Little Gran... and the big secret

During World War 2 the daily routine in our home started with Little Gran (so-called by all the family) cooking everyone breakfast. Mom then set off for her job as chief cashier at the Co-op down the road, Grandad set out for his daily inspections as an Air Raid Warden (he tried to join up, but they reckoned he was too old at 65!), I was packed off to school and or play and that's when our local blackmarketeer sprang into action - yes, Little Gran!

First check the hen coops at the bottom of the garden and collect the eggs, then hat and coat on, two dozen eggs in a basket and off she'd march not to return until lunchtime, but this time with the basket loaded with all the goodies she'd traded the eggs for: butter, fruit, meat, perhaps a bag of tobacco for Grandad's pipe, and a bar of chocolate for me. None of us knew who she was dealing with, but we all knew she could sell ice cubes to the Eskimos!