TOLL ROAD

My son Alex and I were driving out of our development headed for the grocery store when I spotted the lemonade stand up ahead.

“Oh, no. They’re still at it! ” I cried and looked over at Alex. “Duck down!”

Alex looked around confused. “Duck down? Why?”

I didn’t want to slow the car down and give the lemonade stand entrepreneurs any false hope.

“Just duck down! Please!” I cried as Alex scrunched down in the front seat and I drove by the two girls who were jumping up and down, trying to wave me over. “I feel like I have to pay a lemonade toll just to get out of the neighborhood.” I said under my breath as I drove by them smiling and waving. “I’m pretty sure I’ve already paid enough to start their college fund.”

“You’re nuts.” Alex said with a laugh, his head leaned against the arm rest.

“Okay. All clear.” I looked in my rear-view mirror and could see the disappointment on the girls faces that I hadn’t stopped. “You can get up now.”

Alex sat back up. “Why did I have to do that?” He asked.

“Because I didn’t want their little puppy dog eyes making you feel bad and then you asking me to stop and buy some of their lemonade.”

“It’s only a dollar a cup. What’s the big deal?” He adjusted his seat belt.

“They’ve had that stand up every day for the past two weeks!” I cried. “I’m in and out of this neighborhood a half a dozen times a day!” I looked over at Alex and laughed. “I can’t afford it!”

“Hey, they’re just kids.” Alex reasoned. “I’m sure they realize you can’t stop every time.”

I shook my head. “I’m not too sure about that. They seem pretty disappointed whenever I just smile and wave to them.”

“Well, look on the bright side…” Alex started to say.

“What bright side?” I cut in.

“School starts soon and they won’t have time for a lemonade stand.”

“Yeah. I’m not too sure about that.” Alex could hear the doubt in my voice.

“What do you mean?”

“They seem to be having a lot of success with that stand. What if they decide to switch over to apple cider and donuts for the Fall?”

Alex started to laugh. “Really?”

“I’m totally serious.” I said as I pulled over to the curb, out of eye sight of the lemonade stand, and looked in the back seat. “Oh, shoot!” I said.

“What’s the matter?” Alex looked in the back seat, which was empty.

I turned back around and smacked the steering wheel. “I forgot the grocery bags.”

“Just turn around and go back to the house.” Alex said. “I’ll run in and get them.”

I pulled back onto the road and continued going straight.

“Where are you going?” Alex asked. “Don’t you want to go back for the grocery bags?”

“I am.” I said as I got to the corner of the development and stopped. Putting my blinker on I waited for the traffic to clear before pulling out. “I’m just going to go in the back way to our house. This way I don’t have to go past their stand again.”

“Are you serious?” Alex laughed.

“Hey, I’ll do anything to avoid a toll.”