LEMONADE STAND

Alex and I were driving into our development when we both spotted the lemonade stand set up down the street. Two little girls, both holding signs, were waving and calling out to us.

“Should we stop?” I asked Alex.

“Sure, an open pitcher sitting out in the hot sun for who know how long sounds like a great plan.” Alex turned his head to me. I was pretty sure he was trying to avoid making eye contact with the girls as we drove past.

I took a quick glance at the pitcher and noticed that it was uncovered and that there was no ice floating in it. “Wow! You've got good eyes spotting that so far away.”

Alex shrugged.

“I just feel bad for them.” I said as I looked in the review mirror and saw their sad faces looking at our car driving away. “Remember how excited you were when you had your lemonade stand?”

Alex laughed. “When did I have a lemonade stand?”

“Are you kidding me?” I couldn't believe he'd forgotten. “It was in January and you set it up in our living room!”

Now Alex was really laughing. “January? Why did you let me do that in January?

Now it was my turn to be surprised. “Let you? Are you forgetting how determined you get when you get an idea?”

Alex nodded and shrugged his shoulders. “How old was I?”

I thought about it for a moment. “I'm going to say around three.”

Alex shook his head. “I must have needed some money for something.” He looked over at me again. “Did I get any customers?”

Now it was time for me to laugh. “You had plenty because while you were dragging your Little Tikes picnic table into the living room I was on the phone calling all our friends and neighbors to come over so you wouldn't be disappointed!” I looked over at him and smiled. “You looked so cute sitting at your table patiently waiting for your customers.”

“Thanks for making that happen, Mom.” He patted me on the shoulder. “I guess when you're three you don't think about a marketing plan, huh?”

I smiled as I pulled into our driveway and put the car in park. “Hey, that's what Mom's do.”

Alex was quiet for a moment. “Well, now I feel bad about not stopping at their stand.”

“I can fix that too!” I smiled as I put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway.

Alex laughed, then looked a bit concerned. “We don't have to really drink it do we?”

“Of course not.” I shook my head. “You just smile and say you're going to drink it in the car then we'll get rid of it when we come back home.”

Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a few bills. “In that case it's on me!”