Yeah, I’m a sucker for kids with lemonade stands, but especially children being disappointed when they had been excited about a new experinece. Few things tug on my metaphorical heart strings like seeing eager kids on a sweltering day, sitting behind a fold-up table with a pitcher of lemonade, a hand-lettered sign, and no hint of a customer. It’s a retrospective Golden Rule thing. I’ve been there.
Two adorable little girls, maybe 12 and 9, had one such struggling business set up on a nearby corner mid-morning this week. No shade, no hats, no chair….and there weren’t even any cars driving by. When I walked past them with Spuds, I asked if their stand had any business yet. No, they said. I promised to get my wallet and come back.
When I finally drove back to the stand, maybe an hour later, the girls had packed up and were walking down the street. I pulled along side them by the cyrb them and said, “Won’t you sell me some lemonade? I was looking forward to it.” They both smiled broadly. One of the girls brought me a Dixie cup of warm lemonade. “How much?’ I asked? “Oh, I don’t know, a dollar?”
I stopped the car, got out, and handed the older girl a five dollar bill and an old straw hat Grace had given me for a birthday years ago: I brought it along to give to the girls. “You need to wear a hat; it’s hot…share this,” I said.
“And don’t give up! Business is hard. Most important is finding the right location, and think about how you should advertise. Also, decide on a price! I ran a few lemonade stands myself. Keep trying!”
As I drove off, they were setting up their table again. Some workmen from the school expansion nearby were walking over to them. Maybe I had given them a good experience to remember instead of a disappointment. There would be enough of those in the years to come.
It was worth a shot…five dollars, and an old hat.
Ethics Alarms 
Good on you, Jack! I’ve never experienced random acts of encouragement backfiring. I still recall >60 years hence those from which I’ve personally benefited while selling Christmas Cards, newspaper subscriptions, Fuller Brush., etc.
Like Herb Tarlek, I’ve only been in sales all my life, so what do I know; still, I myself frequently take the opportunity to advice young entrepreneurs, especially those with lemonade stands.
Over the years, there’s been many set up on our quiet street, which lies one (1) block north of a busy artery, to where I suggest relocating. The ones who’ve moved their operations south have always enjoyed better results.
PWS
I remember getting a fun look from Mr. Golden when I insisted we stop down the road from Calvin Coolidge’s grave so I could jump out of the car and buy lemonade from a couple of little girls. It’s quintessential Summer.
i stop for kid run carwashes, as well as girl scout cookies, as long as there are girl scouts manning the stand.
[From your host: Remember, this is the latest screen name of a banned commenter. Don’t feed the trolls!]
Comment deleted; name allowed to stay and rot like the heads outside the Tower of London…
Was that A Friend? DNC or the Social Democrats of America paid troll?
I think it was Alizia – it had her style, etc.
did not see the comment, but the Cassandra reference seems like a giveaway: Alicia styled herself as a prophet and, like Cassandra, no one believed she knew what she was talking about.
-Jut
Cassandra, you are not wrong that many of us are older and nostalgic. But we are also realistic about most of the changes that have been wrought over time. For example, ‘Sandlot’ neighborhoods are not coming back and while we have such fond memories of unsupervised outdoor play, our children and grandchildren have equally fond memories of their organized sports activities and family outings. That’s just life.
But what is worrisome is the truly existential threat to the robust American way of life – the rise of communism in this country, which has been festering in the educational, entertainment and news industries for decades. Not a one of us believes America is perfect, be we strongly believe in a (relatively) free market capitalist economy and a representative, democratic, constitutional republican form of government. That is not nostalgia. That is a proven form of success that is being threatened by socialist/communist insurgents.
Foreign policy and bullying can be debated, but here at home bullying has become synonymous with good old fashioned enforcement of laws. The radical left promotes elimination of private property, borders and border patrol, police departments, the presidency, the senate … just how does that work? Historically it works by replacing our current system with despots, tyrants, dictators – you know, bullies.
[Applause.]
Then, there is this:
You’ll thank me later.
jvb
I think I would have killed the duck, baked it in a grape puree, then eaten the duck with a cold glass of lemonade. Or maybe a nice Chianti…
I would have assisted with a lateral move to à l’orange…
PWS
See? I said you’d thank me later.
The song and the duck truly are infuriating.
jvb
Which Rush album was that on?
Heretic! Blasphemer! Infidel! Ne’er-do-well! A pox on your house to the Seventh Generation!!!
Sheesh. The nerve!
jvb
BREAKING: the ‘Bee reads Ethics Alarms!
https://babylonbee.com/news/faith-in-humanity-instantly-restored-by-kids-lemonade-stand
If only….