by Alena Pitts
She got everything set up very quickly, the satellite tower raised slowly into the air. And the report went live.
“This is Annette Courtier with WDDD News, and I am here at a local middle school where a fundraiser called The Big Give is being held tonight—but folks, they need your help! First, let’s have Lena Daniels and the rest of the organizers say a few words about the event. Lena?”
I felt very comfortable being in front of the camera. It wasn’t like Above the Waters, and it wasn’t like the tour with Mallory either. But I knew I had a message and I had to get it out to people. “My friends and I planned a big benefit concert for tonight, featuring Mallory Winston. But look around us! The storm and winds that went through last night really messed our field up. We need to be successful since we are raising money so that five children from Peru can stay in the United States and get the medical treatments they need. The hospital they were at is closing . . . Anyway, please, if you can come here to help us clean up, it would be great!”
Joey spoke up, “And then you can buy a ticket and go to a really great concert too, while you’re here!”
The reporter chuckled. “So there you have it, folks! If you want to help a great cause and then have some fun while you’re at it, please come . . .” She closed her live report with the location of the school and a comment about bringing work gloves, trash bags, and a chainsaw or two to help with the tree. “That’s a wrap!” she said as she smiled at our group and wished us the best.
“You are doing a great thing here, girls. Where can I get a ticket? I think I’d like to come back later for the show.”
Mr. Fraser walked over to take her into school, where he could get her a ticket. And Savannah, Joey, and I looked at each other and fell into a group hug. We were all kind of in shock. So much was going on.
“I can’t believe it!” Savannah shouted and cheered all at the same time. Joey just kept jumping and clapping and I was doing a combination of them both. “It’s finally here and look at this place. There was hardly even any rain by my house! And it looks like it was bad here!”
I nodded. “This side of town was really hit. I just hope the news report gets some volunteers here to help us clean up.”
“Has anyone heard from Emma?” Joey asked as she kicked at rocks on the ground, knocking them into a small puddle.
“Well, Mom said she’s going to be okay. She didn’t need surgery or anything. But I feel so bad for her.”
“Me too,” said Savannah.
We stood there quietly for a moment, trying to move on. We all knew we had to get busy with or without our missing friend.
And get busy we did! It was not long after the live news report that we started noticing more and more people showing up at the school field. God was sending us help . . . we only had to trust Him! Dad and Mom were so right. Soon everywhere we looked volunteers were picking up leaves, sticks, and trash that had blown into the field overnight. The big piece of roofing hadn’t been from the school after all, but from a building down the road, and that was being moved into a large dumpster so that it was out of the way. There was a loud whine from a couple of chainsaws that were cutting up the tree on the side of the field, and we could hear the beep-beep of a couple of trucks backing in to drop off donations like the tents, food, chairs and tables, and so much more! Everyone was moving so fast it was hard to know exactly what was happening.
As the day progressed, the field began to fill with the parent and student volunteers that had signed up before the storm too. Ms. Blount, Mr. Fraser, and Mr. Shipply were there, guiding and organizing people. Ms. Blount was even wearing one of the shirts with a pair of dark blue jeans. It was fun to see her in something different than her long flowery skirts, but I liked it.
When someone would ask where things needed to go Savannah, Joey, and I would look at our clipboards and point them in the right direction. If someone needed a cord, directions to the restroom, or had a question we would jump right in and take care of it. It felt weird to have so many people asking us to show them what to do but it also made me feel very grateful. All our planning was starting to pay off. Things seemed to be going without a hitch.
I was kneeling down at one of the tables, helping Mr. Shipply look for a note he had dropped, when I heard Joey screaming my name.
“Lena! Lena!”
I stepped out of the tent and saw her running toward me. “She’s here!! She’s here!”
“Emma?!” I started moving quickly in her direction.
Joey slowed down. “Oh, no. Sorry. No, Emma is not here. Mallory is!”
“Ohhh!” I giggled a little and followed Joey. Mallory was standing in the parking lot near her bus, unloading her bags. She dropped everything when she saw me coming and reached out to hug me.
“Hey, girl!” she said. I told her how happy I was to see her and introduced her to Joey. Joey managed to stop giggling long enough to say, “Hello.”
We helped Mallory carry her things to the field and stopped along the way to let her say hi to my family and Savannah. When we heard the sound guy calling her name from the stage that her crew had already set up, we showed her where to go for her sound check.
As soon as she could no longer see us, my sisters and friends started jumping and screaming. I couldn’t believe she was here and our event was actually going to happen!
“Lena!”
I heard someone calling my name but I could not remember where I recognized the voice from. I turned to see who it was and screamed louder than before, “KAY B!”
I jumped into her arms and wrapped myself around her. I had not seen Kay B since the movie premiere. Savannah immediately remembered her and ran over to say hi too.
“How did you know about today?” I asked.
Kay B pointed her finger in my mother’s direction and waved. “So, how can I help? I am absolutely all yours. Tell me what needs to be done, kiddos, and I’ll get busy!” And she immediately jumped right in with helping to set up the tables and chairs in the tents. She also made a few jokes about needing to get us to our places on time like she did while we had been filming.
