"I can't wait to see it," Richie said.

"You'll get to see it," Tina said, working on the butter and sugar.

The telephone rang just then. Richie went to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Bill," Ralph said.

"Hi, Ralph. Merry Christmas," Richie said.

"Merry Christmas, buddy. I talked to Fonzie last night," Ralph said.

"You did?" Richie asked.

"Yes. He told me all about the show. It sounded like a success," Ralph said.

"It was. The audience liked him. It was supposed to be Potsie's show but he was in the hospital," Richie said.

"I'm sure the audience missed him last night. I'm sorry I couldn't be part of celebrating Christmas with you and Potsie," Ralph said.

"We'll miss that too," Richie said in agreement.

That's when Richie thought of something.

"Hey, Ralph. I just thought of something," Richie said.

"What's that?" Ralph asked.

"You could still fly out here on Christmas Day and celebrate Christmas with us and Potsie in the hospital. It could still work out. You can bring Madeline with you if you want to," Richie said.

"I'll think about it. Have you decided what time the party is?"

"No. I think it might be this afternoon."

"Okay. I'll talk with Madeline and we'll decide if we can fly out. Is it snowing?" Ralph asked.

"No."

"Okay. I'll see what we can do," Steve said as they talked a bit longer and then they hung up.

Lori Beth had listened to the conversation for a bit and watched as Richie hung the telephone up and said, "I agree that Ralph come out here to Milwaukee and celebrate Christmas with us and Potsie today, Richie. That's a great idea. What did he say to the idea?"

"He said he'll think about it," Richie said, "but I told him he could bring Madeline with him if he wants to."

"Who's Madeline?" Lori Beth asked, not sure whom Richie was talking about.

"A woman he is working with. They are in a relationship now," Richie said.

Richie left the living room and went to the office for a while. He didn't know what else the others had in mind for the party this Christmas, but he would have to wait and see. He hoped this would be a Christmas Potsie would never forget.

Ralph saw Madeline finally get up. He saw how messy her hair was and he fluffed her hair when she joined him on the couch.

"Morning, hon," he said, fluffing her hair.

"Morning, Ralph," Madeline said with a yawn.

"Wait? I don't get a Merry Christmas? That's no fair," Ralph said.

"You will when I get my coffee," Madeline said with a yawn.

"And let me wait forever for a Christmas kiss? Come on," Ralph said.

He watched as Madeline went to get coffee in her mug.

"I have something to ask you, sweetheart," Ralph said.

"What's that?" Madeline asked as she rejoined him on the couch with the coffee mug.

"I was talking with a friend of mine back in Milwaukee. He invited us to join them today for a Christmas party this afternoon. I have a friend who's in the hospital and I was invited to the party my friends are putting for my friend who is in the hospital and he couldn't join them for a party at the house because he has to go through physical therapy," Ralph told her.

"What happened to your friend?" Madeline asked.

"He was going to the grocery store a couple of days ago and our friend's sister was at the grocery store and witnessed our friend's accident and sent for an ambulance. His sister said he parked his convertible in the parking lot and after locking the car he fell on his back on the snow and couldn't get up," Ralph told Madeline.

"That must hurt," she said.

"You bet. So you want to go to Milwaukee for the party this afternoon?" Ralph asked.

"Do they have snow out there?" Madeline asked.

"Not now but it's melting is what my friend says," Ralph said, hearing the weather report Richie had given him.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to go. I'll go check the flight schedule," she said.

"Okay," Ralph said.

He watched as Madeline got up from the couch again and went to the kitchen telephone to call the Milwaukee Airport for that day's flight schedule. He watched as she hung up the phone again a few seconds later. She didn't sit on the couch when she put the phone back.

"What did they tell you?" Ralph asked.

"The flights today are canceled because some parts of the States have heavy weather so they decided not to send anyone out today," Madeline said.

"All right. I'll call Richie back and let him know I can't make it today," Ralph said in disappointment.

"Who's Richie?" Madeline asked.

"Richie Cunningham was the friend who invited me to go to the Christmas party this afternoon in Milwaukee for our friend who couldn't celebrate Christmas at home this year," Ralph said.

Ralph and Madeline were talking.

"Madeline, I've been thinking."

"What, Ralph?"

"I want to catch a Christmas flight to Detroit and surprise my friends. They are throwing a Christmas party for my friend Potsie I've told you about who's in the hospital. I thought I'd fly out there and surprise them."

"Are you going to tell them you're going to be at the party?" Madeline asked.

"I will call someone so they would pick me up."

"Good point."

"Do you want to come along with me?" he asked.

"Let me think about it."

"Okay. I want you to meet them."

"Okay. I'll let you know."

Ralph went to the phone and dialed Potsie's hospital room.

"Hi, Potsie."

"Hi, Ralph."

"I have a surprise for you. I don't want to spoil it for you."

"Okay. I can't wait to find out what the surprise is."

"Give the gang this message, will you, Potsie?"

"Sure, Ralph. What is it?" Potsie asked.

"Tell them I might make it for Christmas after all. I will call back later."

The two friends hung up.

At that time, Ralph picked up the phone again and asked for two plane tickets to Milwaukee for Christmas Day. He was in luck and claimed two tickets for an early flight for nine o'clock. He thanked the travel agent and dialed one of his friends in Milwaukee. He thought of his friend, Fonzie and called his cell phone.