Free Hidden History by Melody Carlson Page A

to spoil it. “Oh, we just decided to have reading nights.”
    “You mean like a book club?” asked Ethel as Alice held the door open for her. “Something like that.”
    “Well, I think that’s a complete waste of time,” said Ethel. “If you’re going to read a book, just read it. You don’t need to belong to a group. I think it’s just something that Orpha woman invented to sell more books.”
    “You mean Oprah Winfrey?” Alice stifled a giggle.
    “Yes, that woman on TV. I heard she got rich selling all those books for reading groups.”
    “Actually, I don’t think she gets money from selling books. She just promotes good books because she loves to read.”
    “Humph.
That’s what she’d like you to believe.”
    “Hello,” called Lloyd from down the hall. “You girls are running a little late tonight.”
    “Blame it on Jane’s chocolate mousse,” said Ethel as she patted her hair.
    As usual, the board meeting was not terribly exciting, and that was fine with Alice. She did not enjoy those times when members felt the need to light off fireworks. Tonight they discussed the budget and the church’s part in the upcoming, first annual Fall Festival. To the community’s great surprise, the idea of a Fall Festival had originated with mayor Lloyd Tynan during a Chamber meeting only a few weeks earlier.
    “I think it’s important for Grace Chapel to be involved in the Fall Festival,” said Lloyd. “It shows that we’re an interested and active part of our community.”
    Florence Simpson frowned. “Since when did you become a cheerleader for civic celebrations in our town, Lloyd Tynan? Haven’t you always said that we should keep things the same in Acorn Hill?”
    He nodded. “Yes, but sometimes change is good. We all saw how much the town enjoyed our summer celebration and how it brought people together. Nothing wrong with that.”
    “Besides,” said Sylvia Songer, “the purpose of the Fall Festival is to support community services. I’m all for that.”
    “I don’t know,” said Florence with her usual skepticism. “Too much change can make a mess of things, too. I suppose we’ll start having a Winter Festival and then a Spring Festival. Maybe we can have one every month. We can change our name from Acorn Hill to Festival Hill.”
    Lloyd cleared his throat and stood up. “Actually, whether or not Acorn Hill has a festival is not this board’s decision. The town has already decided that it will happen. What we are discussing tonight is whether or not Grace Chapel would care to participate in it.”
    “That’s right,” said Ethel. “And I think that the Fall Festival is important. Besides, all of the proceeds will be going to good causes. Right, Lloyd?”
    “Exactly,” he smiled. “Local businesses and philanthropic organizations will choose a charity to receive the profits from their various booths or activities. It’ll be good for Acorn Hill commerce as well as for the community.”
    “I’d like to suggest that all proceeds from anything our church participates in should be donated to the Helping Hands ministry,” said June Carter, owner of The Coffee Shop.
    “Is that a motion?” asked Fred.
    June confirmed that it was, and Alice gladly seconded it.
    “May we open it to discussion?” asked Florence.
    “Of course,” said Fred. “That’s what we’ve been doing.”
    “Well …” Florence stood up and cleared her throat, “as Lloyd has pointed out, there are already a number of philanthropic groups involved in this—this celebration. I don’t see any reason for Grace Chapel to go jumping onto a bandwagon that may or may not be heading for a disaster.”
    “What sort of disaster?” asked Ethel.
    “Who knows,” said Florence. “It might rain that day. Or what if someone from out of town fell and got hurt and decided to sue?”
    “And the sky might fall too,” said Lloyd Tynan. “Really, Florence, you must know that the town has insurance to cover such