6.02.2009

PURE JOY...$ .50


I turned the corner and there he was.
A cute little freckled boy.
He had to be about 6 years old.

He stood on the sidewalk behind a small table in the backstreets of my parents' neighborhood.
Beside the table sat a red cooler.

The large cardboard sign said...
$.75.....large lemonade
$.50.....small lemonade

$.50.....water bottle

Oh did I pull over fast as a smile crossed my face.
A lemonade stand!
The first one of the summer.
But my smile was NOTHING compared to his!

He watched me pull up, and you could see him bursting with eagerness!
I told him I would LOVE a small lemonade please.

His small plastic cup labeled "Tips" was empty,
and I wondered how long he'd been waiting for a customer.

I gave him a dollar bill and I was surprised his smile could grow any bigger.
But it did.
He said, "I need to give you money back, right?"
No way, I told him he could take the whole dollar, and the $.50 cents was his tip.

He was jumping with excitement by now, but very seriously got the lemonade
carafe out of his red cooler.
He was so careful as he poured it slowly and handed it to me.

"Thank you so much!!! Good luck with your lemonade stand!
This is delicious!"

"Thank you for stopping your car! Have a good day!
Hope you like your lemonade!"

As I pulled away with the windows rolled down and the tartness on my tongue,
I saw him jumping with joy.
Up and down, up and down.
He excitedly called to his big brother in the house window...
ERIC!!! I got a DOLLAR!!!!!!!

I thought to myself...
Did I make his day? Or did he make mine?
I'm pretty sure it was the latter.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

So cute! I can remember when Chace had a lemonade stand a few years ago. They do get so excited!

Malerie said...

That is a really sweet story. It makes me want to enjoy the simple things more.

Jessica said...

Love this!!

donna said...

Shelli, I always enjoy reading your blog. You are a amazing writer.

Thanks for this wonderful post! Today i am going to make sure that i look for Pure joy.

Gramma Spice said...

Shelli is now a published writer and I am so proud of her. Check out her entries in Gregory E. Lang's book (Harper One Pub)..."Mom's Little Angel", pages 7, 53 and 21. Shelli, you need to share those stories on your blog. All mothers will relate to them. And yes, you are a gifted writer. Thanks for a most amazing Mother's Day gift. Love you!

Elece said...

I love that! I remember having lemonade stands in the summer and drinking it all myself. But it was oh so fun!

Krista said...

I got goosebumps! And a little misty. Joyful!

Rach said...

awww! That's too cute!

Mara said...

That makes me feel guilty that we actually offer to pay our kids NOT to do lemonade stands (hee hee). I know it makes their day when someone does just what you did. Way to go! Lemonade stands (buying or selling) definitely a summer essential :)

Tami said...

That is such a cute story. My kids have been dying to sell something and I think that I am going to finally let them sell snow cones tomorrow. They are soon going to realize that no one comes down our street! Too funny. You are so sweet.