Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sparrow Scout Hall

It was just another Saturday Morning approaching the Afternoon at the Sparrow Scout Hall, where all the Scouts have gathered for their weekly meeting. However, the Saturday afternoon is not their typical weekly meeting, as the Raven leader has informed the Sparrow Scouts at the start of the meeting of bad news from the Trolberg City Hall, after she congratulated the participants of the annual bird parade.

Where the City Hall has decided that to fund the new Troll friendly measures, the reorganisation of the emergency services in Trolberg, the annual night of the Trolls, and cleaning up the mess left by Erik Ahlberg and possibly his predecessors.

The City Hall will reduce the Budget for the Sparrow Scouts, making the current Sparrow Scout program unsustainable. Hence the Sparrow Scouts will have to reduce their numbers and scale of the activities, resulting in the Sparrow Scouts who have either reached or are reaching 13 Years old in the current Scouting year to graduate from the Sparrow Scouts.

Which means they have to choose a new after school activity and after school activities in Trolberg are limited and the graduated Sparrow Scouts will have a hard time joining a Sports team or other activities such as theatre, as those activities will give more priority to those who were either part of a Sports team or had done it as their after school activity in elementary school.

Where the graduated Sparrow Scouts were given no other choice but to join one of the four Cadet Corps in Trolberg, which are either part of the Trolberg Civil Defence Corps, Trolberg Fire Service, Trolberg Police Force, and Trolberg Safety Patrol. Which is the last thing the Sparrow Scouts want to do despite it not being associated with the Military, and sharing a lot of similarities with the Sparrow Scouts.

However, there is a glimmer of hope for the Sparrow Scouts. The City Hall had informed the Raven Leader that the Budget is at a drafting stage, the final budget will be submitted in Three months. Where the Sparrow Scouts will have to secure new funding, either by doing an improved version of their yearly fundraiser or finding Sponsors, within Two Months to continue the current program. Where if they fail to secure it the Sparrow Scouts will have to reduce the scale of the program.

Where the Raven Leader informed the Scouts that She will look for companies and organisations to Sponsor the Sparrow Scouts, and that they will have to come up with and present their ideas for an improved version of their yearly fundraiser within a month.

After she briefed everyone on the plans to save the Sparrow Scouts, she divided the Sparrow Scouts after being divided into teams of four. Where David, Frida, Hilda, and Louise are in the same team due to their reputation in the Sparrow Scouts for weirdness, especially for David, Frida, and Hilda. Where they are known as the Freaky Friends in the Sparrow Scouts, which they embraced wholeheartedly.

After everyone got into their teams, the Raven Leader informed the Sparrow Scouts that they all have a month to think up of an idea of a fundraiser to save the Sparrow Scouts from the effects of the budget cut. Before she dismissed all the Sparrow Scouts from the Scout Hall, where all the Scouts left the hall discussing what they want to present in a month’s time.

Where by the time they all finished the meeting and left the Hall it is already lunch time.

Chapter Text

On the way walking away from the Scout Hall.

After being dismissed by the Raven Leader and while leaving the vicinity of the Scout Hall, all of the Scouts in their assigned group discussed while walking, on what to present in a month’s time to save the Sparrow Scouts and to avoid joining one of the Four Cadet Corps in Trolberg.

Where the one-month time frame is quite short to find a good plan, however they are guided by the Raven Leader to use what they had learnt in their fundraising badge to come up with something to save the Sparrow Scouts and to avoid joining one of the Four Cadet Corps in Trolberg.

David, Frida, Hilda, and Louise after they left the Scout Hall Compound

As they are walking through the streets of Trolberg all of them discussed the task they have, which is to come up with ideas to save the Sparrow Scouts from the budget cut by the City Hall, and present their ideas to the Raven Leader and the other Sparrow Scouts. Before it is presented to the City Hall by the Raven Leader and the winner, if the Raven Leader cannot find a sponsor for the Sparrow Scouts.

As they are walking they decided that they need to go to the Library to discuss their plan to save the Sparrow Scouts, as the Library has the materials they need to upgrade their fundraising game.

However, as they are walking to the Library, David or rather his stomach informed them that it is already lunch time and that it is hard to think on an empty stomach.

After everyone agreed with David, they all discussed where to eat for lunch as the parents of David, Frida, and Louise gave them money for lunch, where Hilda has packed her lunch of cucumber sandwiches with peppermint tea, prepared by her mum. However, the parents of David, Frida, and Hilda informed them that they will be returning home late, and they have given them some money to buy dinner.

After a short discussion, Louise informed them that there is a Kebab shop near the library and that they can have their lunch at a park near to the library. Where everyone including Hilda agreed to her suggestion as they can buy both their lunch and dinner, they have a vegetarian option for Hilda and it is within their budget.

After Frida did some calculations, she told them that it is best they pool their money to buy both their lunch and dinner despite Hilda having packed her lunch. Where everyone agreed to Frida’s plan.

