I woke up to the sound of rain hammering against my bedroom window.
Not just a light drizzle. Not even a normal summer shower. This was the kind of rain that made you want to build an ark.
I pressed my face against the glass and watched sheets of water cascade down. The park would be a muddy swamp. Nobody would be out buying snacks in this weather.
“Great,” I muttered, flopping back onto my bed. “Just when things were going so well.”
Mom knocked on my door. “Kiora? You okay in there?”
“The weather ruined everything,” I called back.
She peeked her head in. “It’s just rain, honey. It’ll pass.”
“But I was supposed to sell more snacks today. I only have two sodas left from yesterday, and I need to restock anyway.”
Mom sat on the edge of my bed. “You know what? Maybe this is actually perfect timing.”
“Perfect? How is a monsoon perfect?”
“Well, you need to go shopping for more inventory anyway, right? And CostMart is indoors.” She smiled. “Rain day could be restock day.”
I sat up, suddenly interested. “That’s… actually not a terrible idea.”
An hour later, Mom and I were pushing a cart through the automatic doors of CostMart. The place was packed with other people who’d had the same idea about avoiding the rain.
I pulled out my notebook where I’d been tracking my money. After yesterday’s sales, I had $34.59 in profit. That felt like a fortune until I started looking at the prices.
“Okay,” I said, studying my list. “I need candy bars, sodas, and I want to try adding chips and water bottles.”
“Smart thinking,” Mom said. “Diversifying your product line.”
I found the candy section and stared at a box of twelve assorted candy bars for $8.00. That was more than I’d made on my first day, just for candy bars.
“This is expensive,” I said.
“That’s why your markup works,” Mom reminded me. “You’re paying wholesale prices and selling at retail.”
I did the math in my head. Twelve candy bars for $8.00 meant about 66 cents each. I could sell them for a dollar and make 34 cents profit per bar. Not bad.
Next was the soda aisle. A mixed pack of twenty-four cans was on sale for $15. That was 62.5 cents per can, and I could sell them for $1.50 each. Even better margins.
I grabbed a twelve-pack of assorted chips for $6 and a case of twenty-four water bottles for $3.
“Water bottles are only 12.5 cents each?” I asked, double-checking the price.
“Yep. And you can probably sell them for a dollar each on hot days.”
My mind started spinning with the possibilities. Water bottles had the best profit margin of anything.
At the checkout, the total came to $33.92 with tax. I handed over almost all of my profit from the past two days, leaving me with just 67 cents.
“This is terrifying,” I said as we loaded everything into the car. “What if nobody buys anything?”
“Then you’ll learn something valuable about business,” Mom said. “But I have a feeling you’re going to do just fine.”
By the time we got home, the rain was starting to lighten up. I spent the next hour organizing my new inventory and updating my notebook with all the costs.
Around two o’clock, I saw patches of blue sky through the clouds.
“Mom!” I yelled. “It’s clearing up!”
I loaded my cooler with ice and my new products, put everything in the red wagon, and hurried to the park as fast as I could pull it. The playground equipment was still dripping, but kids were already starting to appear.
When I got to my usual spot, I couldn’t believe what I saw.
Customers were waiting when I arrived.
“Oh good,” she said, walking over. “You’re back! My daughter was asking about the ‘snack girl’ all morning.”
“I’ve got some new stuff today,” I said, arranging my display. “Chips and water bottles too.”
“Perfect. It’s going to be hot once this humidity lifts.”
She was right. As the afternoon went on, the sun came out and turned all that rain into sticky, muggy air. Kids who’d been cooped up inside all morning were eager to get to the park, and they were thirsty.
I sold three candy bars, ten sodas, six bags of chips, and twelve water bottles. The water bottles were definitely the hit of the day.
“Can I get two waters?” a sweaty kid asked after playing basketball.
“Sure thing. Two dollars.”
He handed me the money without hesitation. I was making 87.5 cents profit on each water bottle. That was better than any of my other products.
By the time I packed up at five o’clock, I’d made $36 in sales. Combined with my leftover 67 cents, I had $36.67.
Not bad for a day that started with a downpour.
As I walked home, I realized something important: sometimes the obstacles that seem the worst actually turn out to be opportunities in disguise.
The rain had forced me to restock and try new products. And now I had the best-selling day yet.
I couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow would bring.