I'm so sorry for the long wait! It's a long complicated story that I really don't feel like explaining, but I'm very sorry. And I'm also sorry this chapter is so short. I tried to make it longer but, as you can see, it didn't really work out that way. Enjoy!
Paris boldly walked into the room, her head high with courage. Her friends were counting on her. She scanned the room to get a feel for it. The first word that came to her was 'dead'. There was a thin gray carpet, old men sitting at a chipped table and gray-speckled wallpaper.
"Excuse me little girl," one of the men, Mr. Phillips according to the nameplate, said, "We have a very important meeting, so would you please come back later."
"Mr. Phillips," Paris said calmly, "Is that meeting by any chance with a Miss Paris Brant?"
"Yes."
Paris smiled. "If you'd like to hold that meeting, I suggest you don't throw me out. I am Paris Brant and I intend to get my point out."
Mr. Phillips blushed and the headman, Mr. Malcolm, spoke up, "What are you here for Miss Brant?"
"Money, Mr. Malcolm," Paris answered, "I'm here for money, but not in the way that you'd expect it."
Mr. Malcolm smiled, "Go on."
"Mr. Malcolm, my friends and I want to put on a, for lack of a better word, reenactment and donate the proceeds to an AIDS organization."
"And what will you be reenacting Miss Brant?"
Paris took a deep breath. "RENT, by Jonathon Larson. I don't know if you've seen it, but it's a story about a group of friends living in a bad part of New York City trying to get through life."
"I've seen it," Mr. Malcolm said, "And I, for one, didn't enjoy it as well as others. I'll have to talk to my council about it."
Paris wanted to frown, but she kept her friendly smile up. "Very well, I'll go sit in the waiting room."
As she sat down in one of the uncomfortable chairs, the secretary, Jenny, came running up to her.
"So," she asked, "How did it go?"
"I dunno. Mr. Malcolm doesn't seem too fond of it."
Jenny smiled hopefully. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find a donor."
The phone rang and Jenny rushed to get it. "Hello?" -pause- "Yes, she's here," -pause- "Yes, I'll send her right in. Thank you Mr. Malcolm."
Jenny hung up the phone. "Mr. Malcolm is ready to see you now."
Paris nodded and walked into the room, making sure she seemed confident.
"Miss Brant," Mr. Malcolm asked as soon as Paris had walked through the doors, "How much money do you need?"
Paris stated a sum.
"Come here Miss Brant," Mr. Malcolm instructed. He pulled something out of his wallet and began to write furiously. When he was finished, he gave it to Paris- a check with even more money than she'd asked for.
"Oh thank you!" Paris said, giving him a hug, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"And if you need more, you know where to find me."
