would like to thank you all so very much for taking the time to not only dress up but join us tonight. I honestly feel as though my father is having a good laugh right now. Mr. Stuart, you especially,” I said, causing everyone to chuckle, and then applaud at the man covered in blue paint.
His genie costume was interesting. He was far too short and round for it. He nodded to me, giving me a thumbs-up.
“As many of you know, the Children’s Halloween fundraiser was my father’s excuse to make you all get dressed up in costumes. Some of you may have heard this story, but what spearheaded this event was me. While my mother was in the hospital, praying to God I’d just come out already, she and my father met a bunch of children who were unable to go out like other kids to trick or treat. So, my mother paid to have the hospital decorated as a haunted house and allowed the kids to trick or treat there. It’s been twenty-seven years since then, and some of the many treats that have been given by all you wonderful people are the cost of hospital bills across the country and further aid to these children. For that, I thank you all.”
Once again, they clapped.
I waited for a moment before speaking again. “And to my mother, Wilhelmina Wyntor-Smith, who is here with us tonight, I want to say thank you for being such an amazing mother. And thank you for starting this. It’s astounding to see how one act of kindness can grow beyond measure. You are truly and always ahead of your time,” I said, applauding her, which caused the rest of them to do the same.
It took a second for the crowd to figure out where she was, but when they did, and she was at the center of the spotlight, she gave them her best pageant wave and smile.
I turned and handed the microphone over, not to the host but Yvonne. I could see the annoyance in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything as she took the microphone from me. I had words for her, but I held myself back. I had said what I wanted to say and tried to leave.
“Yes, it is always good to remember where we came from and how much we should give, which is why Augusta and I, in honor of Marvin and the children, began the donations with a check for five hundred thousand dollars,” Yvonne stated.
Everyone gasped and whispered among themselves before cheering at her big, fat heart.
I thought she’d be satisfied with stealing the attention back, but she apparently swore some blood oath to make my mom miserable. “Wilhelmina, I heard you also wished to donate?”
You evil old— I bit my tongue. We didn’t have the money to donate right now, and she knew that. However, no one else did, so they looked at my mother, who just stood there.
“Of course, she does,” I said quickly, speaking into the microphone. “We planned to match whatever you donated. We are so glad you are so generous.”
“Really? Then, in that case, we will donate one million.” She beamed at me, and my knees almost buckled.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have just started, and we are already at two million dollars. We here at Children’s Hospital of America thank you so much,” the host announced to everyone before I could slow everything down.
Everyone else began their donations, and I hurried away from the stage and Yvonne before I ended up giving away my whole inheritance. Oh, my God, what was I going to do? I didn’t have that much money yet! Arriving at my mom’s table, I downed the water in front of her and threw myself onto the seat beside her.
“You let her bait you,” my mother whispered beside me.
“I know!” I put my hands on my face. “But she was being—ugh. She was attacking you.”
She just snickered and waved it off. “She’s always doing that. I’ve gotten used to it.”
“Who are you? And where is my mother?” Because this couldn’t be her. My mother normally fought back. “Why did you let her stick you back here?”
“I needed to talk to Mr. Greensboro, so it was fine for now,” she whispered to me, and I finally looked over to the man who sat beside her.
“Please tell me you found a loophole,” I asked him.
He frowned, shaking his head. “Sadly, there isn’t one in this.”
I groaned, wanting to hide