1
Get Your Fresh Squeezed Lemonade2
From the Mimi Fufu Storybook Collection3
by Mary O4
Walking in her front door, Mimi Fufu cried out,5
“Mommy, Mommy, may we please6
pick ripe lemons off our tree?”7
“What do you need lemons for, Honey?” 8
her mommy asked.9
“Simona and I want to make and sell lemonade.10
We found something cool at the variety store and 11
to buy it, we each need 12
two dollars and fifty cents more.”13
“My, oh my!14
What is it you two are so eager to buy?”15
“It’s a jewelry-making kit.16
With all the pretty beads and colored strings 17
we could make some really neat things.”18
“Well, in that case, 19
yes, you may.”20
At that, the girls jumped up and hollered, 21
“Hooray!”22
“I’ve got to hand it to you two,23
You have ingenuity.24
I’m very proud of you. 25
I’ll tell you what.26
I’ll go pick the lemons, you 27
wash your hands, then 28
each of you grab a vegetable scrubbing pad.”29
As the girls waited patiently at the kitchen sink, 30
their wondering minds began to think and think.31
“I hope we earn enough money selling lemonade32
to buy our beads.” said Simona.33
“We will,” said Mimi. “You just wait and see.34
Everyone will want to buy our lemonade, because35
our lemonade will be made from lemons picked 36
fresh off the tree.”37
“That’s right!” Simona exclaimed. “Fresh is best.38
Our lemonade will be the tastiest lemonade yet.”39
Just then, Mimi’s mommy walked in40
carrying a basket full of lemons.41
“Got your scrubbers poised and ready, girls?”42
“Poised and ready!” the girls replied,43
holding up their scrubbers with arms raised high.44
Eager to get started, the girls went right to work45
scrubbing each lemon clean46
to a bright yellow sheen.47
While Simona dried the lemons48
Mimi placed them one by one into49
a large wooden bowl.50
Then they began to question,51
“What should we wear tomorrow?”52
“Let’s wear aprons over our prettiest dresses,” 53
said Simona.54
“Okay,” said Mimi. “And just for fun55
we could both wear our hair up in a bun 56
and tie it with a yellow ribbon.”57
“That will be cool,” said Simona. 58
“We’ll need to dress up our lemonade stand, too.”59
“Oh, yes! So let’s make a list60
of all the things we’ll need to do,” said Mimi Fufu.61
While the girls made out their list of things to do,62
Mimi’s mommy looked around and 63
found an old five-gallon water crock,64
perfect for putting the sugared water into.65
She also found some tall unused party cups and 66
decided instead of napkins, a 67
roll of paper towels would do.68
“My mom’s work bench will make a perfect stand,” 69
said Mimi.70
“I can get an ice bucket for the ice and71
to keep us cool, we have a beach umbrella 72
that will look very nice,” said Simona.73
“Hey! We can cut out and color paper lemons 74
and tape them all around the sides,” said Mimi.75
“And, don’t forget. . . 76
we’ll need to make our signs,” said Simona.77
The next morning after breakfast,78
the girls made sure they looked their very best.79
“I do declare,” said Mimi’s mommy. 80
“Aren’t we a pretty pair?”81
“Thank you.” 82
“Thank you,” the girls replied, with 83
sweet smiles on their faces and 84
sparkles in their eyes.85
Now, with added confidence, 86
Mimi and Simona felt anxious to 87
start their new day and 88
get everything ready to sell lemonade.89
Going over the rest of their “to-do” list, Mimi said,90
“We’ll need to make our sugar-water first.91
I’ll pour the sugar into the crock filled with water 92
while you stir.” 93
Okay,” said Simona. 94
And she stirred and stirred. 95
“I think I added enough sugar,” said Mimi,96
“Let’s give it a taste.”97
“Needs more sugar,” they both complained,98
smacking their lips with each little sip. 99
“More sugar coming up,” said Mimi.100
Simona continued to stir101
while Mimi poured more sugar. 102
“Stop!” said Simona, “let’s test again.” 103
“Hm-m-m. . .good and sweet,” said Mimi.104
“Yum-m-m. . .tastes great!” said Simona. 105
“Now let’s sell lots of lemonade!”106
The girls busied themselves in the front yard,107
placing everything in just the right order. 108
For a final touch, 109
they posted their advertising signs110
inviting all passersby to stop and come over.111
Stepping back, the two little entrepreneurs 112
made a final inspection of their stand.113
Then, like an end to a performance, 114
Simona said, “Voila!” and 115
Mimi followed with, “Ta-da!”116
Ready for action, 117
Mimi poised her girly hands 118
one on each side of her mouth. 119
Then, taking a deep, deep breath, she shouted out, 120
“Get your fresh-squeezed lemonade! 121
25 cents a tall glass!”122
Simona chimed in shouting just the same, 123
“Get your fresh-squeezed lemonade!”124
Standing all tidy and clean125
with white aprons over their pretty dresses, and126
yellow ribbons tied up in their hair,127
the two little Fufus’ business 128
showed real professional flare.129
Their eyes did twinkle as they gleamed 130
with smiles from ear to ear131
anticipating the moment when132
