Johnny Erp was a college student in California decades ago when he approached a lemonade stand with the intention of supporting the kids by purchasing a cup.

But as he got closer he saw one of the stand's operators vigorously petting a dog. Erp still remembers seeing the boy tousling the canine's neck ruff.

That might have been OK. But then the lad stuck his petting hand right into the pitcher of lemonade and proceeded to use his dogged-up mitt as a stirring spoon.

Erp suddenly lost his taste for the fruit of the poor lemon.

You have to wonder if that kid all those years ago was trying to market his beverage offering as an elixir for those with hangovers. If so, it would seem he misunderstood the whole "hair of the dog" concept.

In any event, Erp said he has not had a cup of lemonade from a kids' stand since, though he has been known to toss a few coins to the proprietors.

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