Mrs. Kent looked around the quiet room, gauging the effect of her announcement. It was not that a big of a bombshell actually, but Mrs Kent could not help but feel rather pleased.

"Parents, please believe what i just said. Our school team has been chosen as representatives to compete in the state level competition. As principal, I must say I am very impressed with their achievements as they are my students, and your children.

"And so we need the money."

Suddenly, everyone in the room came back into life. Every pair of eyes was looking at her intensely, some showing their lack of sympathy while some show agonizing misery. The awkward moment lasted more than Mrs. Kent anticipated, and the atmosphere in the room caused her to have the sudden thought of just running away from the room and hide herself. But she reminded herself again and again that she is the principal and leader of the school, and she has her pride to defend, and thus she sat up straight in her chair.

"Everyone please, I know how things are with the dilemmas in everyone's personal life. But always remember we are all involved in this together. No matter how we must find a way to raise the money so they can go compete. With that in mind, the teachers have come out with a brilliant idea. We can try to collect donations from the parents in the school and for the twenty five dollars they donate they will be given a backpack which has the team logo and slogan printed on it. This is a great chance for the school and the parents from the community to finally work on something together, and we owe it to ourselves to prove others from nearby towns wrong, that we actually can achieve something together here. And, don't you all think the kids should have this chance to prove themselves too?"

"So, let us vote to decide, everyone."

Still thinking about the houses that she has to clean by tomorrow; Sarah tries to pay more attention to the matter at hand. Thinking about the amount of money gave her he shudders. With the huge amount of people waiting for her to feed them, she knew that she can never afford to donate such a large sum of money. Thinking of other ways to help, she decided that the best idea is to ask some of her employers if they could help by buying the bag for their children. Even though she knew that it was the only way, she couldn't help but wince at the thought of facing the remarks of her employers. Most of them would just show unfriendliness at her request, while some would show pity at her request. In the end, she decided she was going to do it for Billy so she signed her name in agreement.

A few seats down her row, a man can be seen sighing loudly, as if he has something heavy on his mind. Tobias was showing remorse due to the fact that he cannot congratulate his son, William, as soon as he got the news. The law forbids him to see him until next Monday, when he is allowed to spend time with him. At first he thought he could just call, but then he just laughed it off when he remembered about how things are with Jennifer. She is still reluctant to see him, or even answer his countless phone calls. Tobias had always wanted to show that he cared even after what had happened between them, all the fighting and hitting that he did to her. He always said to himself it was all caused by the excessive drinking, but in the end he still realized that it was all caused by him. He opened his wallet, and stared at the last fifty dollar bill inside, thinking about how desirable it is to spend it on gin before he got his next pay next Monday. He blocked his thought of alcohol out feeling bitter about himself, and he forced himself to hand over the money before he even regretted his decision. He realizes how much William would love the backpack with the team's logo on it and he wants to make up for his mistakes he has done.

"What is all this soccer crap? The children are already busy as it is with their school work and they have to help in the shop also, where would they find the time for all of this? Fundraising backpacks? Our children have to resort to being beggars now is it?" Furiously, he stood up and headed straight for the door, wanting to get out from the room as soon as possible, then two other parents left with him.

"Everyone, please calm down." Mrs. Kent wanted to shout out loud, but decided not to. In her mind, she was thinking the many reasons why she thinks this meeting was a bad idea. Compared to this, even the most rowdy of students seem like angels. As she deeply inhales, she thinks silently in her mind maybe this was the reason the students were so boisterous, boisterous parents "teaching" them! Trying to keep her temper from flaring, she inhales again and continues to talk to her audience.

"Everyone, please listen to what i say. We will do everything we can to ensure that the students participate in any way they can in the project, but they can only succeed with both the teachers and parents help. For this project, i only found those who live in our own neighborhood, the people you know, your friends and your neighbors, and all of us should be supportive of what we are about to do."

At the back, Mira felt another migraine pounding in her head. Why she ever agreed to come to this meeting, she thought to herself, as she worried over the pending projects left in the office. Her Blackberry constantly vibrated incoming emails and she longed for the meeting to end, so that she could reply her messages and return to the office. All-nighters were common, and if Leslie was not down with overstress in the hospital, she would not be here at all. Roy would like it, she knew, sturdy fabric with mesh pockets, with his very own team emblem imprinted on it. He would be so proud! "Roy would be prouder if his parents did not miss every match he played in," Mrs. Kent's voice sounded in her head. As she pledged her twenty-five dollars, she was assaulted by another agonizing stab in the head and scrambled for the aspirin in her handbag.

"Everyone I am grateful for your votes. And I am pleased to announce with the favorable replies the fundraising project is officially starting!"

After shaking the last parent's hands, she sat down on the table and took a deep breath, showing relief that the ordeal is finally over.

About the Author

Jay Pow has over 21 years of experience in the wide range of embroidering products from corporate apparel, school backpacks, computer backpacks, polo shirts, ladies apparel, tote bags.