Kathy’s son Mikey was excited about his sticker business. At ten years old, he had the drawing skills of a child his age, but they were fun stickers—they looked like real animals—turtles, koalas, cats and penguins. The ostrich didn’t look like an ostrich, so she didn’t print that one.
Mikey set up a booth, like a lemonade stand, in front of their house. Kathy wasn’t sure anyone would buy the stickers, but she’d call her friends in an hour or so if they didn’t sell and if Mikey wasn’t bored in five minutes. He made 100 stickers and was selling them for $5.
Mikey’s sign, the best new sticker collection, sat on the front of his table, and he patiently waited as cars drove by and people passed on their bikes.
Kathy folded some laundry and then checked in on Mikey.
“Where’s your sign?” She asked as she approached the table.
“A girl came by and said she loved the stickers,” Mikey said. “She asked if she could borrow the sign and go to the main road a few blocks over to widen the audience for the stickers. She took a few as samples.”
Kathy felt sad about some girl stealing stickers and a sign from a ten-year-old.
“Do you want a new sign?” Kathy asked.
“No, she’ll bring it back,” Mikey said, looking up the road expectantly.
Kathy moved to sit down with her son. “Go back inside, Mom! No one can make a sale with their mom right there.”
Kathy reluctantly went inside and then peered out the door. Mikey pointed up at her to leave, so she tried to organize Mikey’s room while he was busy.
Twenty minutes later, Mikey came into the house. He had his sign back and was carrying the chairs.
“Done selling stickers?” Kathy asked.
“Sold out,” Mikey said, beaming. “The girl returned with a bunch of people, and they bought all of them.”
Kathy smiled. She didn’t believe that this girl brought a bunch of people and he’d sold over 100 stickers, but she was glad her son tried.
Mikey walked back outside, grabbed the table, and came back.
“Mom, I want you to have the money since you helped so much,” Mikey said.
“That’s okay, honey,” Kathy replied, but Mikey handed over an envelope stuffed with over 500 dollars.