It was precisely a wonderful member of the opposite sex bending over to whisper something sweet in my ear when someone brutally nudged me in the shoulder blade. “Go away,” I snarled angrily, trying to hold on to the remnants of that otherworldly dream in the corners of my eyes. Unfortunately, it was too late. The calendar mercilessly showed January 7, and the clock read 8. “It’s today!” I thought, jumping out of bed. “The Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity.” Jeans, a vest, a mug of hot tea. Jurek appealing on television, the cat meowing outside the door—everything at once! I run to the BOK, still remembering the hot red hearts that have been the orchestra’s symbol for four years...
At the BOK, work is in full swing. Two lotteries—a string lottery and a raffle with prizes—a café, a Lech stand, a blood-pressure station, a family corner, singing telegrams, and among it all dozens of “little ants,” the Orchestra’s colorful helpers. Shouting, calls, minor equipment problems, no one around to loaf. Local television and representatives of the Bolesławiec press appear—they ask about the problems—there are plenty! The cancellation due to the illness of the “Spirituelsi” band, identity badges that half the staff did not receive... And yet we are coping. The little stage is constantly buzzing. Children sing, adults sing, bands and soloists sing—everyone for the children who have suffered or will suffer accidents, because that is the Orchestra’s goal this year. Guests are happy to visit the café and buy lottery tickets; Lech chips and non-alcoholic beer are popular; entries for singing telegrams are coming in, and the family corner and blood-pressure station are also proving successful.
From time to time, Ms Jana’s voice, leading the auction, becomes woven into the “mini-concert” atmosphere. The first item to leave the auction is a ceramic heart produced especially for this occasion by the Ceramic Works, bearing the date of the Fourth Finale, bought at auction by little Kasia for 60 złoty. Then more hearts, T-shirts and Lech mugs, and posters leave the auction—several of them original ones from Owsiak himself. Upstairs, the first money is being counted. “It’s already 40 million!!!” someone shouts!!
We call Jelenia Góra and Zgorzelec. Unfortunately, they are ahead! They have already collected 50 million each! Besides, at this time last year we were several million ahead!!! What is happening?! Where is the atmosphere?!
Someone rushes in, agitated, saying that our fundraisers have been chased away from the church by priests; someone is looking for a person with an identity badge because they do not have one themselves and want to go fundraising. Someone’s agitated voice asks us to go and see what the local television station is showing. We hurry to the nearest television and... disappointment—it is what they filmed at 10:00 in the morning and nothing more... The consolation is supposed to be that soon they will broadcast more about the Orchestra! But why?! The atmosphere of hot emotions and spontaneous enthusiasm will already be impossible.
“I knew Bolesławiec television was rubbish, but today this is disgraceful!!!” someone says, and the others nod. Those people are pitiful: they work for the campaign, go to extraordinary lengths, and meanwhile local television cannot even be bothered to help them, although it had promised to earlier.
“Come on, let’s try turning on the radio,” someone else suggests. A few words about our campaign, about us, about the problems with identity badges and fundraising outside the church flow from the radio like balm—once again we have wings... we return to work...
Another half-hour and we go out to the square to light the little lights... it is not the biggest, but it is sincere and heartfelt...
Then an hour’s break, and from 7 p.m. people begin to be admitted to a rock concert that lasts until late at night, while the team counts the money. At last, it is over!!! We have more than 160 million. Half alive, utterly exhausted but happy, we jump for joy!!!
I return home. I cuddle up to my pillow and fall asleep. I dream of a wonderful member of the opposite sex—she bends over and whispers in my ear: “I love you for the Orchestra and your warm hearts”—I fall asleep smiling.
The entire WOŚP staff extends heartfelt thanks to the Sponsors and Friends—to all those people of goodwill who helped by supporting the campaign. Thank you!!!!!!!
Long live Jurek!!!
Long live the Orchestra!!!