Page 67 of Just Like That

‘That looks amazing,’ I call across to them while retrieving my handbag and locking my car.

‘Doesn’t it just?’ Gwen takes a few steps back to admire the huge billboard that Nick and Hakeem are still nailing to the wooden structure behind it. ‘We also have a few smaller ones for the road to catch people’s attention as they pass.’

‘Perfect. Well, I’ll leave you to it and get on with the preparations inside.’

Lauren, Serge and Monika arrive not long after me, followed by the other project team members who steadily stream into the park between 7:30 and 8 a.m. Once everyone’s arrived and we’ve had our final meeting, the place becomes a hive of activity. We’re buzzing from a mix of determination and apprehension, and it feels like the park’s residents are picking up on this. The honking and hooting, screeching and chirruping, particularly from the primates and the birds, seems to be several decibels louder than usual.

‘Do you think they know what’s going on?’ I ask Nick, while wishing I hadn’t, because I sound completely ridiculous. But he doesn’t make me feel stupid at all.

‘Animals are very perceptive,’ he replies from under the stall he’s trying to fix the leg of so it doesn’t collapse. ‘Obviously they can’t understand the circumstances or the complexities, but they can pick up on a change in atmosphere and behaviours. Early mornings are normally quiet here, so they will likely sense that something is different.’

‘That’s so cool. By the way, I’ve decided I’m going to be a gold sponsor for Rana. I know it sounds a bit weird, but I feel like she’s a family member or something and I want to make sure she’s well taken care of.’

‘It’s not weird at all,’ Nick grins up at me adoringly. ‘If she were able to understand what you’re doing, I’m sure she’d be one very happy sun bear.’

We continue to get the place set up, then at ten a.m. on the dot, we (metaphorically) open the gates to our big event and wait in the courtyard with bated breath for the arrival of our first customers. It’s a painful few minutes, which turns into a painful hour as we watch little more than a handful of people trickle into the park. By 11:15 a.m., Gwen is pacing back and forth, hands on her head, muttering to herself about all the things she’ll need to do to make sure the park’s closure is done right. Casting a glance at Nick and Lauren, I expect to see some fighting spirit they can use to bring Gwen out of this state, but they look as defeated as she is. Unable to bear it anymore, I move across and gently take her by the arm.

‘How about we go work on your speech for later?’ I suggest.

‘Why?’ She looks at me with wide, traumatised eyes. ‘There’s no one here. Our plan has failed. I’m better off spending the time working out the closure plan.’

‘Not yet. We still have more than five hours until this thing is over – and two hours till your speech. You can still make a difference with it, regardless of how many people are here.’

What I don’t want to say out loud is that we definitely don’t want a repeat of her monologue a la Mel Gibson from the team brainstorming session some weeks back. Today we really need her to kill it, so by taking her for some coaching, I can hopefully see off that problem. It will also save her the agony of the fundraiser equivalent of watching paint dry.

After quite a bit of coaxing, she grudgingly gives in and I escort her into the park office where we run through her speech, and I give her some pointers. These include standing on a fixed spot to avoid giving our visitors motion sickness, and keeping her plea both focused and impassioned (and unreminiscent ofBraveheart). It takes several attempts to even begin to make some progress, but it’s progress nonetheless. Just as I’ve gotten her to the stage of swaying like a sunflower in the wind rather than prowling back and forth in the manner of her beloved big cats, Lauren bursts into the office out of breath, looking completely wired.

‘Is something wrong?’ I jump to my feet, alarmed.

‘No.The opposite. Something’s…right,’ she declares, still trying to get her puff back.

Gwen and I share a confused look.

‘Come and see.’ Lauren grabs her mum’s hand and hauls her back out of the office with me in hot pursuit.

Emerging into the courtyard, we gasp with astonishment as we’re faced with a solid stream of people pouring into the park. Scores and scores of them, chatting and laughing excitedly. Families, groups of younger people, retirees.

‘They came,’ I say in almost a whisper. ‘Thank goodness they came.’

‘Jess, this is a triumph.’ Gwen slings an arm around my shoulders. ‘I should never have doubted you. I mean I didn’t really doubt you, I perhaps doubted that the community spirit was there, or the understanding of the importance of conservation and education. It’s actually possibly more—’

‘Mum, please stop.’ Lauren clamps a hand across her mother’s mouth to silence her.

‘Listen to your daughter.’ I chuckle, as Gwen attempts to pry Lauren’s hand away. ‘She’s trying to tell you exactly the same as I was when I was coaching you on your speech. She’s just doing it in a less eloquent way. Fewer words make a bigger impact.’ I signal to Lauren to let go of Gwen and she does.

‘All right.’ Gwen sniffs, a little put out at having been manhandled like that, but then she refocuses on the flow of supporters coming into the park, and she can’t help but beam at us. ‘I won’t let you down.’

‘Good.’ I put my arm around her shoulders and give her a squeeze. ‘Because we’re not out of the woods with this yet. We need them to spend generously while they’re here. Come on, let’s get across to the picnic area to help out.’

An hour and a half later, I’m bursting with pride watching Gwen deliver a powerful and emotive speech in front of hundreds of people, who from the looks of it, are having a great day out. She only starts pacing once and thankfully catches herself, then sort of moonwalks back to her spot, making me wince on her behalf. But aside from a few odd looks and giggles from some of the children, she pulls it off without causing too much of a distraction. She takes a couple of slight detours with her narrative but they’re actually quite amusing and seem to keep her audience entertained.

As she’s wrapping things up, Nick and Lauren appear at my side.

‘Have you seen the camera crew?’ Lauren points to the other side of the stage I wangled free hire of from a supplier I have a long-term relationship with.

‘Oh wow. Are they from TV? It would be great to get some coverage on the local news.’

‘It’s an online news outlet. I’ve looked them up. They have half a million followers.’

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