The sign read, "THE BELLUM LETALE CHRISTMAS TREE FUND." It was propped up against a fold-out card table that had been covered in white linen, and a large red fire bucket from the thirties (probably scrounged from one of the many moving hall closets) sat in the middle of the table, tied with a large, elaborate bow. Anne sat behind sign, bow and bucket, making paper Christmas tree ornaments.
She had on a red sweater with white snowflakes printed on it, a string of fake pearls around one wrist, and her dark hair reacted to the dry winter by springing up into tight corkscrews that she unsuccessfully tried to restrain with an elastic. She was humming rather tunelessly to herself as she worked, and she looked up at the approach of footsteps that heralded the arrival of yet another victim--soon to be charitable donor to the cause. "Hello!"