their first customer would appear. 133
But as they waited134
minutes began to feel like hours, 135
and the air got hotter than hot.136
“Gee, I see lots of cars driving 137
right past our block,” said Mimi. 138
“Yea, this must not be a very good spot,” 139
said Simona.140
Just then the girls’ two brothers rode up, 141
screeching bike tires and leaving black skid marks.142
“Hey! Looks like your business isn’t doing so good,”143
said Mimi’s brother Gary; nicknamed “Hair Gare,” 144
because his hair stood straight up in the air. 145
“Yea, too bad,” Simona’s brother Jamar added.146
With arms crossed and hands on hips,147
the girls returned with a smirky smile and148
glaring eye squints. 149
“I know what your problem might be,” 150
Hair Gare continued.151
“Your stand is in the middle of a dead-end street. 152
How about letting Jamar and me take your signs? 153
We’ll ride around the end of the block and 154
point the way to let all the people know 155
where they can buy your lemonade.” 156
“Oh, would you please?” said Simona with 157
a sigh of relief. 158
“And we’ll make you each a 159
nice glass of lemonade for free,” said Mimi.160
With a glint in their eyes and great big smiles, 161
the two thirsty boys didn’t hesitate 162
about the girls’ offer for free lemonade. 163
As well, the girls will now have a chance164
to find out first hand 165
just how well their lemonade might sell.166
Simona put crushed ice into a cup.167
Then she pressed down the spigot button,168
filling the cup almost to the top.169
With a plastic glove to cover her hand,170
Mimi took one of lemon halves 171
her mommy had already sliced, and172
squeezed it, using a small plastic juicer.173
Then she took the lemon rind 174
with the freshly squeezed juice and 175
put them both into the cup filled176
with the sugar-water and ice.177
Holding a plastic cover on top of the cup178
Mimi shook and shook and 179
shook all the ingredients up.180
“Here you go, Hair Gare,” said Mimi Fufu,181
as she handed him the first cup.182
“Here’s one for you too, Jamar,” said Simona.183
“Wow! This is the best,” Hair Gare professed.184
“Makes me feel all cooled and refreshed.” 185
“Tastes great,” said Jamar, while wiping his face. 186
“Everyone will want to buy your lemonade.” 187
“Why, thank you,” the girls replied, 188
with chins held up high.189
Mimi Fufu and Simona smiled at each other190
as they watched the boys smacking their lips,191
knowing their lemonade was a great big hit. 192
With a final gulp and a swipe of their face,193
the boys hopped on their bikes and rode away.194
As they circled the end of the block 195
they shouted,196
“Get your fresh-squeezed lemonade. . .197
25 cents a tall glass.” 198
Soon, cars and trucks, with 199
smiling customers,200
turned up the street 201
to purchase a thirst-quenching glass 202
of the girls’ special lemonade treat.203
Even the neighbors came outside 204
when hearing the boys’ cries. 205
It all began to look like a block party206
while everyone sipped on lemonade and socialized. 207
The mailman returned for a second glass and said,208
“I’ve tasted a lot of lemonade in my time,209
but yours is by far the best lemonade yet.”210
The girls got so busy, their arms began to tire.211
But their work was to have a happy end, 212
so the brave little girls did not give in.213
With the final glass of lemonade sold, 214
the girls decided it was time to close.215
After cleaning and putting everything away,216
with anxious anticipation 217
they sat down to count their pay.218
“Wow! Looks like we did it,” said Simona.219
“Yes! We more than did it,” 220
said Mimi, counting the last bit of money. 221
“We have two dollars more than we need222
if you and I each take three.223
How about giving our brothers one dollar each224
for bringing all those customers up our street?”225
“Good idea. I agree,” said Simona.226
“They’ll be so happy and pleased.” 227
Yes, indeed, the boys were pleased 228
about the dollar they each received.229
Early the next day, 230
the girls ran down to the variety store.231
When they arrived, a closed sign hung on the door.232
“Oh, pooh, we’re too early,” said Mimi Fufu.233
So the girls’ waited. . .and waited. . . 234
and waited. 235
And while they waited. . . 236
they play-acted and dreamed about 237
necklaces and bracelets and 238
all the pretty things they would create with 239
their glamour beads and colored strings.240
“Won’t we look stunning in 241
our new costume jewelry?” asked Simona. 242
“Absolutely, my dear. . .simply gor-geous,” 243
said Mimi Fufu.244
As the girls continued primping245
at their reflection in the store window, they heard 246
the klunk-klunk of a door latch.247
“Welcome girls,” said Mrs. Milton-the store owner,248
as she opened the doors. 249
“Yipee-e!” the girls squealed with glee.250
Then they dashed through the store to finally 251
purchase their well-earned reward.252
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