Anna had been gone a full week when the high school opened. Tom and Tim were eager to meet all their fellow students, especially the ones in their classes, and revive friendship with former friends.
Hope was puzzled. All her life she had the Jackson children with her. Now the boys were gone for a long time during the day and she hadn’t seen the girl in a long time. Irene had agreed to walk Hope and continue with her training.
The third week of school the twins gave their talk in assembly and showed pictures on an overhead projector. They student body howled with laughter at some of their escapades in Alaska, but there was a respectful when the twins told about Galena. Most of the students had known and were almost as sad as the Jacksons at her loss. There were a lot of questions about Greatheart and Hope.
“When can we see her?”
“Does she look like a wolf?”
“How big is she?”
“Is she easy going or aggressive?”
The twins happily answered all questions and assured them that Hope was like any other dog. She was a little larger and a little heavier than the usual dog, but she was eager to please and got along with everyone. Tom told them there very few mean dogs, just careless trainers.
Tom then told the students about Canine Wonder and what wonderful work they were doing. He didn’t give the location because Alex was in the audience.
Angela Hurley stood up. “Can we donate money to help out at the school? Or maybe we could raise money somehow. They must have huge expenses.”
Mr. Grissom jumped up and hurried to the microphone. “What an excellent idea. I’m happy that my students care about other people and want to help. How many of you would be interested in have a school sponsored fund raiser?” A loud round of applause, cheering and whistling answered him.
“Great! May I suggest that you discuss this among you and give your written ideas to Tom and Tim. They can form a committee with as many helpers as needed. I hope several of you will volunteer to be on such a committee.” Again there was a loud round of applause and then dismissal.
On Friday the written ideas were given to the twins. They took them home after inviting some friends to join them. It was difficult because there were a surprising number of excellent ideas.
“I really like this idea of a carnival. We can use the football field and the gym,” Tom told them.
“I like it, too,” Mark was bouncing in excitement. “Marti makes a great Gypsy fortune teller and we can ----”
“Marti?” Tim’s voice broke in.
“You know. Margaret Marinacci. She’s called Marti now. She played the part of a fortune teller for the Ladies Guild fund raiser and was a big hit.”
“Okay,” Jimmy cut in, “we have a lot of ideas. Let’s go over them all,”
Tim grabbed a legal pad and began to jot down the ideas they thought were good. They began to read out the ideas with such excitement that Tim finally called, “Whoa. Slow down. So far these sound good but we need to consider time and space.”
“Break balloons. Ask business people to donate small items such as small toys, inexpensive jewelry, coupons for free pizza or hamburgers--- well, you get the idea. Write on a piece of paper what the prize will be and charge ten cents for each throw of a dart or three darts for a quarter. If they break a balloon, they get the prize that is written inside.”
“Have prizes in another booth with a big tub of water. Float apples in the water and charge a quarter to get an apple in the teeth with the hands behind the back. Keep the fruit and a prize. They’ll have to be timed; maybe fifteen seconds for a try. How about a face painting booth for kids?”
The twins looked at each other knowing they had the same idea. “I can’t promise, but maybe we can get some of the service dogs to demonstrate with their owner, or with the school.” Tom told them. “Maybe a couple of police would demonstrate what their specially trained dogs do.”
“Here’s another great idea,” Jim said with excitement. “This suggestion is for a talent show. That’s right up my alley. A talent show and a carnival would involve the public. The students can’t raise enough money among themselves, but the public can sure help.”
“That’s great ideas, but can we work them in on the same day?” Mark looked uncertain.
Tim jumped up. “Why not? We could have the talent show -- say between ten and twelve, break an hour for lunch and start the carnival from one to five. The Home Ec. Department would probably be happy to have a booth for food. That way families could bring younger children and we’d have time to clean up the ground afterwards. It gets darker earlier remember.”
“Here’s one I like,” Jacob Beimer spoke shyly. “This person suggests a basketball game between the boys’ team and the girls’ team. We could even have food there.”
“That would mean another day, but it is a good idea,” Tom said.
“How about a dance -- a sock hop? Charge five dollars for a couple or three dollars for a single. Students would be happy to loan CDs for the music.” Marylea Perkins gave her idea.
“Great! We could have a basketball game during the afternoon and a dance that night.” Mark was so pleased with the idea that he stood and danced around. “Students and public would be involved.”
Irene came in with a cake she had baked for them and soft drinks. “You people sound as if you need some pick-me-up. How’s it going?”
“Marvelous Mrs. J. and thanks.” Jimmy reached for a paper plate to get a piece of cake. ’We’re going great guns. There’s so many good ideas. One is for a horse show which would suit me, but it would be costly and time consuming. Too, we’d need special insurance. It would bring in a lot of money, but a big responsibility, too.”
There was a laugh from the doorway. They turned to see Herb leaning against the dog frame. “I think a basketball game or a softball game between students and adults would be the ticket.”