From the middle of the field I turned in a full circle and looked around. I could hear Mallory practicing, I could see Kay B working alongside my family, my teachers, and my friends. Everyone was wearing their colored shirts and I knew today was going to be one of the best days ever! Nothing—not my fears or even a severe storm could ruin this day and this event!
Crowds and crowds of people were lining up along the side of the field that had been roped off as the entrance to The Big Give. Everyone was in a great mood. There were shouts of hello to friends and cheers when others heard Mallory sound-checking. Volunteers in the tent selling and distributing T-shirts were kept busy from the minute they started letting people onto the field. And the food booths selling hotdogs and drinks had lines out the tent entrance.
“One hour until show time!” Mr. Fraser’s loud voice boomed from the stage.
I let out one loud “EECKKKKKK!!” and went to find Savannah and Joey.
Chapter 18
I hustled across the field to the main tent and headed for the T-shirt table, and I could not believe my eyes.
Emma was sitting behind the table in a wheelchair with her leg pointed straight out on a support.
“Hey,” she said casually, trying not to laugh.
“EMMA!” I cried.
“Now you didn’t think I could miss The Big Give, did you?” Her smile was so bright—she was glowing.
Tears started to stream down my cheeks. I was so happy to see her. Ashton and Amber ran off to tell Joey and Savannah the news. They all came running to the table to greet Emma too.
After we finished celebrating that Emma was back, Joey blurted out, “Uh-oh! Who is going to host the show?”
My heart started to beat really fast, and my head was spinning. We were so worried about Emma and busy cleaning and setting up that we completely forgot Emma was our host. I looked at her in her chair
and knew there was no way she could still do it up on stage.
I knew that it would be hard for me to host the event, sign autographs, and share my story while trying to make sure that everything was running smoothly with the whole program.
“What are we going to do?” I cried out.
Ms. Blount overheard us and joined our circle. “Don’t panic. Savannah can do it.”
“Okay, okay, let’s not get too excited about that idea. I can’t do it, but Joey can,” Savannah said.
Joey gasped. “I could but then who is going to stay out in the crowds and help people?”
Savannah looked sick. I knew the thought of her hanging out with people in the crowd was just as scary for her as being on stage.
I walked over to her, grabbed her hands, and looked her in the face. Savannah had always been the one to encourage me to step outside of my comfort zone and now it was my turn to return the favor.
“Savannah, remember how scared I was about going to LA to film the movie?”
She nodded.
“. . . and about hosting the premiere and about going on tour and signing autographs and talking to strangers . . . ?” Savannah continued to nod her head slowly and stare at me.
“You can do this! God wants you to step out of your comfort zone so that others will see Him shine in you!”
Savannah grabbed her stomach and hunched over a little. We all stood there, anticipating her response.
“Twenty minutes until the show must start, girls!” Mr. Fraser whisked by and warned us.
“Okay. Okay. I can do it. I think. Okay, yes, yes, I can. Oh, no . . . okay yes. Just pray. I got it.”
“Yes, you do!” Joey cheered and everyone around us joined in.
I walked Savannah over to the stage and went over every detail of the program with her. I asked Mallory to pray for her like she always did for me before a show when we were on tour. After we prayed, Savannah and I stood holding hands as the crowd began to settle down in front of the stage. There were so many people! Seeing so many different colored shirts made me happy!
I wasn’t sure where all the time had gone but the sun was starting to set and I knew we were just seconds away from making The Big Give become a reality.
Mr. Fraser came over and looked at Savannah. “They are ready for you!”
Savannah squeezed my hand tighter. I reached down with my other hand and peeled her fingers away from mine. “GO, GO, GO!” I cheered and nudged her onto the stage.
I was excited to watch Savannah be so courageous and fun. She held the microphone tightly as she introduced herself and welcomed everyone to the concert.
“This has been a real adventure for us. What started out as a way to help some children get needed medical treatment at a new hospital has turned into this huge event! We even get to hear Mallory Winston sing live, people!”
Then she called me out to the stage to share my story and introduce Mallory. “But before we hear Mallory, let’s meet my best friend and the girl who started this whole benefit—Lena Daniels!”
I ran out and hugged her before I started talking. I was so proud of Savannah that I did not even think about being nervous for myself.
While I was talking, pictures of Caroline and the other kids were playing on a huge screen behind me. I turned slightly and saw some of them and started to cry. “As soon as I read the card that Mallory sent me, I just knew I had to do something to help Caroline and her friends at the hospital, and here we are today. It’s The Big Give! I am so thankful that you have all joined in the fun and are helping these great kids to get better!” When I was done, I asked everyone to give their loudest scream to welcome Mallory to the stage.
Everyone was screaming and her music started playing! She ran out on stage full of energy and waving hello to the crowd. I gave her a high-five and turned to leave the stage but I felt her grab my arm.
“Hold on there, Lena Daniels! We have a surprise for you, your sisters, and Savannah, Joey, and Emma.”
I stopped in my tracks and turned back toward the crowd very slowly.
