By Sandy Sides Greene
For the Salisbury Post
When I ventured out Saturday to visit a few yard sales, I was expecting to find that “great” deal. You know the one you brag about to your friends and make it sound as if it was the deal of the century?
It’s always a better deal to you than to them.
But I found some truly great treasures, including a new hand-held mixer, much like the one I broke; a Pampered Chef spatula, just like the one I broke; a couple of area rugs (no, not just like the ones I just broke. Believe me, if you could break rugs, I would be the one to do it); and fishing overalls for my husband, which was such a better buy when I saw them on him. It would have made for hours of laughter if I could have snagged the picture.
I found other items I was kind of expecting.
But there was one thing I didn’t expect. No, it wasn’t a picture I paid 50 cents for only to later find out it’s worth $1,000. It was better.
And it all started with a little, blonde-haired girl who was about 6-years-old.
When I first parked near her house, she was working diligently to prepare her little table of red cups and lemonade. She had each cup lined up perfectly along the table. I planned to buy a cup right then but she ran inside her house, probably to gather her final necessities.
I knew I would be back, so I moved on.
Next was what I considered the boutique of yard sales. A blue canopy caught my eye, but my nose led the way with the smell of freshly popped popcorn.
That’s where I found another little girl selling drinks and popcorn. I gladly paid her, she thanked me and I headed along my route.
At the next house, I found two new inner-tubes that I know will provide much fun over the summer.
By day’s end, I’d purchased many great deals but the sun was beginning to make the lightweight jacket I was wearing feel like a parka on a polar bear. I remove it and carried my things to the car.
Sitting in my car, I began munching on the popcorn. I reached to open my Diet Mountain Dew.
I looked up and saw the little girl sitting at her table filled with red cups and lemonade, kicking her legs back and forth, patiently waiting.
My mind drifted back to my own “little” girl, who will turn 15 next month, talking her little brother into hauling their plastic table up from the basement to put at the end of the drive. The two would make signs and concoct their own drink to sell. They would sit and talk and laugh with our family dog by their side, waiting for someone to buy a cup.
Our neighbors obliged every time.
My heart began to melt.
Although I bought a drink from the other little girl, I hopped out of my car and asked, “May I please have a cup of lemonade?”
She anxiously poured me a cup about a quarter full.
I handed her my money and said I didn’t need change.
She lit up.
And I smiled because I knew I had just purchased my best deal of the day; one I never expected to find.