At the beginning of Fitzgerald's short story "Winter Dreams," we learn that Dexter Green's father "owned the second-best grocery store in Black Bear," the small town where Dexter lives. Unlike other boys his age, who were "poor as sin," Dexter works as a caddie at the golf club to earn extra money; the other caddies must work to support themselves, but Dexter has the security of his father's store.
It is worth noting that Dexter's last name is important in connection with his father's solid middle-class background. Dexter is "green"—meaning he is inexperienced—but he is also the color of new money (dollar bills). Though Dexter makes a fortune when he is a young man, he cannot escape the "newness" of his money. He recognizes that Judy Jones, who is often described as golden (old money), represents the ease of old wealth he so desires.
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