We waited while Joey and Savannah walked up on stage with Emma holding herself up on each of their shoulders. Amber, Ansley, and Ashton scrambled to the front of the stage so that we could see them.
Mallory spoke into her microphone, “Lena, I love seeing how God is using you and how you have come up with a way to let your light shine for so many others to see. The first time you were up on a stage you were so nervous and now, here you are, pulling everyone else onto the stage with you! I just want to take a moment to celebrate you and your awesome friends for putting this event together! I am so grateful that God made each of you! And each of YOU!” Mallory pointed out to the audience. So many of the volunteers from the morning storm cleanup had stayed for the concert too. “I hear the field was a mess from the storm and it looks amazing out there! Thanks to you!!”
There were shouts, screams, and applause. It was louder than the thunder from last night’s storms!
“Now, Lena, one more thing . . . there are some people that want to thank you.”
From the corner of my eye I could see a small group walking toward me, across the stage. As they got closer I recognized Caroline and two other kids.
I dropped to my knees and started crying. I could not believe my eyes. Mallory reached down and pulled me back up to my feet.
Caroline was walking slowly and I couldn’t wait to hug her. I tried not to squeeze her too hard but I was so emotional I could not help myself.
Mallory gave us a few moments to cry and smile before she said, “Okay, there’s one more thing before we get this show really started! Watch this.”
“Lena Daniels,” Mr. Fenway’s face appeared on the screen behind me. I could not believe it! “Hi, there,” he said once I was facing him. “And hello to everyone!”
“We are so sorry we could not be right there with you today but when Mallory told us about what you were doing for these sweet families, we knew we wanted to help too. So, Caroline, we have sent a donation for you and your friends.”
Kay B walked out on stage holding a white envelope and handed it to me.
“This is our gift to your families.”
Caroline smiled and waved a little at the screen and Mr. Fenway.
“Lena, and all of you girls, keep shining! The whole world needs to see your light. And we will be watching!”
The crowd started cheering again, and Mallory was clapping and jumping.
She spun around to the crowd and shouted, “Are y’all ready to celebrate? Who is ready to hear some music?!”
I couldn’t help but join in with the crowd and shout, “YEAH!”
We all walked off stage and found our way back to the audience and spots near our families in the front, to join in enjoying all our hard work.
After the concert, Mallory and I sat behind a table signing T-shirts, arms, posters, and anything else that people wanted. I loved every minute of it but when the crowds finally started to leave I was sort of glad. I was exhausted.
We stayed around for a long while after the music was over and the crowds had all gone home. We all had to pitch in and help clean up and pack things away. Eventually, Dad came to find me to let me know that we were just about ready to go.
Mr. Fraser, Ms. Blount, and Mr. Shipply were walking with him and Mom.
“You ladies ready to go?” he asked.
Savannah and Joey were sprawled across a grassy patch in the middle of the field. Emma was resting in her wheelchair with her leg up, and I was sitting with my legs crossed, Amber on my lap. Ansley and Ashton were each sitting at my side, dozing off in the night air.
“Well, before you go, I wanted to let you know that this is what we call a sold-out show. Between the ticket sales, the extra T-shirts we sold, the food and drinks we sold, and additional monetary donations, you ladies raised about $105,000 dollars!”
“WOAH!!!” Joey exclaimed.
“That’s amazing!” I said before remembering
the white envelope Kay B had handed us earlier in the evening. I reached to my side and pulled it from my clipboard. I waved it in the air before opening it.
“From the Fenway’s, remember?” I said.
I gently ripped the envelope open and it fell to the ground. I held up the check and jumped straight to my feet. “$50,000!” I screamed.
“What?” Mom and Dad shouted in shock. They reached for it and were just as amazed as I was. None of us could believe our eyes.
“That makes the total raised $155,000! I can’t believe it! That’s $5,000 more than our goal!”
“These families are going to be able to stay! All of them!” Mom raised both of her hands in the air and started thanking God.
I looked around at everyone celebrating and crying. It felt like a dream.
The great thing is, I wasn’t dreaming. This was all happening and this was my real life.
“You girls did it!” Ms. Blount looked at us and smiled. Before I could reply, Joey did.
“Nope! God did it!”
Mom started crying harder. I hugged each of my friend’s necks and my sisters wrapped themselves around our legs.
I pulled my head back from the circle and looked up at the sky. There were just a few stars twinkling but they were all I could see. I leaned forward again and heard my friends sniffling. I whispered loud enough for us all to hear, “Thank you, God.”
Chapter 1
“Mom, don’t forget to let Austin out today,” I yelled back through the two glass kitchen doors. Austin was still standing there, watching as Amber and I were the first to head out for the day.
I kept thinking about him and how badly I wished he could come to school with me. I once asked my science teacher, Mr. Lipscomb, if we could use him as a class pet but the idea was quickly rejected when he realized Austin doesn’t like to sit still, partially follows rules, and sometimes nibbles on chairs. But how awesome would school be if he could be there? Totally awesome.
Oh, Austin is my wrinkle-faced, floppy eared, four-legged friend. Technically he’s a blue-nosed bully puppy but he’s much more human than any dog I have ever met.