Page 58 of Saving Veronica
“I am.”
“So, can you tell the class the outcome?”
“Everything is healed and I have a weight restriction, with physical therapy which starts this afternoon I should be completely back to normal in no time.”
“Very good,” he said, and if she didn’t know better he looked disappointed that she wasn’t down front any longer.
Before he could continue with the day’s lesson, she drew a deep breath and asked, “Professor Graham?”
“Yes?”
“I know this isn’t really the time or place, but could I ask something of you?”
“Sure.” He frowned.
Ronnie took several pieces of paper from a folder and walked them down to him. “Remember the first day of class and I told my story? Dr. Grady Applewood gave several of his supplies from his clinic to the man who rescued me. The doctors and I both agree if it wasn’t for them, I might not be here today. Grady refused any payment for his good deeds. The person that saved me runs a foundation, and is having a fundraiser for Dr. Applewood. I’d like to hand out these flyers, and have you maybe put them in the faculty lounge, or something.” She handed them to him, and as soon as he took them, she went back to her seat.
“A costume party? For humans and their pets?” he asked, after reading it. “How unique, and all proceeds goes to Dr. Applewood’s clinic?”
“Yes.”
“And this is open to the public?”
“Yes. It’s two weeks from last Saturday.”
“Do you have more copies of these?” He held up the flyers and when she nodded, he handed the copies he held to his TA, Steve. “Then go ahead and pass them out. This might be something my wife would like to go to.” He waited five minutes, then when everyone had a flyer, he started the day’s lecture. Ronnie did this with the rest of her classes that day, then the next day also. She felt good that she’d passed out five hundred flyers. She had also put them up all over campus.
Starting that night after she returned from school, worked with the horses, doing her homework and eating, she worked on her costume. She completed it three days before the event, and was pleased with her handiwork.
*****
“Finn,” Marc said, from beside the other man.
“Hmm?”
“Breathe. We got this,” he said. “This isn’t our first rodeo.”
“Maybe not for you, but it is for me,” Finn stated, as they walked around the hall they’d rented for the costume party. Finn dressed in his fatigues from the service, and Major wore his own vest. Marc dressed as a cowboy, and because he didn’t have a pet, he had one of those stick horses a child used to gallop around on through his belt. They stepped back as Lorna came in, propped the door open, and the caterers started arriving to set up. Right behind them came the bartender. They had thought of everything, and he looked up as Gerald and Maggie arrived to help with last minute details, along with Will and Eric. Shortly thereafter, Grady arrived. They all helped bring in all the gift baskets from people who’d donated items to raffle off.
“Wow, I didn’t expect this many,” Finn said, as he carried in four baskets, and saw there were actually two tables loaded with baskets, with more to bring in. He frowned over at Marc and Lorna. “Where did all these donations come from?”
“Remember our first meeting with Grady? The planning stages?”
“Yeah.”
“He gave us the list of his patients’ human owners, and also in that file there was a list of his vendors. We contacted them and sent out flyers. Most of this came from the humans that couldn’t make it and the vendors. Word of mouth got out and people called and asked if they could donate items, money, or services. I handled the baskets, and Marc handled the money.”
“So, we sent out a lot of flyers?”
“I know Ronnie passed out at least five hundred at school,” Maggie said, from behind him.
“And I’ve passed them out at the cattlemen’s association meetings I go to,” Gerald said.
“And I had Maggie contact some of our major donators,” Will said, as he came in with four more baskets.
“That’s it,” Eric said, as he came in behind his son with the last of the baskets. They all organized them and set them up for a Chinese auction.
“Lorna,” Gerald frowned at the woman. “I have to ask, why a fisherman?” he asked, as he indicated her costume.
