Liam decided last week he wanted to create his own lemonade stand. This idea came to him after we saw some other kids selling lemonade near the park in our new neighborhood. When I asked him how he was going to differentiate himself in such a tight, over-saturated lemonade stand market, he answered "We'll make our lemonade with REAL lemons and charge twice as much!! We'll also sell art!!!" And so that is what he did. I bought a bag of lemons and we went to town squeezing a couple of quarts worth of lemonade (which Liam later admitted "Making lemonade is a lot harder then I thought it was going to be!" I had to agree with him). We made a giant yet simple sign, loaded up his sketchbook and supplies and headed down to the corner of our neighborhood. We positioned ourselves across from the pool-hoping we could catch some thirsty pool goers or the runners and cyclists who pass by constantly.
Liam did NOT want me there. He wanted to do it "ALL by by himself!" I told him there was no way in the world I was going to leave him stand on a busy street corner all by himself. Not in this lifetime. So we made a compromise and I agreed to sit out of the way, close enough to keep an eye on things but far enough away as to not cramp his style.
We got everything set up and Liam was shocked that people did not flock to his lemonade instantly. He started busking, "Get your FRESH SQUEEZED LEMONADE. And ART!!!" But no takers. "Where is everyone?? Why aren't they buying my lemonnade??!" He got lots of looks and smiles and waves but no takers. Many of the runners and cyclists apologized saying they had no money on them--but that was not good enough for Mr. Liam. He would get his hopes up every time someone passed by, and then that ginormous smile would fade when they would not stop. Finally (after probably 10 minutes) he looked at me and said "Well do you at least want some lemonade?" I told him yes, but I only had 35 cents on me. He agreed to cut me a "mom discount" and give me a cup. A few more minutes passed and a dejected Liam looked at me sadly and said "I think maybe I want to go home." Just then, a young couple in a BMW pulled up along side of the street and got out. "Hey, do you know anywhere we can get some fresh squeezed lemonade??" Liam jumped up and smiled excitedly, "Here! Right here! I have fresh squeezed lemonade! And art!!"
The couple were extraordinarily sweet. They took the time to look through all of his drawings and agreed to purchase one glass of lemonade and one drawing. When they selected their art they asked Liam where he recommended they should hang such a fine piece? He suggested maybe the kitchen and they agreed. They paid him $5 and told him to to keep the change. Liam was over the moon. Soon after, the lemonade and art started going like hotcakes. He sold out all of his lemonade and a lot of his art. And he said excitedly, "I sold out Mom!! That is just what I hoped would happen!!!" We gathered up his supplies and he wheeled them home.
On the way, he was stopped by several people in the neighborhood, asking him if he had any more lemonade to sell? Liam said "Nope! You are too late--i am all sold out but I will be back in two weeks with more!" He ended making about $12 on only 6 cups of lemonade and a few drawings--not too shabby. He ran home and put his money in his piggybank. I think he may be hooked.
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