Beauty and the Grinch

The idea

After a long day of work, Cleo and Sophie decided to visit Sister Mary at the Home of Love Orphanage. As they walked through the familiar halls, they were greeted by the warm smile of Sister Mary.

"I'm so glad you girls came to visit," Sister Mary said, as she ushered them into her office. "We've been struggling lately. The orphanage is in dire need of funds, and I'm not sure how much longer we can keep going."

Cleo and Sophie exchanged concerned glances. They had no idea things were that bad.

"We want to help, Sister Mary," Cleo said, determination in her voice. "What can we do?"

Sister Mary smiled weakly. "Just being here and listening means a lot to me. But if you really want to help, we could use some extra hands around here. We could also use some ideas on how to raise funds."

Cleo and Sophie nodded eagerly, and Sister Mary took them on a tour of the orphanage. As they walked, they reminisced about old times. They visited the playground where they used to play tag, the kitchen where they used to help with cooking, and the chapel where they used to attend mass.

At each place, they shared fond memories of their time at the orphanage. Cleo remembered the Christmas celebrations they used to have, and how she would always look forward to attending the Jenson's annual Christmas ball.

"I remember how kind Mrs. Jenson was to me," Cleo said, a faraway look in her eyes. "She would always make sure I had a wonderful time at the ball."

Sophie nodded. "I remember how beautiful the decorations were, how big the tree was bigger than the one they had at the orphanage . And the food! Oh my goodness, the food was always amazing." ''My favorite part of the night, the food'' Sophie yelled and they laughed

As they continued their tour, Cleo had an idea. "Sister Mary, I think I know what we can do to help. What if we go to the Jenson's and ask them if the orphanage could perform at the ball just like we would when we were younger.''

Sister Mary's eyes widened in surprise. "Cleo, that's a wonderful idea! But are you sure you're ready for that? Rowan Jenson can be a difficult person to deal with." As she had already asked for the fund to be reinstated.

Cleo nodded determinedly. "I'm willing to try, Sister Mary. For the sake of the orphanage and the children who live here, besides it shouldn't be that difficult Rowan liked our shows when he was younger I'm sure he's just as kind and welcoming as he was''

Sister Mary smiled, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I appreciate your willingness to help, Cleo. But I have to tell you, the situation is more dire than I initially let on. If we don't receive a significant amount of funding by the end of the year, we'll have to close the orphanage."

Cleo's eyes widened in shock. "What will happen to the children?"

Sister Mary shook her head. "I don't know. We have ten children here right now, and I have no idea where they'll go if we have to close. That's why I'm so grateful for your willingness to help, Cleo. You and Sophie are the only ones who can help us now.''

Sophie sat in the dimly lit bedroom, scrolling through her phone as she researched Rowan Jenson. She wanted to get a sense of the man they would be approaching for help.

As she scrolled through articles and social media, Sophie noticed a change in Rowan's demeanor over the years. He used to be known for his charming smile and charismatic personality, but recent photos showed him looking more uptight and mysterious.

Sophie's eyes narrowed as she read through an article about Rowan's Christmas balls, which used to be the highlight of the town's social calendar. However, the article mentioned that the balls had become dull and uneventful since Rowan's parents passed away.

According to the article, Rowan had become reclusive, rarely attending social events or entertaining guests at his estate. The once-vibrant Christmas balls were now a shadow of their former selves, with guests describing them as "stuffy" and "boring."

Sophie's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she wondered what had caused the change in Rowan. She couldn't help but feel that there was more to the story than met the eye.

Just then, Cleo walked into the bedroom, a determined look on her face. "Sophie, I've been thinking. We need to come up with a solid plan to approach Rowan Jenson. We can't just show up at his doorstep and expect him to hand over the funds."

Sophie nodded in agreement, her mind still racing with thoughts of Rowan's mysterious behavior. "I've been researching Rowan, and I think I've found a way to approach him. But we'll need to be careful. He's not the same man he used to be."

''I just hope everything goes well'' Cleo said as she hugged Sophie.