If I Knew Then

Chapter 24: The Last Carnival Ticket

Things were going well with Amelia. Every time I thought that I couldn't like her any more than I did, she did something new to make my heart twitch. Like learning to play my favourite song on the piano. Wearing the scarves and socks that Erica was learning to knit, no matter how goofy they looked. Surprising with me new date ideas and dragging me along to help run errands with her grandmother. Everything she did, drew a smile on my face, but most of all, she was my biggest believer. When I came to doubt myself, she was the voice of reason helping me rediscovering my confidence.

     She was as enthusiastic about the program that I was working on, as I was. She never hesitated to voice her ideas or help me with the planning involved.

     The same could be said about the rest of the gang. They were all eager to help when I voiced the desire of starting a fundraiser. If we were going to kickstart this program, we needed money. After some brainstorming in Nao's pool, we decided to start with a carnival. Typical. I know. But as someone that I was starting to fall for, once said: there's a reason that certain things are typical.

     Deciding on the carnival was easy. Avi's dad helped us with the adult factors that we didn't quite understand. He booked the venue and planned for venders to come host their own games and kiosks, while we created the flyers and social media posts. Spreading the word came with ease. Our challenges came when deciding what we would each oversee.

     Sat around a picnic table at the park, pen in hand to finalize our plans, I prepared myself for a long debate.

     "Addie this all started with you," Léa said. "You should be the mediator."

     "Alright." I resisted the urge to groan, unsure how I would mediate successfully with Nao and Avi. It seemed like an impossible job. Luckily, we already had ideas listed, we just needed to assign them. "First up: the water tank. Any takers?"

     "I call dibs on that one," Amelia piped. "It seems like the easiest option; I just have to sit there."

     I was already writing her name down when she turned my way unsurely. "Unless you want it. You should have the first to pick."

      "You can keep the near drowning experience." There was no hesitation in my decision. "I'll happily take care of the 50/50 draw." I'd have to interact with a lot more people, but it sure beat the other alternatives.

     Nobody protested with my decision.

      "Great." I added my name to the sheet. "I think the talent show is a no brainer. Maria could host that in her sleep."

      They all hummed in agreement.

     "And the bake sale was Léa's idea so I think she should get to do it."

      They also agreed to that. I was surprised by how well it was going. We only had two spots left to fill.

      "That leaves the kissing booth..." We couldn't have a typical carnival fundraiser without a kissing booth. I had no recommendations for that one. I looked between Nao and Avi with apprehension.

     They were already looking at each other with narrowed eyes. I groaned in anticipation of the bickering to come. I knew it couldn't be that easy.

     "I'll run the baseball tournament," Avi said. "Nao can take the kissing booth."

     "Not a chance," Nao protested.

     "I suggested the tournament, so I should get to run it."

      "I can come up with another idea."