But Annabelle was already nodding, her mind spinning with possibilities. "We can do that. I know we can."
"That's a lot of money," Lily said gently.
"But it's not impossible," Annabelle insisted. "St. Mary's raised twenty thousand for their roof!"
"That took three years."
"Then we'll just have to be creative," Annabelle said, feeling her optimism surge back with a vengeance. "We can do this. The library is too important to lose without a fight."
The meeting wrapped up shortly after, everyone filing out. Annabelle practically floated back to her classroom, her exhaustion forgotten in the face of this new purpose.
"Ms. Swift?" Nina appeared beside her as she was setting out the morning's phonics worksheets. "About the library…"
"Oh, Nina, isn't it wonderful?" Annabelle beamed. "Well, not wonderful that they're cutting it, obviously, but wonderful that we can do something about it! I've already got so many ideas."
"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about," Nina said, fidgeting with her cardigan sleeve. "I think it's brilliant that you want to help. You're amazing for even thinking of it."
Annabelle felt herself flush with pleasure. "Oh, I'm not…"
"You are," Nina said firmly. "But maybe… maybe you should talk to Ms. Fairchild about it? Like, properly? Make a plan? She didn’t seem like she took you very seriously."
"That's a wonderful idea," Annabelle said, beaming. "You’re right, Lily does need a little time to think things over. I'll pop by her office at lunch. I'm already thinking of so many things we could do. Bake sales, obviously, my lemon biscuits always sell well. And sponsored reads. The children would love that. Maybe even a concert of some sort? A talent show?"
Nina nodded enthusiastically, though she looked slightly overwhelmed by Annabelle's rapid-fire planning. "Those all sound great."
"I should write this down," Annabelle said, already rummaging in her bag for her notebook. "Before I forget. Oh, this is going to be wonderful, Nina. Just wait and see."
The morning passed in a blur of teaching and barely contained excitement. By the time lunch rolled around, Annabelle had mentally planned at least seven different fundraising events and was considering an eighth.
She found Lily in her office, surrounded by paperwork and looking thoroughly fed up with the world.
"Before you start," Lily said without looking up, "I already know you're going to do this regardless of what I say, so I'm saving us both time by agreeing to it now."
Annabelle laughed and dropped into the chair across from Lily's desk. "Am I that predictable?"
"You're that relentlessly optimistic," Lily said, finally looking up with a small smile. "Go on then. Tell me what you're thinking."
Annabelle launched into her ideas with enthusiasm. Bake sales, plural, because one wouldn't be enough. Sponsored reading challenges. A raffle. Maybe a book fair. Possibly a talent show or concert if they could organize it.
Lily listened, occasionally interjecting with practical concerns. Insurance. Volunteers. Timing. Where they'd hold events. How they'd manage publicity without overwhelming themselves.
"It's a lot of work, Annabelle," Lily said eventually. "Fifteen thousand pounds is an enormous amount of money."
"I know," Annabelle said. "But we can do it. I really think we can."
"And you're already teaching full-time," Lily continued. "Taking on a project this size… it might be too much."
"It won't be," Annabelle said with sunny determination. "I'll delegate. I'll ask for help. It'll be fine."
Lily studied her for a long moment, then sighed. "Alright. But I want you to promise me something."
"Anything."
"If this gets to be too much, if you're overwhelmed, you'll tell me. You'll let people help. You won't try to do everything yourself."
"I promise," Annabelle said easily. Though privately she thought Lily was worrying about nothing. She was perfectly capable of managing a fundraiser alongside her teaching. How hard could it be?
"And there’s one condition."
