Chapter 13
Providence’s community center turned out to be bigger than Amy expected. With a large gym, several small meeting rooms, and a large kitchen, Amy wasn’t surprised to learn it was used for all kinds of activities. From weddings, to dances, to Friday night youth activities designed, to give the kids someplace to go and keep them out of trouble. The ping-pong and pool tables had been pushed aside for today’s meeting.
Amy found the number of people—mostly women—in attendance impressive. Many of them introduced themselves to Amy before the meeting started, making her feel welcome.
The meeting was well organized. A woman named Naomi talked about the purpose of the festival and the projects they hoped to raise money for, including new computers for the school and park improvements. They discussed how much money the festival brought in last year.
Amy was good with math, and her calculations of what they expected to bring in fell far short of what they needed to raise.
As the women threw out new fund-raising ideas, Amy wracked her brain for something that could bring in large amounts of money. She recalled Robert telling her how generous Debbie was, and how she liked to make it known how much she contributed. How could they capitalize on Debbie’s generous donations? What did she want most?
An idea struck Amy. Ben probably wouldn’t participate, and Robert and Jake would hate her for it. But if they realized it was for a good cause, maybe they’d be willing to go along.
Biting her bottom lip, she raised her hand.
“Amy, do you have something to add?” Charity asked.
“I might have an idea. I’m new here... and I don’t want to offend anyone. If you don’t think this is a good idea, I understand.”
“What’s your idea?” Hope asked.
“What about a bachelor auction?”
Two women gasped. Three ladies clapped. Then pandemonium broke out as women spoke one right after another.
“What a great idea!”
“How would it work? Would we make the women bid to go on a date planned and paid for by the bachelor?”
“We’ll need the bachelor’s permission to auction them off.”
“We’d have to set ground rules for the date. We wouldn’t want anything inappropriate happening.” This from an older woman.
“We should make the minimum bid a hundred dollars since the guys will have to pay for the date.”
“Ladies,” called out Naomi, the one who seemed to be in charge. “We’re getting ahead of ourselves. Someone needs to make a mo—”
A woman’s hand popped up. “I make a motion that we include a bachelor auction as part of fundraising for the Fall Festival.”
“I second it,” said the women on either side of her.
Then the chaos ensued as women called out names of bachelors, and the woman beside Naomi wrote frantically to keep up. Robert’s and Jake’s names landed at the top of the list, of course, followed by Rudy and his brother, Scott, and another half dozen names Amy didn’t recognize. Women also threw out ideas for ground rules. The date needed to be at least two hours, and had to include a meal, and should take place within two weeks of the Festival.
“I’d pay to go out with Robert or Jake,” said a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties.
“Me too,” an elderly woman echoed. “Sorry Faith, but your sons...” She let out a breathy sigh and fanned herself.
A chuckle rippled through the crowd.
“Can you imagine how much money Debbie would pay to have Robert or Jake take her out?” another woman asked.
“Should we set a rule you can only buy one bachelor? Because she would get them both if she could. You know she would.”
“Do you think Ben would do it, Hope?” asked an older lady.
“I don’t know.” Hope’s voice was quiet, and she shot Amy a hopeful glance.
Why did she look at her like that? Did she think Amy could talk him into participating?
