The Christmas Challenge

The next day, Elfie was up bright and early talking to Darsh about the Winterfest Storytime yesterday.

Elfie: "Darsh...sims seem to be getting more cheerful, lately. I am doing my best to help them. Do you think that they might hold the Winterfest Festival now?"

Darsh: "Oh, Elfie, I wish it was that simple. You see, festivals require a lot of planning, and it seems that sims are just too busy this year to be part of a Winterfest Festival Committee."

Elfie had an idea: "But Darsh, maybe WE could be the Winterfest Festival Committee! I bet you and I could come up with some great ideas. And I met some nice families yesterday, and I am sure they would help out, too."

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Darsh: "That sounds great Elfie, but to run a proper festival, you need to purchase permits, and hire food vendors and entertainers. It takes simoleons, and I just don't have the amount of simoleons it would take to make the festival successful."

Elfie listened to Darsh and remembered hearing the word "simoleons" in his Simworld Culture classes. Of course, that is what sims used to buy and sell items here in the Simworld. But sadly, Elfie didn't have any simoleons either.

Elfie: "Well, how could we make some simoleons to hold the Winterfest Festival?"

Darsh explained that normally fundraisers were held, and sometimes local businesses donated simoleons towards the festival. An event planner normally coordinated all the events.

Before Elfie could reply, a sim walked up to them.

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Hector: "Excuse me, I happened to overhear your conversation that you might need an event planner. My name is Hector Laurent, and I live in Tartosa. I am the owner of La Coppia Serena, and my family has been in the wedding event business for generations. So I know a thing or two about event planning."

Hector then looked at Elfie quizzically, "I know you! Weren't you the one here yesterday reading those children's stories? My son had heard about it in school and had such a fun time. It made me happy to see the smile on his face. Are both of you on the Winterfest Festival Committee this year?"

Elfie nodded enthusiastically, "Yes! Yes we are, and um...if it's okay with my friend, Darsh, we'd love to have you be our event planner..."

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Hector laughed, "Well, I am flattered, and of course, I'd love to do that! Now, when and where are you holding the event? The first thing we'll need to do is get those city permits, and then of course, we will have to book the food vendors and the entertainers. What is your budget?"

Elfie: "Budget?"

Hector: "Yes, your budget for the festival. How many simoleons do you have to spend this year?"

Elfie swallowed hard, "Well, right now, we...um...we don't have any simoleons..."

Hector saw Elfie's glum face and nodded, "I see...well, it would be wonderful if that Winterfest Festival was held this year. It was really something sims looked forward to. But...without simoleons, I am not sure I can help you..."

Darsh: "Yes, I agree, Hector, the Winterfest Festival was always the talk of the town. In the past, local businesses would hold fundraisers and contribute simoleons to the festival..."

Elfie piped up, "Yes, and Darsh told me that sometimes businesses would just donate simoleons! Isn't that great?"

Hector looked at Darsh and Elfie, "Ah...yes...of course...and the names of businesses would be displayed on a sign at the festival. A great way to generate new clients. You know, my family and I have attended the Winterfest Festival every year, and it was a very joyous occasion. I'll tell you what, I would like to be the first to contribute. I will call today and book the location that was used for the festival last year and pay for those permits myself. So, put me down for a $500 simoleon donation."

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Elfie and Darsh just looked at each other and Elfie thanked Hector.

As Hector walked away, Darsh smiled: "Well, Elfie, I guess there's going to be a Winterfest Festival afterall!"

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But, before Darsh was able to continue, there was a commotion near the front door. A celebrity had entered the library.

Darsh: "Oh gosh! That's Judith Ward! She's a famous celebrity. Elfie, we should try and get her autograph!"

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In fact, several other celebrities entered the library, and Elfie now had three autographs.

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Darsh: "You know, Elfie, those autographs are quite valuable. If you like, I can get them appraised for you. If you wait a day or two, then, if you want, you can sell them for simoleons."

