Episode 25: The Play-From the Heart

CHAPTER 1: A FAMILIAR FACE IN THE CROWD

Peppermint Patty and Marcie were volunteering at a soup line for the needy. They both enjoyed helping the unfortunate and destitute. Their boyfriends, Hans and Franco chipped in as well when they could, but this particular day it was just the two of them. They were serving a lot of people that day and it was almost closing time as the line started dwindling.

As Peppermint Patty served the next to last bowl of soup, a blond-haired teenager in a tattered pink coat with faux fur around the hood. She came up to the freckled-face girl.

"Do you have any more of that delicious soup, girls?" she asked.

"Yep," Patty replied. "We still have a few scoopfuls."

"Awesome!" said the teen. "I hope I didn't miss it." And the girls served the older girl some soup and bread with butter.

"This smells great!" she said, enjoying the aroma of the soup. "Though it's a long way from filet mignon."

"Filet mignon?" asked Marcie.

"YOU ate filet mignon?" Patty added.

"Yeah, once upon a time," the teen replied. "During my time in California."

"You lived in California?!" asked a bewildered Patty. "How in the world did you end up in Sparkyville?!"

"Well my family is originally from here," the teen started. "Some years ago, when I was around your age, I got the biggest gig ever. We moved to California to audition for this show. The show's name was 'Sandra on the Side'."

"I remember that show!" said an excited Patty. "Boy was that show a riot! Especially the girl who played Sandra. The actresses name was Penelope Hawkins, if memory searches me. The show was cancelled after a couple of seasons, though. I wonder what became of Penelope?"

"Well you are facing her now," said the teen.

"YOU'RE PENELOPE?!" asked a shocked Patty.

"But you were part of a successful sitcom," said Marcie.

"Well it wasn't THAT successful," lamented Penelope. "After the show was cancelled, the jerk who was supposed to be our manager robbed me blind. My parents sued him for grand larceny. Even though we won the case, we never got back even half of the money that was owed to us, as the guy filed for bankruptcy not too long afterwards."

"Boy, what a jerk!" said an angry Patty. "So how did you end up here in a soup line?"

"Well because we spent all of our money on the case we ended up with very little left," Penelope continued. "We barely had enough to get back to Sparkyville. My dad was able to find some work, but it's small peanuts compared to what we were making BEFORE we left for California. Eventually, we ended up on the streets, my dad lost his job, and we're living in the shelter. Dad keeps trying to find jobs, but no one wants to hire him, saying that we should have been raking in the dough because of the show. If only they knew our predicament." Penelope started crying at that point. Peppermint Patty also started shedding some tears.

"That's so terrible," Patty sobbed. "Well if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you," said Penelope. "And I'm glad I still have a fan in the world." And Penelope grabbed her soup and left.

"We need to do something for her and her family, Marcie," said a determined Patty.

"What could we do, sir?" asked Marcie.

"We could raise funds for her family and even help her dad find a job," Patty suggested. "I'll even ask my dad if there's any openings at his job, and maybe even get Chuck and his gang to help. It's worth a shot, Marcie. Are you in?"

"For this, I'm in, sir," Marcie replied. "If it can help someone, it's worth a try." And the girls began to clean up and put any leftovers back in the kitchen cooler.

NEXT CHAPTER: A HIDDEN TALENT