We met Barry Gentle in a mall where he was waiting with his grandkids for a table in the Cheesecake Factory.

“I always keep change in my pocket for my grandkids,” Gentle explained. “I still keep pennies for wishing wells, but even nickels and dimes are worthless for candy machines. If you want a gumball these days you’ve got to have a quarter.”

As if on cue, his grandkids came over, begging for money for the gum machine.

“Please, Papa, please,” they begged, and grandpa relented, handing each of them a quarter.

“It takes two, Papa,” his eight-year old grandson said.

Rolling his eyes, Gentle, handed over more coins.

“Fifty cents for a gumball?” Gentle complained. “I swear they were a quarter last time we came.”

Soon the grandkids returned, and handed back the coins.

“It didn’t take coins,” his grandson explained. “So I just used my debit card.”

“You’ve got a debit card?” Gentle said in disbelief.

“I’m taking them to the arcade after we eat,” Gentle said. “I suppose pinball machines cost four bits too.”

“You’re so funny,” his grandson said, and scampered off.

“Seriously, what is the arcade going to cost me?” Gentle asked.

This reporter did not have the heart to tell him.