"Wow!" said Maggie. "Look at how many people are at the horse show.
We're going to make tons of money!"
Henry laughed.
"Stop counting your future profits and help me hang up our sign."
"Sorry." Maggie held the sign while Henry tacked it to a tree near where they'd set up their lemonade stand.
Once the sign was hung, Henry wiped his brow. "Wow, it's pretty hot today."
"I know." Maggie smiled. "That should make people buy even more lemonade.
Riding horses in the heat makes you really thirsty. Trust me, I know!"
Henry nodded. They were at the stable where Maggie took riding lessons.
Today the stable was putting on a horse show for its students to show off what they'd been learning all summer.
The stable's owner, Ms. Wood, had told Maggie that she and her friends could sell lemonade during the show.
A rider hurried over. "Is the stand open yet?" she asked.
"I'll take a lemonade, please."
"Coming right up." Henry poured the girl a cup of lemonade.
As he handed it to her, several more riders came over.
For the next few minutes Henry and Maggie stayed busy serving lemonade to customers.
"Where's Cole?" Maggie asked as she dropped a quarter into the cashbox.
"We could use his help."
"I think he went to look for more napkins," Henry said.
"I'm not sure why, though. We already have plenty of them."
A few girls hurried over.
One of them was Daisy, who also rode at Maggie's stable.
"One lemonade, please," a girl said. "I hope it's nice and cold!"
"It is," Maggie said as she poured the girl a cup.
The girl drank her lemonade quickly and left.
"Some of these riders would be cooler if they took off their long-sleeved jackets," Henry said.
"Those are show coats," Daisy said.
"That's what you're supposed to wear for horse shows."
"Oh. How come you and Maggie aren't wearing them?" Henry asked.
Maggie frowned. "I wish I had a show coat to wear," she said.
"But my mom and dad wouldn't buy me one.
And I definitely can't afford to buy one myself.
I barely had enough money to enter two classes in the show!"
"Don't worry, Maggie," Daisy said.
"Ms. Wood said you don't need fancy show clothes, remember?
This show is supposed to be for learning and having fun."
Henry looked at Daisy's T-shirt.
"Are you wearing that bright pink T-shirt in the show?" he asked.
Daisy shook her head.
"I'm just wearing it in case I get dirty while I get my pony ready.
My new show clothes are hanging by her stall."
"Oh." Henry shrugged. He didn't know much about horseback riding.
"Well, enjoy your lemonade." He handed Daisy a cup.
"Thanks." Daisy took a sip, and then walked off.
A moment later Cole rushed over.
His face was sweaty and he was breathing hard.
"Where are the napkins?" Henry asked him.
"Huh?" Cole looked down at his empty hands.
"Oh. I couldn't find any." He shrugged and glanced at the table.
"Anyway, it looks like we have enough of them."
Maggie frowned.
"We've been busy, and you missed all the work," she complained.
"Not all of it." Cole pointed toward some people.
"Here come more customers."
Henry and his friends served several thirsty riders and a few parents.
Then Maggie checked her watch.
"I need to get ready for my first class in the show," she said.
"You guys will be okay without me for a while, right?"
"Sure. Good luck," Henry said.
After she left, a few more customers wandered over.
Then several minutes passed without any customers at all.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to your swim practice?" Henry asked Cole.
"Maggie and I can probably handle the lemonade stand by ourselves."
"No, that's okay," Cole said.
"The coach said today's practice is mainly for the divers on the team."
He pulled two bright green lollipops out of his pocket. "Want one?"
"Sure, thanks!" Henry took one of the lollipops.
"Aren't these the homemade ones from the Dessert Den?"
"Yeah. I bought them when we went there yesterday," Cole said.
"They're kiwi-flavored—my favorite!"
Henry unwrapped his lollipop.
It was sticky and partly melted because of the heat.
But it still tasted good.
After a moment he noticed that Cole's tongue was turning bright green.
"Is my tongue green too?" Henry asked, sticking out his tongue.
Cole grinned. "Yeah. You look like a zombie."
"Too bad you don't have any cherry-flavored lollipops," Henry joked.
"Then we could dye our tongues back to red."
Before Cole could answer, Daisy raced up to the lemonade stand.
Maggie was right behind her.
"I need The Lemonade Detectives!" Daisy blurted out.
"Someone stole my brand-new show shirt!"