The Red Hat Society Makes Marleewood's Opening Very Special

Marleewood was going to open its doors in just a few hours. Everyone had finally buckled down and gotten to work. The costumes were hung up and priced. The displays of masks were priced as well, thanks to Grandma Phyllis and the other volunteers.

Happy Hank had advertised Marleewood on television. The news had gone all over the country. People were lined up waiting for them to open. Many people had driven for hours waiting to get a glimpse of just part of the new business venture that the youngsters and their Grandmas were bound and determined to make a success.
As always when you are in a business such as Marleewood, surprises are not always welcome. But today the surprise was just wonderful. The Red Hat Society had called and wanted to honor Marlee as an honorary member. In fact the Chamber of Marlee's small town had more or less pooh poohed her because she was so young. The Red Hat Society said that she was a fun loving and good little girl. That's what their motto is; make friends and have fun and do good for others. They had brought their outdoor decoration to help Marleewood look just wonderful.
They all gathered outside and Mrs. Jo Ann gave a little speech and welcomed Marlee and her partner, Charlie to the business community. She told Marlee that she was so happy that she and Charlie had decided to open their business in her hometown. She and all the people out on the parking lot cheered and yelled and got all lined up to come inside. And guess what? They brought snacks and sandwiches and cookies and drinks for everyone. There were row after row of cookies and candy too! What a wonderful thing to do not only for Marleewood, but for the community as well!
Grandma B and Nanny were just astonished. They couldn't find the words to say thank you enough. But they didn't know what to do with all of those people.

About the time that the Grandmas were going to have a nervous breakdown, two people walked up to them in full Pirate Costumes. They asked if they could volunteer to get everyone lined up and let only so many people in at a time. They were friends of Grandma Lu's. She had told them that she had a feeling that Grandma B and Nanny could sure use their help. She thought that dressing up in costume would be fun for the customers as well as the staff inside. I think that she was right! They made themselves useful at once. They even split up and took opposite ends of the shop, but they still needed some security. So A.J. came to the rescue! He helped direct the people single file, ten at a time. And guess what those first ten (10) people did get a discount. They got to buy their costumes for a penny for every birthday that they had had. So if you were 6 years old, you could buy a costume for six (6) pennies. How cool is that?

Marlee was so busy that she even forgot about getting a new car. I wonder how long that is going to last. She is a determined little girl and works hard at getting what she wants.

I would like to say that everything went smoothly during the first day that the Costume Shop was open, but I have to tell you; it did not. The only one that knew about the problem was Cooper. And boy did that little boy have his hands full. There was a Good Samaritan that had donated something to Marleewood and even Cooper needed help! I wonder how long that Sawyer is going to be visiting his Grandma. He just might be the answer.
And there is another question; where was Grandma Lu? I thought friends were always there to help each other. Hmm. Maybe there is another turn of events coming up.