Fundraiser

Keilie came in the door today in a fit of euphoria.  The Music department, of which she is apart now that she is in choir, is hosting an Otis Spunkmeyer/Jelly Belly fundraiser to earn money for an upcoming trip to Seattle.

During her first period today, she was given samples of many of the different desserts, told all about the fabulous prizes (apart from the trip to Seattle, of course) that she would win with each item purchased from their two catalogues.  When Keilie is working towards a prize, that girl is unstoppable.  When she puts her mind to something, she gets it.  When she sees the machines that you put in coins to win something, she's not looking to see what there is to win- oh no- she's looking on the floor for dropped coins to play the game for free.  Most times, she is the one that finds what has been lost. She's a natural born salesman with an eye for detail.

So, when they started telling her stories of grandeur for those that sold more than 100 items, they just hooked their number one listener.  And boy does this girl believe every word that came from their lips.

~ You'll get whatever you want.
~ One girls that sold more than 100 got an X-Box and five games.
~ One boy got a puppy.
~ When you sell more than 100, there are no set prizes, you just name your prize.

I'm not sure how much was actual words that were spoken as opposed to Keilie's beautiful mind hearing what she wanted to hear.  No matter...it didn't stop her from going on and on about selling more than 100 and naming her prize.  She was incessant in her desire to go selling, frantic even.  She wanted to walk door-to-door all night from the second she was done telling us all about it till the moon was the brightest light in the sky.  Even then, she probably would have asked me to drive her around.  She cannot let it go.

While driving her around to friends that do not have children that attend the same Middle School, she was passing ideas for her prize around.  They continued to get larger and larger, some being the same as those that she had supposedly heard from the people that were telling her "all about it."  Here are a few that she said aloud-- totally believing that she could truly have her heart's desire granted.

~ Puppy
~ Ferrett
~ Bird  "Mira would love to have someone to play with!"  As if Mira was whom she was thinking of.
~ Fish
~ X-box with five games
~ $500
~ Shopping spree
~ Game On truck for party with friends
~ A boat

There were more, but this one broke my heart the most...

"I wonder if I just asked them for a baby tiger, if they would give it to me."

Thanks a lot, fundraiser people.  When you tell a child like Keilie that they could potentially get what they ask for, they're going to set their sights a little high.  Don't get me wrong, I remember thinking I wanted all the prizes on the sheet, I wanted to be the kid that needed to ask their friends to help them carry their prizes home, because they were too large for my own arms, but come on... you actually told her one kid got a puppy?!

In 4 hours, she has now sold 32 itmes.

"Mom, just three more days like this, and I'll hit my goal!  What would you ask for?!"

My answer: That the schools be ordered to ask the parents if their child can participate before you give your whole shpeil!