The crowd erupted in thunderous applause once again as the mayor stepped up to the microphone.

"So, eat, drink, and be merry," Mayor Townsend said from the stage behind me as I rushed down the side stairs, fighting through the crowd, trying to get to Alyssa as quickly as I could. "But make sure to dig deep in your pockets to help Logan Ambrose and the children!"

As I looked through the crowd, Frank, Alyssa, and Roxanne were standing, talking to my parents as a concerned ...