Later, at the Doner Kebab shop.

After agreeing to the plan, all of them followed Louise to the Kebab shop near the library. Where David, Frida, and Hilda are surprised that there is a Kebab shop near the library the entire time, where they can get a decent meal at an affordable price.

After all of them ordered two Chicken Doner Kebab boxes to share among the four of them for lunch, where the Kebab boxes consists of Chicken Kebab meat with lettuce, onions, cabbage, fries, Jorts, with Garlic sauce, and Mayo. Before they all ordered a Chicken Doner Kebab for dinner.

David, Frida, and Louise bought a drink for their lunch, and all of them are surprised to learn that Hilda is not entirely vegetarian, as she does not eat red meat and fish. However, she can eat chicken, shellfish, dairy, eggs, and honey. 

After paying for and picking up their food, they all headed to the park near to the library, where Hilda’s Nisse Tontu’s favourite duck pond is located for them to have their lunch.

 At the Park.

After they all found an empty table, all of them put their drinks and the Kebab boxes on the table, together with Hilda’s cucumber sandwiches for them to share, together with Hilda’s peppermint tea.

After they had set up for their lunch, Louise took a photo of them and the food before they all started to have their lunch, while their respective dinner are safely inside their respective bags. 

After a while, Hilda started a conversation over lunch about what had happened earlier. Where the Trolberg City Hall has reduced the budget for the Sparrow Scouts, which she believes is a disaster waiting to happen.

However, she agreed that the money has to come from somewhere to fund the new Troll friendly measures, the reorganisation of the emergency services in Trolberg, the annual night of the Trolls, and cleaning up the mess left by Erik Ahlberg and possibly his predecessors.

Where David, Frida, and Louise agreed with Hilda on the matter.

Frida mentioned that the Sparrow Scouts would get subsidies from the City Hall, supplemented by the annual fundraising jumble sale, the winter festival broth sale, and the funds gathered during the Bird parade to sustain the activities of the Sparrow Scouts.

Where the subsidies from the City Hall make up a huge chunk of the funding to the Sparrow Scouts, and the upcoming budget cut to the Sparrow Scouts by the City Hall is a huge blow to the Sparrow Scouts.

Hence finding sponsors, upgrading the fundraising activities of the Sparrow Scouts or both are needs to be done. Before they are forced to reduce the cut off age for the Sparrow Scouts to 13 Years old. Where their current batch have already reached or are reaching their 13^th Birthday in the current Scouting year.

Where if the Sparrow Scouts are unable to secure the required funding within Two months. The upcoming badge ceremony will be both their final Sparrow Scouts’ badge ceremony and their Sparrow Scouts’ graduation ceremony.

David, Hilda, and Louise agreed with Frida, as all of them do not wish to join a Cadet Corps in Trolberg, despite it being similar to the Sparrow Scouts and it ensures that most of their skills and experiences in the Sparrow Scouts are put to good use. As they know that they may not fit well in the Cadet Corps.

However, they are all prepared for that eventuality as they have read about the Cadet Corps in a booklet given to them during their elementary school graduation, to prepare them and their respective families for when they start secondary school.

Where one of the topics in the booklet showcased the after-school activities in their future secondary school, where it showed that the Teen version of the Sparrow Scouts are offered at that time, much to the relief of the Sparrow Scouts. 

However, it may not be offered in the future if the Sparrow Scouts do not receive enough funding to sustain their current activities.

After all of them got over the thoughts of joining a Cadet Corps and the upcoming budget, they all decided to lighten the mood by talking about what they are eating for lunch, what they had bought for dinner, and the fact that they are surprised that Hilda is not entirely vegetarian, as what they all believed for a long time.

Where eventually the discussion led to them being surprised that they have not noticed that there is a Kebab shop near the library despite them visiting the library often, and it is among the most popular Kebab shops in Trolberg.

David joked that considering how popular and tasty the Kebabs they are having for lunch, and how good the Sparrow Scouts’ broth is. They should consider having a food festival as a fundraising activity, where Hilda and Louise jokingly agreed. However, Frida sensing opportunity took out her notebook and wrote down the idea.

After a while all of them talked over lunch about various ideas for fundraising, where what started as a 30 minutes lunch break, wound up becoming one hour, then eventually one and a half hours.

Which Frida quickly noticed on her watch, and informed everyone to quickly finish up their lunch as they need to be in the library in 10 minutes. After everyone finished up their lunch and disposed of the rubbish, they all quickly headed to the library.

Trolberg library

After all of them entered the library and greeted Kaisa the Librarian, who returned the greeting. They all headed to an empty table, where they all started the meeting for ideas to save the Sparrow Scouts.

After they all started the meeting Frida took out her notebook and opened to a page where she had written some items over lunch.

