Caroline and the Christmas Wishes
Chapter 3
Richard and Kris were in Richard's apartment, sitting at his table, conversing. Richard continued to be fascinated by Kris, and his Santa persona.
"So Chris, let me get this straight. You said that during the holidays, you really get into to it, you are Santa."
"That's right."
"How far does this, this…" "delusion" was the thought that Richard suppressed. "…How far does this go?"
"I am Santa, Richard."
"So, you're the real Santa Claus, huh? How can that be?"
"Well, there was a man who lived a long time ago upon which the myths are based. Being mortal, he died a long time ago. But his spirit lives on, in me and many like me all over the world. So, in a sense, I am Santa Claus."
"So, Chris… I mean Santa… I'm Jewish, and don't really believe in you, but if I tell you what I want for Christmas, you'd give it to me?"
"If you've been good, and it's within my power, yes. In fact, many times you don't even have to tell me, I can guess what someone wants before they even make a wish. Of course…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Santa, I heard your spiel to the kid. It's not within your power to mould the human heart, blah, blah, blah. Well, if all that's true, tell me what I want."
"I know what you think you want, Richard: Lot's of money!"
"You betcha!"
"But Richard – money is not a thing unto itself, it's just a medium of exchange. Someone would have to want to give you what money they have. Besides, that's not what you really want anyway."
Richard angrily replied "You old fraud, who are you to tell me what I really want?"
"Richard…" Kris shook his head.
Richard wanted to stay angry, but Kris was so earnest in wanting to help him, he couldn't stay mad. "You're right, Chris. Money is just a means to an end, although when you don't have it, you really miss it. Okay, I'll bite: Tell me - What do I really want for Christmas?"
"Well, let me think for a minute…"
Richard chuckled.
"What you really want is somebody – anybody – to appreciate your art. That's what's important to you. You'd like it if you could make some money at it, too."
"Well, I have to admit, I'm impressed Chris. But I don't think you have to be Santa Claus to figure that out. One look at all my paintings in my dinky apartment could have told you that."
Kris replied "I'll see what I can do. It might take awhile."
Richard smiled and shook his head. "The well-meaning old fool" he thought.
"Still don't believe, Richard…?"
Richard, not wanting to offend, just smiled at Kris.
"Okay Richard, wish for something that I shouldn't be able to guess."
"Okay, 'Santa', I would like…" "Hmm…" Richard thought. "What should I wish for…? I know… I'll wish to meet my sincere amore…"
Richard shook his head. "No, this is too silly. You couldn't do that."
"Why…? Do you think I can't understand your wish, just 'cause it's in Italian? I answer also answer many Italian children with Christmas wishes."
A shocked Richard sputtered "How… did you know…what I was wishing for…?"
Kris just smiled at Richard's confusion, and added "Every man wants love, Richard. Despite your barbed tongue, I can tell you're a romantic, you want 'the great love'. Maybe you've already met her, Richard."
Still confused, Richard was so interested in what Kris had to say that he continued the conversation. "You mean Julia? I thought she was it, but she left me when her father made her choose between me and her three million dollar trust fund."
"No, not her. She obviously wasn't your sincere amore. Someone else, maybe someone that you've met recently."
Richard pondered that, then thought "The pesky redhead!" Her image had been haunting his subconscious most of the afternoon and evening. Now that he was consciously thinking of her, he had trouble thinking of anything else. "Only one way to cure me of this…" Richard thought. "I know what I have to do."
"Chris… I have to do something, it's going to take awhile. Why don't you sleep in my bed?"
"I can't put you out of your bed, Richard".
"No, really. I'm not going to sleep much, if at all, tonight. If I find some time to rest, the floor with some blankets will be fine for me. I just hope you can sleep with the lights on."
Kris chuckled "I've slept under much worse conditions, even with the lights on. It'll be no problem."
"Okay. Well, sleep tight, then. There's something I've got to do" Richard said, as he retrieved his tarp and paint palette…
******
Caroline had been tossing and turning all night. But for the first time in weeks, her mind wasn't on her own problems, but on someone else's.
"I hope my letter of complaint didn't get that 'elf' into trouble. I mean, he was rude, but on the other hand, Annie and I were being a pain… I should go back to Macy's and check. Besides, he was sorta cute."
Because she was so pressed by deadlines, Caroline resolved to draw some strips from the ideas she had gotten from Macy's, color in some greeting cards, and only then go back to Macy's the next evening.
******
"Richard… Richard… It's getting late, you'd better get up." Kris was gently nudging Richard.
"Who – who's… Oh, Chris… What time is it?" Richard rubbed his eyes, then yawned and stretched to wake himself up.