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Elfie couldn't believe that sims would pay simoleons for these autographed photos. And if Darsh thought Elfie could sell them, why not?

After jotting down some fundraiser ideas with Darsh, Elfie told him that he had a friend who lived just outside of Willow Creek, in Henford-on-Bagley, who owned a business there. Maybe she would like to make a donation to the festival, too. He bid Darsh goodbye and went on his way.

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As he walked up the street, Elfie spied a bakery, and thought how wonderful it would be to work there and make lots and lots of sugary desserts. It was just another way that he could cheer up even more sims. He looked in the window and saw a for sale sign. Of course! He would buy the bakery and bake and sell baked goods and those simoleons could go towards the Winterfest Festival. Oh what a sugarplum fairy great idea! He had helped Mother Winter in her kitchen many times and knew how to make her famous sugar cookies. Plus, there were holiday cookbooks in the library that he could read and get even more ideas. Now he just needed a way to earn some simoleons to buy the bakery. He would talk more about it with Darsh.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When he arrived in Henford-on-Bagley, he enquired as to where Agnes Crumplebottom's market stand might be. A kind sim pointed to a stall in the middle of the square. Elfie thanked them and headed over, but when he got there, Agnes had the day off.

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Kim Goldbloom: "Were you looking for Agnes to sell her something or were you wanting to purchase something in particular?"

Elfie: "Sell something?"

Kim: "Yes, we buy good quality flowers, fruits, vegetables and fish. Do you have anything like that to sell?"

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Elfie smiled: "Actually I do. Quite a bit, too. How many simoleons would you give me for all of this?" he asked and laid out quite a substantial amount of produce and flowers that he had removed from his backpack.

Kim eyed everything he set out and then paid him $1,082 simoleons. Elfie thanked her and then she asked if he wanted to buy anything.

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Elfie: "Oh, no thank you, I am saving up for a bakery, so I can sell sugary desserts and raise funds for the Willow Creek Winterfest Festival."

Kim: "Oh? I thought that the Winterfest Festival had been cancelled. I used to attend every year and was so disappointed when I heard they weren't having it."

Elfie quickly explained that Hector Laurent was the event planner, and that Elfie was working on ideas to raise lots of simoleons for the Winterfest Festival.

Kim: "You know what I always liked? The snowpal building contest. Everyone brought their own items to decorate their snowpal, and the winner would receive a small prize. It really cost the organizers nothing all all, except the expense of the prize, which was usually one of those pull-apart holiday crackers. Just seeing all those snowpals always filled me with such joy."

Elfie talked to Kim about what other activities were at the Winterfest Festival, and he got some more ideas.

Kim: "You know, Elfie, I am so glad that the Winterfest Festival will be held. In fact, I'd like to make a donation. And who knows...maybe I'll win the snowpal building contest this year!" she said laughing.

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Elfie looked at the simoleons that Kim had just handed him and couldn't believe it! Elfie thanked her and then headed to the Gnome's Arms Pub. The pub owner, Sara Scott, also made a donation, and was interested in having a food stall at the festival.

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By the time Elfie left Henford-on-Bagley, several more sims had made donations and his pockets were jingling from all the simoleons he had collected. He had a huge smile on his face, and couldn't wait to tell Darsh what had happened!

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Notes:

For story purposes, Henford-on-Bagley is a nearby community in the country, close to Willow Creek.

Elfie has Charisma Level 7 and can ask for small loans ($500 simoleons). Elfie collected $5,000 simoleons (5 points)

Loans received: Hector Laurent, Kim Goldbloom, Agatha Crumplebottom, Sara Scott, Michael Bell, Derek McMillan, Bennett Newell (Grocery Delivery), Cecilia Kang, Ian Moody and Thomas Watson.

Funds to open the bakery will come from the produce/fruit/flower/fish sales and autographs. Proceeds from the bakery will be used as a fundraiser for the Winterfest Festival.