“A music video, huh? How trendy,” Bracha said sardonically. She raised an eyebrow. “Ayala’s okay with this?”

“Exciting announcement coming!” was how Dini teased her CT volunteers about the event at which she planned to launch the fundraising campaign. Shuki told her that she sounded like a Donald Trump tweet.

“Well, it worked,” she retorted, as she tallied the RSVPs for the last-minute event: Twenty-two yeses and two maybes. Real maybes, as in, “Oh no, I can’t believe I’m going to miss this, I’m seriously trying to rearrange my schedule.”

“Trump’s marketing shticks work, too,” Shuki replied.

Shtick or not, Dini was currently watching Shirel, owner of Bouquets of Love, set up the flowers, shears, and green blocks of floral foam on the tables. Flower arranging was not a cheap activity, especially as each volunteer would be making two arrangements, one for herself and one for her CT family. But the photo-op potential of a surprise flower delivery was priceless.

Dini straightened a couch pillow. Her volunteers would be arriving in a few minutes. Her gaze landed on Bracha, who was sitting on the couch. Bracha’s invitation had been a last-minute inspiration, to have another Chesed Tzirel staff member on hand to rev up the crowd and make this feel more official.

Now, she realized that she hadn’t yet filled Bracha in on the campaign details. She sat down.

“Before they come, let me give you a quick lowdown on the campaign.” She outlined the ideas she, Shuki, and Temima had come up with.

Bracha’s reaction was not quite as enthusiastic as she’d hoped. “A music video, huh? How trendy,” Bracha said sardonically. She raised an eyebrow. “Ayala’s okay with this?”

Dini coughed. “Um, I haven’t gone into all the details with her,” she mumbled. “You know how busy she’s been. But she told me she’s giving me free rein with the fundraising. And she’s helping as well.”

That part, at least, was absolutely true. Dini had spoken to Ayala about going to meet with her father’s list of donors. Ayala had not been thrilled about the idea — to say the least — but she’d accepted the task.