"About 10:30. You'd better shake a leg if we want to be in costume at the North Pole by noon."
"Uh… right, Chris. Did you sleep well? Was the bed too firm?"
"Compared to some places I've slept, it was like a feather mattress. I was just fine, thank you, Richard."
"Okay, I'm going to take a quick shower and be out in a sec."
When Richard emerged from the bathroom, he saw Kris examining the portrait that Richard had been painting through most of the night.
"I'm no expert, Richard, but this is quite good. You not only captured the young lady's outer beauty, but also her inner spark. You're quite talented."
"Thanks, Chris. Too bad no art museum or gallery owners agree with you."
"I'm still working on your first wish, Richard. Or should I say second, after the cop?"
"My what…?"
"You're wish to have someone appreciate you're art, and pay you for your talent."
"Oh yeah." It was then that Richard remembered their conversation from last night – and that Chris had serious problems with distinguishing reality. Still, he was quite harmless, and an infectiously jolly fellow.
"I hope you don't mind, Richard. Since you were sleeping late, I took the opportunity to look at some of your other paintings. I'm sure they're quite good, I just don't understand the more abstract works. This latest one, however, is more… more…"
"Recognizable?" Richard chuckled.
Kris replied "No, I was going to say 'saleable'. Are you going to show it somewhere and try to sell it?"
"No. I mean, it probably wouldn't sell anyway, but I intend to give this one away. I'm going to bring it to Macy's. With any luck, Red will show up again, and I can give it to her, as an apology for being rude."
Kris's eyes twinkled. "And maybe ask her out?"
"Yes… No…! I mean, why would a woman like that want to go out with me? She can afford to dress nicely and buy presents for Christmas. I can barely avoid being evicted from even this miserable hovel."
Kris smiled. "Sincere amore" he thought. "I'm ready whenever you are, Richard."
"Okay, I'll be dressed in a minute, then we can go."
******
Caroline returned to Macy's the next evening. But this time, she did not browse through the aisles, or observe people to look for ideas for her strip. She marched straight to Santa's workshop.
As luck would have it, Caroline arrived just as Santa and the elves were about to take a break. She approached one of the elves.
"Sorry, lady. The North Pole will be closed for fifteen minutes. Come back with your kid then."
"No, actually I'm looking for a Mr. Karinsky. He's an elf here, or at least he was yesterday."
"Karinsky…? He got canned today. Some lady complained about him. Not that he didn't deserve to be fired, but I wouldn't wish getting thrown out on the street on anyone."
Shocked and guilt-ridden, Caroline asked "Wh – what do you mean?"
"Santa over there and Karinsky are buddies. Go figure – Santa's one of the most even-tempered and cheerful guys around, while Karinsky is one of the sourest… Anyway, Santa said, without this job, Karinsky will be evicted from his apartment on Monday."
"Oh no…!" "I've got to do something!" thought Caroline. She walked off to look for the manager and plead Richard's case.
******
Caroline's pleadings for Richard were of no avail. Slowly she trudged back to Santa's workshop.
"Great!" Caroline thought sarcastically. "My life is messed up and now I just messed up somebody else's. I have to at least apologize to this Richard Karinsky. Santa's his buddy, he should know how to find him."
Caroline dutifully stood in line with children and their parents, waiting for her turn to talk to Santa. Without a child in tow, she got several curious stares. Embarrassed, Caroline cracked "What…? I'm younger than I look."
Finally, it was her turn, and Caroline waved off the elf assistant and approached Santa.
Kris saw the redhead who had so intrigued Richard approaching him. He enquired "Ho, ho, ho… How may I help you, Miss…?"
"Duffy. Caroline Duffy… I'm looking for Richard Karinsky. He was an elf here yesterday."
"Caroline Duffy…? Oh yes, I read your letter to Santa yesterday." Reminded of her silliness, Caroline blushed. "You're also the one whose complaint stirred up a bit of trouble for a friend of mine. But it sounds like you were justified."
"That's why I'm here. I feel just awful about Mr. Karinsky. I tried, but I couldn't convince Macy's to give him his job back."
"It's not really your fault, Richard was on a tight leash due to a previous incident. Your one complaint was just the last straw that caused him to be fired."
"I still want to apologize to him, do you know where I can find him? I feel so bad that something I did will cause someone to be thrown out on the street" Caroline said.
"I happen to know his address, since he is letting me stay with him."
"Oh…! So you'd be without a home also… I'm so sorry… What's your real name? I feel silly apologizing to Santa."
"It's Kris."
"I'm so sorry, Chris. Believe me, I really am."
"I accept your apology. I'm sure that Richard will also."
He wrote the address on a slip of paper and gave it to her. "Here you go, Miss Duffy."
