HOTH Season 1, Part 9

(Season 1 is almost over! Can you believe it?!)

Hang on to Hope
Season 1, Part 9

(Told in POV of Issa)

“It is day one of Operation FCA, aka, raising money for it on our own, secretly, without the help of parents,” I announced as we walked to our destination.

What could go wrong?

***THREE HOURS LATER***

“We’ve been standing here for hours,” I panted to Lexi, who was standing next to me. We were both holding up signs, saying, “SUPPORT THE FCA” and we had a little donations cup in between us.

Unfortunately, there had been no donations in it.

Yet.

The sun was just blazing hot. Why I chose to wear a hoodie, tights, and boots, I have no idea. But I was hating life so miserably, I wanted to pass out.

I faked a little pass-out scene, making Lexi giggle.

All of the sudden, a gust of uncomfortably warm wind carried away our signs!

Screaming, we charged after them.

We threw ourselves on top of our flying papers (nearly colliding into one another), exhausted, and thankfully snatched them.

All of the sudden, I caught sight of a passerby.

YES!!! On this terribly lonely road we mistakably chose to advertise for donations, there was ONE passerby!

I waved my sign like crazy, screaming, “SUPPORT THE FCA!!! SUPPORT THE FCA!!!”

The lady glanced at me weirdly, then continued walking.

I was sort of glad she didn’t come near…she looked a little unfriendly…

Lexi and I collapsed against a tree, defeated.

“Issa, you’re burning up!” Lexi gasped, looking at my now red face, sunburnt nose, and sweaty hair. “Let’s go home.”

Day one of Operation FCA: Mission failed.

But there are still plenty of days left in our future.

Day two of Operation FCA.

We cannot possibly fail this time.

If people won’t come to us? We’ll go to them. We plan to go door-to-door, delivering fliers about supporting the FCA.

“Ready to work?” I ask Lexi.

“Ready to fly,” she answers.

(yes…we stole that from the McKenna movie…)

We start off on our skates, each with a bagful of fliers.

We stop dead short when we hear thunder.

“WHAT?!!” I cry. “This can’t be happening!”

It starts to gently sprinkle, and there is proof on the bushes next to us.

“A little rain won’t stop us,” Lexi confidently tells me. “We are determined. Only if there is lightning will we turn back.”

“Let’s do this.”

Lexi pauses to look at a raindrop on her arm, but only for a short while.

We are in full swing as we start off on our roller skates again.

I go faster than Lexi, who struggles to keep up. “Wait up!” She cries. I sigh, and while waiting for her to catch up, I read one of the fliers we are going to pass out.

It says,

“Help support the FCA. Give today. E-mail FCAgirls at me dot com to discuss how to donate.”

A few more raindrops splatter on me as I read the flier.

I hear a scream behind me, and I turn my head.

“Woah….woah….Sorry, I just lost my balance there for a sec,” Lexi nervously tells me after finally catching up.

“C’mon then! Let’s go!” I start off on my skates dangerously fast. I’m eager to deliver at least a couple fliers before it starts down-pouring. “Wait up,” Lexi mumbles, trying to catch up again.

In all her hurrying to keep up with me, she didn’t exactly see the crack in the sidewalk.

I hear a scream behind me again.

*whoosh*

I hear a thump.

I hear a cry of help; “Issa!”

I look back, annoyed, and then my annoyed look turns into a shocked one.

I skate over to her.

“Lexi! Lexi! Are you alright?” I exclaim.

“My ankle,” is all Lexi can say, and she is on the verge of tears.

I dart back into the house quickly, screaming, “Amy! Amy!”

My roller skates can’t take me fast enough as I fly into the house, searching for Amy.

When they leave for the doctor, I beg to go with them, but Amy is in too much of a rush and refuses.

I stay home, worried.

I am kicking myself for not waiting for her. I shouldn’t have pushed her. I was unkind, and that’s being a terrible friend.

To be continued