Clothing Drive

You put the last basket down on the gym floor. "Okay, that's all of them!"

A hand claps you on the back. You turn to see Mrs. Cassidy beside you. "Thanks, Sam! We knew we could count on you!"

She runs off to join the other booths. You look over the booths to see each one with its own donation box for the same charity: St. Mary's Fabric Givers. It's one of the only times you've ever seen all the girls getting along - to an extent - as every woman from your classmates to the faculty to the Night School and even the mythological ladies are here.

"Remind me again what this is for?" You ask Chris at the nearby booth.

"It's the senior charity drive," Chris says. "They split everyone up and get them to agree to an organization of their choosing. We all chipped in for the clothing drive."

"Okay, but why that one?" You ask.

"Well, some of us want to make sure these clothes go to the homeless or anyone in need," Chris says. "Although some people seem confused as to what the homeless want."

You follow her gaze to a booth across from you. Lillith stands there with her bondage gear, including masks and a ball gag, in a basket. She looks at you and Chris with annoyance. "What? I clean it!"

"Ignore Lillith," a visible Jennifer says in the next booth. "You'd be amazed at what this place accepts. I know some people there are experimenting with clothes made for people like me."

"Yeah, I could go for some new clothes," Luna says. "I don't mind running home from the zoo, but I'd prefer not to do it naked every time."

"Amen, sister!" Giga-Gal shouts.

You point at the Misfits' table where they, Dana, Ahyoka, Alena, and Nebula are arguing over whether or not to unwrap Nebula's tinfoil clothes. "Okay, but why are they there? Ahyoka doesn't care, and Nebula thinks every charity is a front for something sinister."

Jem's voice echoes across the gym. "I SAID this isn't one of mine!"

Chris shrugs. "The prize this year is supposed to be something really valuable. They're not saying what it is, but it's been hyped up so much that everyone wants it."

Athena steps beside you with a set of armor in a box. She smiles at you with a surprising warmth. "We all appreciate the help, Sam. Thank you for helping our team win."

You return the smile and choose not to mention you're only here because you can't decide on a charity. (And no amount of explaining will convince some of the guys that "Buxom Babes need Bills" is not a charity.)

As the girls continue to stack empty boxes, Ms. Pershing steps to the middle of the gym. She takes out a microphone and addresses everyone. "Attention! Attention!"

The talking comes to a stop as she scans the gym with a worried expression. "I'm afraid I have some troubling news. One of the senior boys' teams has charged ahead and has taken first place in this charity race, donating to a local strip club that is in decline. This, along with our meager clothing collections, puts us in dead last."

An uproar starts as the girls all shout in anger. "We're last?! Are you kidding me?!" Rebecca shouts.

"I'm never gonna get that prize!" Dana says.

"We're losing to a strip club?!" Alice asks. "Are they insane?!"

"I just want to say that 'dead last' comment was inappropriate," Barbara moans.

Athena practically slams down her box of armor and sulks. Chris angrily sits down at her booth. "How are they beating us?! We have the senior year for day and night school, and the faculty!"

You can't help but feel bad, both for your friends at how they're losing and for the actual charity that wants to give to people in need instead of a strip club. "Well, there's got to be something we can do."