Out on a walk along Kavanaugh this weekend, we were dripping in temps over 90 when we saw a sign that caught our eye: “Free lemonade.” Surely the heat was getting to us? Nope — the lemonade really was free, courtesy of one William Kethcher, age 10, who sets up shop for about two hours every other Saturday morning on the Allsopp Promenade.
“The lemonade was really piled up, and I didn’t really want it, so I decided why not give it away,” said the young Little Rock entrepreneur, who explained that “tips welcome” was only added to the sign after several grateful recipients insisted on giving him something.
Not that he minds. He’s got an eye on a new drum set. He’s been playing two years and is apparently a Beatles fan, judging by a few lines of “Paperback Writer” sung back to us at the end of our interview.
How he stands the heat, we’ll never know. He tells us Mom insists he puts on his ball cap, and with a yes ma’am, he does — “And I want to.” (If you’re reading this, Mom, please note he only removed the cap because we asked him to so we could see his face in the photo).
So far the take is only about 10 percent of the target goal, but there’s still “about three months” left in summer… except June’s already over. And school starts in August. And there’s camp in August, too.
Well, maybe it won’t happen this summer, but at least the throngs of thirsty joggers along this busy border of Allsopp can find some respite from a kind — and very polite — young man who is happy to share.