perhaps not. I think if my accountant said, “Now don’t you look cute! Would you like a sucker?!” I’d probably find myself a bit terrified. But I’ll never forget all those little wrapped sugary gifts of my childhood. Even if they don’t seem to come to me now, I love remembering them and that alone still makes me a sucker for lollipops.

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About the Doodlewash

Sennelier L’Aquarelle: Sennelier Red, and Ultramarine Deep. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon with black ink in a little red cloth hardbound l’aquarelle journal I found in a Paris shop.
  #WorldWatercolorGroup Red Orange Sucker Lollipop in Wrapper on stick

Charlie O'Shields

Creator of Doodlewash, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world!

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23 thoughts on “A Sucker For Lollipops”

  4. I realize that your blog stories are outstanding because you have an exceptional memory, of all things childhood, joyous , unusual and common. I doubt anyone could say anything to you that you wouldn’t have a personal memory. And you are always gracious and grateful. Your blog is a joy to read every day. Your mom is a very special lady – you write of her often and always with praise and respect.

    This Doodlewash is wonderful, Charlie, and only with 2 colors. A great little piece of art.

    Reply

    1. Awww thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 I’m so thrilled you like my stories. I really wish I had more time to sit and write properly, but many have to be dashed off. But yes! Everything sparks a memory of some kind in me. And my mother is an exceptional woman who is also probably responsible for my intense sense of optimism. 😊

      Reply

  5. Ha , I remember those lollies! We used to get a sticker and a lollie…Those were the days- now I get hit with a co-pay and a bill for my kids braces…

    Reply

  6. Your story made me laugh Charlie, especially the line about the accountant … Its amazing really that a dentist of all people would give out sugary sweets, I kind of doubt that would be happening now! You have great childhood memories.

    Reply

  8. My bank has them in a bowl and I see adults taking them all the time. Some even pop them into their mouth right away.
    Your rendering is perfect! It looks a bit sad all alone, though…(K)

    Reply

  9. I feel as though we all need to race in and try to snatch this last scrummy lollipop. 😉 Beautiful as ever! I actually got a tub of various lollies for Christmas – needless to say, they’ve all gone now. I used to get sweets from my hairdresser, but that’s about it, I think; dentists and doctors would just give me “I’ve been good/Only ten fillings today!”-esque stickers instead, which, while nice, weren’t nearly so tasty…

    Reply

      1. Ha, very true! And I did! They weren’t these particular lollies, though – they were Fruity Pops and Double Lollies. The latter were a tad… chalkier… than I remember 😛 but still good.

        My favourites were Chupa Chups, though, remember those? You’ve started me off now, I want more lollies!

        Reply

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