Thursday, April 30, 2009

Another business forced to close...

I knew something was wrong when he walked up the drive away, his legs dragging in defeat and his eyes reflecting much sadness.

Neither rain, sleet, or snow stops the kindergartner from racing alongside the school bus after drop off. His legs pump, arms wave "good bye" and his infectious smile forces Ethel the bus driver to honk at his happiness carrying it throughout our tree lined suburban street. "Jay is home." I alert the girls and peek out the window watching my eldest race the school bus, each and every day.

Today. There was no final honk.

"It's over."

"What's over, handsome?"

"My business."

For months the boy has been selling and trading Hubba Bubba bubble gum to children twice his age. A plastic sandwich bag, at the bottom of his backpack, holds a handful of quarters, a dozen trading cards, one shark tooth, and a Chuck E Cheese token. His business has flourished and word has spread quickly. The children on the bus call him by his full name and high five him daily. "Yo! It's Jay OHmommy." He is greeted at our local community events by boys whom are certainly old enough to wear deodorant.

"I was busted by Ethel and given a warning, Mama."

In this economy, even the little men are experiencing great losses. What's next? Will the Krusty Krab be forced to close their doors?

42classy comments:

Managed Chaos said...

Oh, I'll have to alert my Miss Monkey. She does a lot of trading on the bus (one day she even came home with a DS game, but that quickly got returned). I don't think she ever realized that she could make $ at it though. Jay OHMommy is quite the young entrepreneur ;o)

Unknown said...

So THIS is what I missed out on by never riding the bus! I easily could have started a slinky bracelet business. Shoot! ; )

He's very enterprising, your young man!

Jessica said...

Aw! Poor lil guy!

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Oh, no. Is he going to start bootlegging?

Amy said...

Bless his heart!

He sounds very entrepreneural (did I put too many "e"s in that?) so I bet he bounces back soon.

Mrs4444 said...

Well, lemonade stand season is just around the corner.... :) Cute post.

Tara R. said...

Awww... bummer! He'll come back with an even better enterprise.

katydidnot said...

Oh. Ethel is such a spoil sport. I've always thought so.

Hailey said...

Head up sweet Jay. Ethel? Is that really her name? Ethel?

Unknown said...

Are they trying to drive his business underground? I'll have to find him some sunglasses and a fake mustache.

Mommy to those Special Ks said...

LOL I got busted for the same thing when I was in junior high... except I sold Now & Laters. Why can't they just leave us aspiring businessmen and women alone?! I could have been RICH by now! hahahaha

2 Little Irish Boys said...

I bet his defeat won't last long. I can't wait to hear about his next venture!!

Rachel said...

So Jay was the sugarman huh? I remember those kids ;-)

With him being your kid, he won't be down long ;-)

Ed said...

This isn't so bad--he can work around this. Ethel just helped him, really. Now that his business is illegal prices should skyrocket! He'll learn secret handshakes and discrete ways to handle his transactions. He'll double or triple his income. This is going to be great!

Lynette3boys said...

Bless his little broken heart. I'm sure he'll be able to find other business ventures in the neighborhood.

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

I had to reread that a few times before I figured out that it was your SON and not your HUSBAND that "lost his job." Way to freak me out!

Heather said...

NOT the Krusty Krab!

Nan Patience said...

hilarious! sounds like he had a good thing goin! *sigh*

Courtney said...

Why do they have to shut the little people down?

Tyne said...

He is such an entrepeneur! He will rebound and experience another great business in no time, maybe he could sell surgical masks? There is always an opportunity no matter the economy!

Blessings From Above said...

He is quite the little entrepreneur! Hope another business opportunity comes his way soon. Poor guy. ;(

Cynthia said...

Oh the bus...brings back memories...I'm still traumatized:O

Diva's Thoughts said...

Aaawww poor baby. He'll find another income source.

Jaina said...

Awww. He wasn't doing anything wrong! Poor little guy. I'm sure he'll figure out something else to do.

Stephanie said...

So sweet! Poor kiddo. He'll figure out something else I bet!

Danielle (Life with the Hewitt Family) said...

This is the cutest story! Poor guy...maybe he can find another business venture soon!

Melissa ♥ Spoiled Mommy said...

Aww-poor lil guy!!
He can always do what my oldest did to her brother...she would sell him all her old stuff. hahha After his birthday was her favorite time...she even sold him a piece of paper that said it was a credit card.............
that is until SHE got caught!!

mpotter said...

that's so funny.
he's a regular willy wonka (of the current film).... dad a dentist, him the trader of all things sugar.

this brings me back to all the middle schoolers who would deal in candy bars for 50c.

sorry to hear he needs unemployment.

Kat said...

Are there seriously rules against this at school? It sounds genius to me.
Poor kiddo.

MIT Mommy said...

Unemployment? I hear you don't have to work any more to be on welfare, so he might do better going that route. It might be an alternative to his illegal trading.

anymommy said...

Tragic. He's a clever little entrepreneur though, huh? I bet he'll think of something better.

I am P said...

My bro and I used to sell candy at school too....until we were busted by the lunch lady! It's good while it lasts! There's always the baseball field :)

carrie said...

Aw, poor guy.

Aunt Becky said...

NOT THE KUSTY KRAB! Anything but that!

Kash said...

OMG, so funny, and so sad. Tell him to look into the internet for new business ventures.

Melissa said...

Poor Kid!! But at least he learned a good lesson!

Kelley @ magneto bold too said...

As I read this Boo was quoting Mr Krabbs.

Freaky.

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

What is this world coming to?

AreWeThereYet? said...

I love your little man. Great story!

Rhea said...

He'll just have to go more black market now...

Michele said...

Aww!sarah510

Michele said...

Aww!

 

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