I choose me.

Part 16: Winter Wonderland

'Winter Wonderland'. Olivia peered around the transformed gymnasium. So many people had volunteered, people from the animal shelter, gym members, high-school students and workers from the home. So many places had been beyond generous with their donations. There was a fully vegan barbecue dinner, raffles, silent auctions, face paintings and puppies from the shelter to bring attention to their adoption program. She was greeting people at the door and there were kids running everywhere, Shonda limped over "This is something real special Olivia, thank you."

"Thank you Shonda, I'd hate to see what that place would be without you." The two women hugged.

"I invited the Boston Bean here to cover the event" She nodded to a reporter with a camera around his neck.

"Oooh." She scrunched her nose, most of the kids had gathered around all of the dogs from the shelter. She watched them happily, her face was still a little bruised, but she'd covered up with make-up as well as she could.
"BENNY!" A bunch of little voices yelled, and a herd of kids ran past her. He came in the door with someone. She recognized her from Walmart, younger than them, with a short platinum bob and a pointy chin, she was pretty, but looked nervous. Olivia took a few steps back and then darted over to the silent auction table. She'd tried to convince Mulligan to dress up as Santa but he wouldn't, he was sitting behind the dessert table.

She kept a wide circle around Benny and his date, and when everyone was eating Shonda pushed her up toward the stage, where a single microphone stand was set up. Her palms got sweaty as she took her place and then the music stopped.

"Thank you all for coming." She peered out over the crowd. "This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, bring awareness to the struggling Foster Care System, especially city group homes, the over crowded animal shelters and the benefit of an alternate lifestyle and diet, and with so much love and help from this community, we were able to pull it off." Deep breath in, keep breathing. "I came to Group Home 271 when I was nine years old, it wasn't an easy upbringing, but it was far better than the life I knew before, or would have had otherwise The tireless work of people like our Shonda here have dedicated their everything for these kids, for kids like I was, often making huge sacrifices in their personal lives. I was never adopted or put in another home, but there are so many kids that want that and I want to help make that possible." She breathed in again, "I'll stop rambling but please help spread awareness for the kids, the animals and enjoy this feast. Thank you everyone." She went off the stage quickly and rubbed her sweaty hands together.

The night was long, even longer avoiding Benny. Once everyone left, the clean-up started, a few teenagers from the home, PJ and Johnny stayed, she sent Shonda home with all the leftover food and desserts. All the raffle and auction items had been distributed, and all the money raised was locked in Mulligan's truck, she'd count it tomorrow. She watched from across the room as Benny started folding and stacking chairs, she walked over quickly "We've got it covered thanks." Olivia grabbed the chair.

"I'd like to help, it's fine." He grabbed it back.

"No thanks." She angrily grabbed the chair back.

"You can't tell me I can't help." He let the chair go and rolled his eyes at her.

"My event. No thanks." Sleeves of her sweater pushed up, she quickly grabbed trash up off the ground and slammed it into a bin.

"Why are you being like this?" he kept folding chairs, glancing up at her with his knowing eyes.

"I don't know. I can't see you." She folded up a tablecloth.

"Why?" His ears perked.

"Because, I just can't." She said weakly and kept folding. The teenagers swept the floor while she did one final walk through to make sure nothing was left behind, then the janitor locked the door behind them. She felt great about the evening, sure they had raised a lot of money.