Two days later, I was still stuck.
I’d searched “how to make money as a kid” and found the same boring suggestions everywhere: babysitting, dog walking, yard work. Nothing that would get me to six hundred dollars.
I needed to get out of the house before I went crazy.
The library was air conditioned and only three blocks away. Perfect.
Mrs. Patel was at the front desk when I walked in. She looked up and smiled.
“Kiora! How’s your summer going?”
“Okay I guess,” I said, slumping into the chair across from her desk.
Mrs. Patel set down her stamp. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to earn six hundred dollars by the end of summer, and it’s impossible.”
“Six hundred dollars? That is quite a lot. What’s it for?”
“A trip to Florida. But I’ve thought about everything. Dog walking, yard work, babysitting. None of it adds up.”
Mrs. Patel tapped her fingers on the desk, thinking. “You know, Kiora, maybe you’re thinking about this wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re thinking about jobs. But maybe you should be thinking about a business.”
I stared at her. “I’m twelve.”
“So? Some of the most successful businesses were started by young people with big ideas.”
She walked over to the kids’ section and pulled out a colorful book. _The Lemonade Stand Kids: How to Start Your Own Neighborhood Business._
“You really think I could start a business?”
“I think you’re smart and determined. That’s all you need.”
I flipped through the book. It had pictures and charts and a bunch of different ideas and didn’t look too scary.
Mrs. Patel scanned it for me. “Don’t be discouraged if your first idea isn’t perfect. Just start with something and if it doesn’t pan out, make an adjustment or try another idea.”
I tucked the book under my arm and headed outside.
On the library steps, I opened to the first page. The first sentence jumped out at me like it was written in neon lights:
“Every big business starts with a small idea.”
Maybe, just maybe, Mrs. Patel was on to something…
My hand was shaking a little as I turned the page.