Free Double Date by Melody Carlson

something like the DG? Bryn’s argument was that Amanda was temporarily between boyfriends and that her girlfriends, Tristin and Sienna, had no boyfriends as well as no dates lined up for the Christmas ball. “They need us,” Bryn had told them at the end of lunch today.
    Despite the fact she’d be forced into close contact with Jason the Jerk, Devon was glad to be part of the Christmas ball committee. Still she felt apprehensive as she walked into the meeting room after school on Friday. To her relief, Jason wasn’t even there. “Bryn said he’s at basketball practice,” Emma whispered to Devon as she took a chair next to her. “Apparently it’s their first game next week and the coach laid down the law.”
    â€œGood.” Devon let out a relieved sigh as Bryn began calling the meeting to order and announcing that Amanda, who was seated beside her, was going to be the co-chair for the dance.
    â€œThank you all for coming,” Bryn said with a beaming smile. “This is going to be the best Christmas ball ever, and I’m about to tell you why.” She pointed to the door that was still open. “First I want someone to close that door, and I am swearing everyone in this room to secrecy.”
    Naturally this got their attention, and soon Bryn was describing her plans for a very different sort of event. “As some of you may know, interest in the Christmas ball has been in a steady decline these past few years. I have several theories for why this might be—including some reluctant guys when it comes to dating in general. I think we’ve come up with a plan to change all that.” Now she paused to introduce Abby to the group. “I have to give Abby some credit for helping me with this new idea. And I’ve asked her to chair the second committee.”
    â€œSecond committee?” Amanda asked.
    â€œYes. Let me explain. The Christmas ball is going to be more than just a dance. For starters, it’s going to be free.”
    â€œHow can it be free?” Amanda demanded.
    â€œBecause we’re going to solicit financial support from local businesses—”
    â€œWhy should local businesses donate funds for a dance?” Amanda asked.
    Bryn gave her a patient smile. “If you’ll just let us explain, I think you’ll see how it will work.” She pointed at Abby. “Why don’t you tell them your idea?”
    Abby stood and faced the group. “A lot of children in our city are severely impoverished. Their Christmases are usually just as bleak as the rest of their lives. Many of them go to bed hungry at night. Many don’t have proper winter clothes, and most of them don’t expect to get anything from Santa.”
    â€œThat’s really sad,” Amanda admitted, “but what does it have to do with the dance?”
    â€œRemember how I mentioned we’re getting local businesses to donate funds for the dance?” Bryn asked her. “The reason they will be willing to do that is because of the number of impoverished children and families we will be reaching out to. Instead of having students buy tickets to go to the Christmasball, they will have to earn their way by helping an impoverished child and their family during December.”
    â€œThat’s a sweet idea,” Amanda said, “but if the guys are already not interested in going to the Christmas ball and now they have to earn their way by helping someone else—as lovely as that all sounds—why would they?”
    â€œBecause we are going to offer a big incentive,” Bryn said with a twinkle in her eye. “The way that couples get into the dance is by bringing a sleigh.”
    â€œA sleigh?” Amanda frowned.
    â€œActually it will be a cardboard box that’s decorated like a sleigh. It will be filled with whatever the couples have managed to gather to give to this child and the family for Christmas. All the