“Hi, Dad. Sorry. Wrong time of year for softball.” Tim answered. He placed an arm around his mother. “I suggest that we take a list of the better ideas to Mr. Grissom on Monday and ask him to let the students vote on what they think are the best ones. The most popular votes can be considered, but the students would have to know that their help would be needed.”
“But the more that get their two cents in, the longer it’s going to take to plan,” Mark complained.
After a lengthy discussion, they agreed to let the student body vote. “After all, we’re depending on them for support,” Joella Pierson reminded them.
On Monday, Mr. Grissom allowed Tom to speak to all homerooms on the speaker. “First, we want to thank all of you for such fantastic ideas. It was too hard for us to make a selection. We’re going to give your homeroom teachers a list of the suggestions. Discuss them and vote on the two you think will be feasible. Remember, we need to select ideas that the public can be involved because we need the money.”
The suggestions were given to the teachers and they were to take a vote and give the results to Mr. Grissom by noon Tuesday. Two school secretaries and a librarian would count the votes.
On Tuesday, after the lunch periods, Mr. Grissom was laughing as he gave the ideas that were accepted by the majority. “Okay, folks. It looks as if we’re going to be busy for a couple of months. The majority of you voted for a carnival, talent show, dance and a basketball game between the boys and girls.” A loud cheer could be heard all over the building and even out on the field.
Mr. Grissom continued. In addition to Tom and Tim, three girls and three boys are to be the organizing committee. All of the students will be needed in some way. Remember, we’re doing this to provide a service dog for a person in need. I know I can count on students from Fairfax High.”
After many meetings and much research, plans were made for the last Saturday in September. There would be a talent show in the morning and a carnival in the afternoon. Small prizes, trophies and ribbons would be needed. The basketball game in the afternoon and the dance that night would be held on the Saturday in November before thanksgiving.
One night at dinner, Herb looked at the twins with a twinkle in his eyes. “Boys, I hope you won’t be embarrassed, but your mother and I will be in the talent show.”
“Great!” the twins spoke as one.
“What will you do?” Tom asked.
“That’s for us to know and you to wonder about,” Herb laughed.
The September fair days and cool nights were ideal. Dozens of students volunteered to contact people to sponsor a trophy or ribbons. Tara Ellis came bubbling in one morning. “I had an appointment with my doctor last Friday. I asked him to sponsor a trophy and he said he’d let me know. He called me last night and said he and two of his friends would each sponsor a trophy. That’s three of them!” she yelled and jumped as if leading a cheer.
“Yea! Way to go.” Charlotte gave Tara a high five. “My uncle owns a variety store and he’s offered to give us a lot of small prizes.”
Terry Anderson broke in. “Dad owns a tack and feed store and he’ll give two trophies if we advertise for him.”
“At this rate we’d better have a booklet telling about the events and thanking the sponsors by listing them,” John Luman added. “Mom works at City Hall and I’m sure she can help us put a booklet together. They have computers that can do anything but cook a meal.”
Tim informed them that Anna had said she would see what she could do.
“She’s loads of miles from here in college. How can she help?” Bette Spearson asked.
“She didn’t say, but knowing Anna if she decided she’s going to do something, she’ll come up with a doozy.” Tom bragged.
“My dad loves to do carpentry. It’s his hobby. He can help build booths or whatever we need,” Woody Morrison said.
Ellen waved her hand in the air for attention. “I think we should give first through third trophies and first through fourth ribbons, and we need to give them in categories.”
“What do you mean categories?” Jacob asked.
“I know what she means,” Bonnie stated. “There will be singer, dancers, instrumentals and miscellaneous in the talent show.”
“Now what do you mean by miscellaneous?” Jacob asked again.
“Baton twirling, juggling and so forth.”
“That would mean about sixteen trophies for just the talent show.”
“Everyone will know why we’re raising this money and they won’t expect us to do more than would be fair,” Verta Lynn said. “But I guess we’d better have about twenty trophies in case of a tie. It is a possibility.”
“Okay,” Ellen stood up, “twenty trophies and if we need more we’ll just have to get them later. How about judges?”
“We shouldn’t ask teachers from this school. Why don’t we ask local church musicians to judge the singing and instrumentals and the drama teacher from Woodlawn High would, I’m sure, be willing to judge the rest.” Bonnie suggested. “I think they’ll all be willing to help.”
“That’s a great idea. The drama coach at Woodlawn High is Mrs. Sherwood and she lives on the same street I do. I’ll ask her and maybe she has a friend that can help. That is if it’s all right with you for me to ask,” Verta offered.
“Sure, go for it.”
“I have neighbors, Anthony and Connie Thompson, who are in a theatre group. I bet they’d be willing to help. They don’t have kids in school. We need more than one judge for each category,” Fred commented.
“I’m so proud of us. We’re working better than I hoped,” Tom chortled.
“The man knows the truth,” Mark grinned. “Why don’t we meet next Friday after school with a list of those who are willing to judge and those who will donate a trophy or ribbons.”