Draper Kids Meet Their Favorite Jazz Player While Selling Soda

DRAPER, Utah — Kids have plenty of ways to spend their summer vacation. Thomas and Will, two 11-year-olds from Draper, decided to make some extra money by setting up a soda stand in the park.

When they went to the grocery store with Will’s grandfather to buy soda, they ran into their favorite jazz player in the parking lot.

“I just said, ‘Is that Collin Sexton?’ and my grandfather said, ‘Yes,’” Will Burton said.

Thomas Staker added: “I have been dreaming of this moment for a long time.”

The kids and their grandfather told Sexton they were selling sodas in the park and he asked if he could get one.

“When are you going to be back on the court? You going to be there at 1 o’clock? On the court? Would you like to get me a soda? I’ll see you tomorrow at 1 o’clock,” Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton said.

Thomas and Will had only sold 14 sodas until Sexton surprised them: the next day, he showed up at the park at 1 p.m., just like he said he would.

“He bought our two favorite flavors, Tiki Punch was mine, Lemon Lime Twist was mine,” Thomas and Will said.

When he approached the soda stand, he offered the children a gift.

“He (Collin Sexton) said, ‘I have a gift for you,’ he pulled out a $50 bill and we were like, ‘Oh my God, we have $50,’ and then he said, ‘One for you too,’” Thomas said.

Will said, “We need to get his number,” Thomas added. “We can start a chat group called ‘The Soda Kids.'”

Sexton has since acknowledged the story on Instagram, commenting “soda kids” and calling Thomas and Will “my guys” on his Instagram Story.