The pair were doing a brisk business selling the cool, refreshing summer beverage Wednesday afternoon at the corner of 12th Street and First Avenue North.

All with just a big cooler, cups, several gallon jugs of pink and yellow lemonade and a hand-lettered cardboard sign.

“Kool-Aid 50 cents,” it read, followed by “Goal $70.”

The pair went beyond that … Tuesday.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Emily McFarland, of Hardy, at left, stops to get a glass of pink lemonade from Janelle Derrig, 11, center and Abigail Derrig, 10, right. The pair were doing a brisk business at North 12th Street and First Avenue North.

“We made like $130 or something like that,” Abigail Derrig said.

Some of that was due to generous investment in their business by kind, but thirsty, people.

“There was a guy that gave us $50,” she said.

The pair are quite modern and up-to-date on their promotional campaign.

“I already posted on Facebook,” she said. “There’s lemonade on First and 12th.”

They have plans for the profits from their enterprise. They are going to share their success.

“I might take my family out to dinner,” Abigail Derrig said. “I also want to donate to the Fire Department and Police Department.”

Her mom, Jamie Robinson, stopped by to see how the day was going for them.

“They do it every summer,” she said.

Mom’s appearance raised an immediate question.

“Can I buy a dog from Almost Home?” Abigail Derrig asked

“No,” her mom replied.

“How about a cat?” she asked.

No again.

“We already have four pets,” Robinson said

She’s proud of the pair.

“They’re hard workers,” she said. “I’m telling you.”

So how does their homemade product rate?

After all, lemonade can be too sour, too sweet, just right or worse than all that, warm.

Emily McFarland, of Hardy, was among the customers who bought a cup Wednesday.

“It’s really good,” she said between sips. “I love it.”