Lemonade in Winter (3 page)

Devon makes a sour face, but Derek drinks all of his.

“Remember, fifty cents, that’s two quarters,” Pauline tells John-John. “So three drinks is six quarters, and that’s a dollar fifty.” The money goes in the green plastic box.

But after that, the empty street.

Pauline thinks.

“Maybe we need to have a sale.”

Aidan strolls up, arm in arm with Heather.

“Can I buy you a lemonade, gorgeous?” he asks her.

“Limeade,” she says. “And yes, you can.”

Aidan pays.

Heather kisses him.

“Twenty-five cents a cup now,” Pauline tells John-John.

The money goes in the green plastic box.

But after that, the empty street.

Pauline thinks.

“Maybe we need decorations.”

Rosa from the nail salon peeks out the door. Then she calls her friends.

Five manicurists cross the street in puffy coats.

“Two limeades, two lemon, one lemon-lime, please,” says Rosa.

“Five cups is five quarters, and that’s a dollar twenty-five,” Pauline tells John-John.

The money goes in the green plastic box.

Rosa calls over her shoulder as she heads back to her shop. “You kids are crazy. You know that, right?”