Lemonade Stand

Meet four year-old Helena Lafey, a young, bright girl who lives next to Jimmy Edelstein, a young, reserved four year-old boy. July 14th. Summer of 2003. Two toddlers. One goal. Get cash fast.

Helena had spotted a Pikachu plush at a local Walmart, begging her mother to purchase it. Her mother refused to buy it. She told her young daughter she would buy it for Christmas. Helena couldn’t wait that long. She threw a tantrum in the local store and continued wailing that she needed it. Her mother didn’t care. Even in the car, she yelled in desperation to go back to buy that plush. Of course, her mother ignored her.

Once Helena arrived at home, tears steamed down her eyes. All she wanted was that Pikachu. She had always wanted a Pokémon. But, nope. Her mother was arrogant and said no. So there Helena was, shedding tears on her driveway, cross-legged.

Jimmy popped out of his garage, tilting his head at his sullen neighbor. His brother wasn’t around at the moment. What should he do? He wasn’t really great at talking to Jimmy. In fact, he would stutter and look down on his feet if he eyed her in the face. Did little Jimmy like her? No. He had a massive crush on little Helena.

He had no other options. He inhaled the air around him and exhaled everything out. He had to stay calm and be polite. However, Jimmy wasn’t really a child to approach others. He had difficulty talking except with his family of course. Jimmy sauntered towards the weeping toddler who was hugging her knees in despair. Nevertheless, once he loomed towards her, tripped over Helena‘s driveway, landing on his chest.

Helena suddenly looked up, twirling her head, finding her poor neighbor in front of her, groveling on the pavement, cringing in pain. She sniffled, wiping the excess tears from her eyes. “J-Jimmy?”

Jimmy swallowed his pride and rapidly stood up. When he gawked at Helena’s face, he wondered what had made her so miserable. “Ah… hi. A-Are you alright?”

“No,” Helena mumbled. She didn’t want Jimmy to see her as a crybaby nor see her cry in front of him. It was just wrong to her. She didn’t want him to feel sorry. But, it was nothing she could even do. “I-I wanted to buy this Pikachu plush b-but my mommy said no! And, and, and I-I really wanted it! Really, really badly!”

“Did she have enough money?” Jimmy asked her.

Helena quickly halted and eyed the raven haired boy distinctively. Jimmy did have a point. Could her mother even afford it? “I never thought about it.”

Jimmy sat in front of Helena calmly. On the outside, he may have seemed relaxed but on the inside the anxiety was spreading throughout his body. He thought one more question would be enough but he wanted to continue. “Did you catch how much it cost?”

“Sixteen dollars,” Helena replied. She gazed at her neighbor, trying to analyze what he was thinking. “What are you thinking about?”

The young boy jumped, unaware of what was currently happening. If Helenawanted that Pikachu plush so badly, then he had to help her! No. It was his job to make her happy. Just seeing her cry made him want to break down in tears too. He adjusted the spike on the back of his hair and started to laugh. How could you obtain money really fast?

“A lemonade stand!” Jimmy exclaimed. Helena cocked an eyebrow and gave a flustered expression. “We can get that Pikachu by selling lemonade!”

“You think so?” Helena excitedly chirped, standing up from her position. Jimmy nodded with confidence. “Then … let’s build a lemonade stand!”

He was her hero. She was his seraph. And soon, if possible, lovers in the future. How sweet.