Right now, I'm drinking soapy, watery lemonade & it's some of the best lemonade I've had in a long time.
You see, I got it down the road, at a local stand, next to a lonely, dead-end street, sold by a boy of 6 or 7 years. Not much traffic goes on this road. I know, because I drive it almost everyday, because it is so quiet. Yet, this little entrepreneur was out there smiling, his hands clasped in front of him, waiting patiently for any business that may come his way. On his cloth-covered table, were a few cups and a lone pitcher of pale yellow lemonade. You could tell he was proud of his little business by the way he stood ready with his posture so straight, in his dress shirt and shorts. His eyes twinkled and scanned for any customers that may drive this distant, off-beaten road.
His handwritten sign with its faded ink that read 50 cents hung taped onto his cloth-covered table. I pulled over & scrounged through my wallet for some change along with a little extra as a tip. Seeing that he was using hard plastic cups, I knew they were eating his profit.
Slowly and methodically, he took the change & carefully unzipped his wallet. Then methodically, he took his scoop and dug into a thermal lunch sack of ice & dropped in two ice cubes and proceeded to pour the lemonade into the cup and handed it to me. He was happy. Very happy. He was proud, too, for having served a real customer. This was his business.
After thanking him, I jumped in my car and took a big swig of lemonade. It was tart due to its dilution and there was an aftertaste of soap, but it was really good. It was really good because he was making a sale. He was working and serving, and running his own business. I know he made that lemonade. Not mom, but him. I didn't just get a cup of lemonade. I got some hope. I got to share in a memory that he'll have for the rest of his life. I got some hope.
It's inspiring when I see people sharing their interests and talents through their self-made businesses because it's so personal. It's a vulnerable position when you start and run a business between knowing there's so much competition with ready-made wares. So much of yourself goes into the process, too, that's it's intimidating to wonder if whatever you're doing will be rejected. The beauty of the handmade is that there's a face behind the product. As a customer, you can know who made it which adds to the story of your purchase.
I'm going to keep supporting his little lemonade stand. I hope when you see a little one's lemonade stand, you'll consider supporting your local stand, too. For 50 cents, I got some hope. I got some hope indeed & it's delicious.
