Times are tough everywhere, so be careful with those garage sales, Tupperware parties, tickets to pancake breakfasts, or even selling lemonade on the street corners.

Julie, a seven year old in Portland, Oregon, squinting up at the man, didn’t know what to make of his question, so she turned him over to her Mom who nearby.

“I need to see your restaurant license,” he said, looking between the pitchers of pink and yellow liquid.

The mom didn’t answer.  It took her a few seconds to process his statement.  She had to down a few gulps of the pink drink before composing herself and answering, after making her daughter stop picking her nose.

“This isn’t a restaurant, it’s a folding card table with a wobbly leg, and this is an arts fair that we have every year.  What are you talking about; “restaurant license?”

“Ma’am, I’m just an inspector for the county and if you don’t have a license, I’m going to have to close you down.”

The little girl started to cry.  Walkers stopped and listened in disbelief.

“Mommy, Mommy, I’m sorry, I don’t want to go to jail, I’m sorry.”  She started picking her nose again; her mom let her.

“You’re telling me my seven year old daughter needs a license to sell Kool-Aid and water at 50 cents a cup?”  The Mom started to pick her own nose a bit.

“Without a license, ma’am, you could face a fine of up to $500.”  The Inspector wasn’t aware that a crowd was amassing behind him as he stretched his arms behind his back, at ease.

“Mister. You’re talking about a fine that would take my daughter selling 1000 cups of lemonade.  I think she has enough for about 50 cups.  That’s all.  You can’t be serious.”

Other vendors and bystanders started chanting and encouraged Julie and her mother not to leave. A second inspector arrived and the two inspectors were surrounded by a crowd of vendors supporting Julie and her mother.  It’s possible that many in the crowd had been drinking something stronger than lemonade.

Julie and her mother packed up the stand and their pitchers and left the fair.

Two inspectors, paid by tax payer money, doing their job.