MORPHERS: THE NEXT GENERATION

CHAPTER 4: FUNDRAISER FRENZY

The air buzzed with excitement as the day of the school fundraiser arrived. Banners hung from the ceiling of the gymnasium, colorful and vibrant, announcing the event aimed at supporting local animal shelters and rescues. Students hurried about, setting up booths and arranging displays, their laughter mingling with the sounds of cheerful chatter.

Maya Berenson stood at her booth, her heart racing with anticipation. Beside her, her twin brother Alex adjusted the banner that read, "Support Local Animal Rescues!" A sense of pride washed over her as she looked around, taking in the preparations.

"I can't believe we finally get to do this!" Maya exclaimed, bouncing on her toes. "We've worked so hard, and now we can actually help those animals!"

"Yeah, it's pretty cool," Alex replied, tying off a length of string to keep the banner in place. "But I hope we raise enough money. We need those supplies for the barn."

Just then, Amina Khan joined them, her arms laden with supplies. "Sorry I'm late! I had to finish my project for science class," she panted, her face flushed with excitement. "But I brought some pet treats to hand out as samples!"

Maya's eyes lit up. "That's perfect! It'll attract people to our booth."

As they arranged the treats on a small table, Aunt Cassie arrived, a bright smile on her face. "Hey, team! Looks like you've got everything under control!"

"Aunt Cassie!" Maya exclaimed, rushing over to give her a hug. "We're so glad you're here!"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Aunt Cassie replied, her eyes twinkling. "What can I do to help?"

"Could you talk to some of the visitors about the animals we're showcasing?" Amina suggested. "Your stories always draw people in!"

"Absolutely! I love sharing what we do at the barn," Aunt Cassie agreed. "And I can help with any questions they might have."

As the booth began to take shape, the gym doors swung open, and in walked Ethan Park and Leo Morales, both radiating enthusiasm. Ethan, with his tousled dark hair and bright blue hoodie, scanned the room with a grin that seemed to light up his face. "Hey! Heard you guys could use some extra hands!" he called out, making his way toward them.

"Definitely! We could use your help setting up," Maya said, welcoming her friends.

Leo followed closely behind, his artistic flair apparent in his colorful attire—a bright green T-shirt decorated with sketches of animals and a paint-splattered apron tied around his waist. "And I came to provide some artistic flair to your booth!" he chimed in, holding up a sketchpad filled with vibrant drawings of dogs, cats, and playful goats.

"Perfect! We need all the flair we can get!" Alex said, chuckling.

As the group worked together, they brainstormed ideas to make their booth stand out. Leo began sketching fun signs, his pencil flying across the page as he captured the essence of each animal. "What do you think of this one?" he asked, showing them a cartoonish goat balancing on a log. "We can call him 'Goat-y McGoatface'!"

Maya burst into laughter. "That's hilarious! Let's use that!"

Ethan, meanwhile, was busy helping Amina arrange the pet treats. "What if we create a little game for people to play?" he suggested, his eyes shining with excitement. "Something like a wheel of fortune but with animal trivia!"

"That could be awesome!" Amina replied, her enthusiasm matching his. "We could give out small prizes for the winners!"

The ideas flowed as they collaborated, transforming the booth into an inviting space filled with laughter and creativity. They arranged the pet treats, hung colorful banners, and set up a small area for petting one of the calmer goats.