Frida:

Our late lunch was not a waste of time after all. As we were having a chat over lunch, I noticed that we have formed some ideas during lunch for the fundraising activities. Where some ideas may be a joke, but may be worth considering. I’ll let you all see it for yourselves and let me know what you think.

After saying that Frida slid the notebook to David, Hilda, and Louise, where all of them read what she had written during their lunch time. Where the notebook surprisingly does not smell like a Kebab, despite it being placed in Frida’s bag next to the takeout bag containing a Kebab, Frida’s writing hand is also her eating hand, and she had it on the table during their lunchtime.

As all of them read through what Frida has written on the notebook, they are surprised what they had come up with when they are chatting over lunch. Where all their ideas are all food related, which is a great idea as it requires minimal set up.

However, all of them are surprised at the last two ideas that they had thought up over lunch which is a theme café, with the last idea making them wonder why would they even think of doing that in the first place due to the sheer craziness of the idea.

Where they remembered they said most of the ideas as a joke over lunch, however they decided to go with it.

David:

So basically, most of the ideas are for us to set up either a food stall or a drink stall for fundraising.

Frida: Yes David.

Hilda:

The idea to sell the Sparrow Scout Broth that we sell during the Trolberg Winter Festival is a good one on paper, as it is quite popular. However, it will not be popular as the weather will be hot when we do the fundraising.

Frida:

Agreed Hilda. We have more ideas which will be a good fit for the current season.

Hilda:

If we do a Kebab stall, we may have an issue. As the equipment and meat for the Kebab are huge, as we have seen at the Kebab shop earlier. Especially when they cut the meat, the knife is almost as long as a sword.

David, Frida, and Louise: Agreed on that Hilda.

David:  

So maybe it is better we do either sandwiches, hotdogs, burgers, or all three. If not, we can do a either a drink stall or maybe an ice cream stall considering the hot weather.

All of it will be a good idea for the fundraiser as all the equipment despite being relatively large, are easy to operate and it will be popular during the hot weather if we were to do an ice cream or drink stall.

Frida,Hilda, and Louise: Agreed on that David.

Louise:  

The last two ideas for a café sound great, as we will be doing the fundraiser in the Sparrow Scout Hall. Where it is indoors and ideal for a sit-down dining.

However, we need to get all the Sparrow Scouts onboard with the idea especially with the theme café. Where different groups will have different themes for their café, but all the groups are doing it as a fundraiser.

The last idea sounds extremely cliché and I do not think the everyone would agree with it. Which is a maid and butler café, despite it being relatively easier to do as there is only one theme.

However, people will object as they will need to learn how to put on an act, get either a maid or butler outfit, and prepare the café in a short period of time.

The good thing about it is, it is relatively easier as we only have to deal with one theme compared to different groups having different themes and doing different things especially with the stalls. Hence, we can get a lot done with many people doing a selected aspect of the fundraising with the maid and butler café.

Frida:

Agreed on that, as we will need to know what the other groups are doing to avoid a duplicate stall, so a food or drink stall will have some issues. However, we will let the Raven Leader and the other Sparrow Scouts decide what to do as we present our ideas.

For now, it is best we propose either a food stall, an ice cream stall and, or a drink stall. However, we will not be doing a Kebab stall, despite it being one of Trolberg’s favourite fast food. Agreed?

David, Hilda, and Louise: Agreed Frida.

David: Also, I do not want to wear a butler outfit, and neither do I want to wear a maid outfit for the fundraiser, as I will look silly in either one of those outfits.

However, secretly David does not mind wearing a maid outfit for the fundraiser, but he does not want anyone to know about it. As it is a rather embarrassing secret which he kept since the time he had to wear Hilda’s clothes for her to take his place. When he had an issue with a Marra.

However, after solving his Marra problem. He has been wondering if his Marra is related to Gerda as she looks almost like Gerda and have the same hair colour.

After hearing what David had said, Louise was about to say something, before both Hilda and Frida interjected.

Frida and Hilda: It is a long story.

Louise:

I see, maybe we can talk about it later. For now, we need to do research for the fundraiser, which is either a food stall, an ice cream stall, or a drink stall. Agreed?

David, Frida, and Hilda: Agreed.

After all four of them agreed to do either a food stall, an ice cream stall, or a drink stall. Where they decided not to do a Kebab stall. They all asked Kaisa for some recipe books, references to know where to and how much is it to rent the equipment needed to run the stall.

After getting the needed materials, all of them started their research to find the best idea to propose their fundraising idea to the Raven Leader and the rest of the Sparrow Scouts.

However, unknown to all four of them. The other Sparrow Scout groups have already reached the Library earlier and have already agreed on a plan for the fundraiser. Where they will not be doing either a food stall, an ice cream stall or a drink stall.

However, it will involve food and drinks being sold and the other Sparrow Scout Groups will present different ideas but will vote on the earlier agreed upon idea, in a way that avoids the Raven Leader suspecting them of collusion, which goes against the values of the Sparrow Scouts.