Life

Lessons
&
lemonade

Based on a true story.

By Greg McCoy
Illustrations by Jonathan Rambinintsoa
Have you ever had one of those
days?
One of those,
“Today will be great, amazing,
awesome in so many ways!”

Well, I have a story to share

of a day when I made
lessons from lemons
with life’s lemonade.
See when I was much younger, about your age I’d
say,
I woke up one morning and said “This is the day!”
“A day filled with hope and fun and joy too”
“I’ve got all this time, I know just what I’ll do.
See for months
upon months I
thought all in
my head
of what I
would do
while I was
lying in bed.
and when I was in class
and when I was at
home

in the bathtub, at
dinner,
and especially alone.
I would think of all the
possibilities
and opportunities abound
of the things I was
searching for
but hadn’t yet found…

Oh what I could be and

All I could do
and not just for me
But the world and you too.
So I declared on that day
“I will do all that I can!”
and I’ll start making change
with a lemonade stand.

I could make lots of money

and have my own business
and then change the world
while enjoying my riches.
See I had all I
needed
lemons, sugar,
water, cups,big
spoon, little spoon,

change,
table,
smile

whew… I caught my
breath, then I rested.
Then I sat down in my chair then I jumped right back
up, so excited!
... I had the best lemonade you could buy!
But…

No one to buy it.

I waited and looked
then waited some
more.
Then one hour
passed then three,
then...four
Four? Four hours
“Are you
later,
serving
As I sat in despair
lemonade
With my head in my
son, or just
hands and slumped
clumps of your
in my chair.
your hair?”
All of a sudden, like
it was out of
nowhere, I heard
I looked up and suddenly a tall
thin man was standing right
there.
with a funny brown hat and
thin mustache.
“Yes, finally,” I thought “ I’ll be
making some cash.”
“Yes sir,” I said, “ Fresh
squeezed lemonade on a
very hot day!”
One buck for the small,
two for the tall, you can
have it your way.”

“The small will be fine” he

said, as he reached in his
pocket
took out 50 cent and said,
“You know what? I’ve
forgotten my wallet.”
 I couldn’t believe it, my first sale was gone.
How could he forget his wallet after making me
wait so long!
He said, “I’ll do you one better than paying full
price,”
“instead of two quarters I’ll give you priceless
advice.”

I thought to myself, “Who does he think I am? Jack From the

bean stalk?”
that’s even worse than magic beans!...This is magic talk!
Still...I figured half of a
sale is better than none
so I said, “Ok, it’s a deal,
now tell me what I’ve
won.”

He said “I’ll tell you one thing and

you’ll know that I’m right.”
“In a world that’s so heavy
You should always pack light.”
“Don’t buy more “When you’re born you
than you need and have nothing, when
carry less than you you die you take the
might. same.
It’s much easier to You see, I’ve got this
grow, pack, this brown hat,
if you always pack and pretty much my
light.” good name.”

“But I’ve traveled the world by days and the stars by night.
Because I learned the valuable lesson to always pack light.”
 “So I’ll leave you with that and
you have a good day.”
I stood there, kind of puzzled, as he
went on his way.
I didn’t make much money, but I was
kind of on the fence
Because what that guy just
said...kind of made sense.

Before i could finish my

thought and as I
looked up
I heard “Young man,
Young man! I’d like a
cup.”
“A man told me you
had fresh lemonade…
FOR LESS THAN A
BUCK!”
I shook my head as this old
lady was headed my way
and thought... Now, what
crazy things will she have
to say?

She walked up and yup,

she did exactly the same
she asked for her cup and
then told me her name,
then said.

“See, You’ve got to work

hard” She said, gulped
and asked for some more
“But you should always
know who you work hard
for.”
 She grabbed all her things into one
great big pile
Finished her lemonade then started to
smile.
She said “Keep working hard and learn
your worth”
And she gave me 50 cents from out of
her purse

“You can do what you want,

but honey, please rest
assured.”
“As for me and my house,
we serve the lord.”
With that she shook my hand
and wished me the best
Then that old lady RAN down
the street In heels and a dress.
But, I guess she made
sense as I counted my
change
This day sure was
different...maybe even
strange

Hmm, well,
maybe I should accept it.
Maybe this is what
happens when dreams
are neglected.
Maybe they start to
shout and get out in
ways unexpected.
Had I locked my dream
up too long, trying to
protect it?
I sat there and thought and waited…
and thought and waited..

Then finally I saw some

familiar faces.
The family from down
the street, my friends
the McGraces.

The Mom and Dad were so friendly and I was happy

to see them.
The kids waved and smiled and stood right beneath
them.
The boy was about five, blue shorts, and brown hair.
He glanced at the cup and yup, he started to stare.

I said “I’ll give you that lemonade,

if you give me a lesson.”
“Don’t worry about advice,
just answer this question.”

“What do you want most?

If your mom and dad could give you anything,
Anything you could dream of or find”
And he thought for a moment
then his answer blew my mind
He looked at his parents,
then smiled and said...
“Time.”

His parents looked shocked as

they both wondered why
His mom covered her mouth
and his dad, well he,
He started to cry.
His sister just hugged him and
said “Little brother of mine,”
“Boy, I trade all these toys, if
our family could have more
time.”
 The little boy just smiled and then turned and looked up.
and said “Um sir, you have lemonade, but it’s not in MY cup.”
I laughed and poured them all their own drink
Now this little boy and his family, have really made me think.
 They gave me three dollars and said “See
you later.”
I thought, Wow, the money is cool, but I
think I just got something greater.

It was almost 7 and the sun was just about gone

So i started packing up so I could head on home.
Then an old man walked past
and said
“If you had all the money in
the world, What would you
become?

See, food for thought is

worth more than money
to some.”
“So I can either give you
the knowledge or give
you a buck.”
“But either way you slice it son, I want the big cup.”
“Ok, ok” I said, “I guess I can trade.”
“But I want some great advice….for all this lemonade.”
He smiled, drank the whole cup and said
“Well, I guess I’ll be going, but what’s that over there .”

He pointed, I looked.
and before I could say
“Umm, sir. about the
advice..”
the old man had
disappeared!
I was so mad, “Ooh he got me!”
I said, as I threw down that cup.

Then I noticed a peculiar piece of paper

just slightly balled up.
I opened it slowly and what it had to say
turned out to be one of the most
important lessons
that I learned on that day.
It read....

When you learn this secret,

your wealth can only grow.
Remember:
“The more that you learn,
the more you learn you
don’t know.”
 While I counted all my change as that day
came to an end,
I realized I made less money, but I made more
friends.
It cost me some time, but what I got in return
just might be worth, way more than I
earned.

It was an unexpected ride, and what’s that you ask?

The cost of admission?
Listen for free and then pay...attention.
So go! Get going! Ask questions and then listen up
the most valuable things, really don’t cost much.
So whether it’s sunny or rainy, just remember,
for you, this day was made.
to find life
and its lessons
from lemonade.
 MY LIFE LESSONS
Use the space below to share some of the important life
lessons you’ve learned
 Words from The Creators

Greg McCoy Jonathan Rambinintsoa

Author Illustrator

This book is dedicated Sometimes the life we

to the dreamchasers. actually live, isn’t the
May you find your one we imagined. It may
peace in the pursuit of even be surprising or
your passion. Thank frustrating. You may
you to my family and stumble in what looks
friends from whom like failure, but all that is
I’ve learned so many a part of achieving your
life lessons along the goal. Use each struggle
way. as motivation to reach
your dream!
 Life
Lessons
&
lemonade

Based on a true story.

By Greg McCoy
Illustrations by Jonathan Rambinintsoa