As Caroline turned to go, Kris called out "Miss Duffy!"
Caroline stopped and replied "Please, it's Caroline."
"Okay… Caroline. Before you go, I have something for you."
"You – you do?"
"Yes. Please wait right here." Kris went behind his chair, retrieved a flat gift-wrapped package, and handed it to Caroline.
"Wh – what is this?"
"It's a gift from Richard. He was hoping you would return, and wanted to give you this as an apology for his rudeness. Here… open it."
Caroline started to carefully unwrap her present.
"The children are waiting, Caroline."
"Oh." Caroline ripped opened the packaged, then gasped when she glimpsed… herself. Herself, beautifully rendered in oil.
"When…? Who… did this?"
"Richard did. It took him all of last night." Pointing to the lower right of the painting, Kris added "See his signature, 'Karinsky'? He's quite talented, isn't he?"
Still astounded, her mouth gaping open, Caroline managed to reply "Yes."
After staring at the painting for a long while, Caroline said "Now I really feel bad. I have to get Richard his job back."
"Caroline… If I may, I think I have a better idea…"
"What is it, Chris?"
"You need a colorist… Richard needs a job…"
Caroline hesitated. "I do feel badly about him losing his job. But he's such a sourpuss, and quite rude, too. Can I stand to be working with him every day? On the other hand, he's letting Santa stay with him, which is really sweet. And he spent all night working on a painting for me."
Caroline also had doubts about whether Richard would even want to work for her. It was quite evident how bored he was with his duties here at Macy's, feeling that they were beneath him. So she protested to Kris "But he's so talented. Will he be happy just coloring my comic strip?"
"Yesterday he was an elf."
"Good point… Though I'm still not sure …"
"Please Caroline…?" With a twinkle in his eye, Kris added "You'd be helping out an old man."
Caroline couldn't resist. "Oh, all right. I really need the help, and he can obviously do the work. We can give it a try."
"Thank you, my dear… Oh, and Caroline?"
"Yes?"
"Tell Richard it was your idea. And don't tell him you know how desperate he is to avoid being evicted, he has his pride."
"Thanks, Chris, I will. Maybe I'll see you again, later."
Proudly carrying her painting, Caroline left the store.
Kris smiled. "Everything's falling into place."
"Ho, ho, ho… And what do you want for Christmas, little girl?"
******
Richard despondently looked around his apartment. "I'll never find another job in four days… Maybe I can stay in that shelter that Chris was staying at… Oh well, one good thing about have so few possessions, it's easy to pack."
Richard heard a soft knock at the door. "Who could that be?" he thought as he went over to answer the door.
When he opened it, he was utterly surprised to see Caroline. "You…! What are you doing here?"
Caroline replied "Chris gave me your address."
Then Richard saw that she was carrying his painting. "You got my painting, I see." "Maybe she got it and liked it. Maybe…" Richard thought hopefully. "Come on in."
"It's very beautiful. Thank you for the painting, Richard… May I call you Richard?" Richard nodded. "Richard, I think you're a very talented artist."
Richard beamed. Nothing made him happier than someone complimenting his art. "Well, Miss …"
"Duffy… Caroline Duffy."
When the name registered in his brain, Richard angrily exploded. "Wait a minute... Caroline Duffy…??!! The one who got me fired??!! What, did you come over here to gloat?"
"No…! No, I came here to apologize, Richard. I feel terrible, I didn't realize my one complaint would get you fired. I thought that they would just talk to you. I swear, I didn't…"
Caroline was so abjectly miserable about causing someone else pain, Richard couldn't stay mad at her. "It's not really your fault, Miss Duffy. The reason they fired me was because of a previous incident. And I was pretty rude to you. In fact, I wanted to apologize…"
"I tried to get you your job back, I talked with the manager…"
Trying to maintain some dignity, Richard responded "Never mind… that job wasn't right for me anyway." Changing away from a painful subject, he remarked "Well, Caroline, I hope the portrait's satisfactory. I painted it in a hurry."
"Satisfactory…? I love it! No one's ever painted me before. What made you spend all night painting my portrait?"
Richard couldn't tell Caroline the truth – that she was in his blood, that he couldn't get her out of his mind. "Well, I felt badly about being rude to you. And we artists are a strange lot you know. Once we get an idea, we can't stop until it's done."
"Well, I really appreciate it. And to show you how much, I want to pay you."
"No. It's a gift" Richard replied firmly.
"You misunderstand. I know it's a gift and will treasure it always… What I want to pay you for is a job. I want to hire you."
"For what? I can't accept your charity, Caroline."
"I'm not offering charity. I need you. I'm a cartoonist, my colorist quit a month ago, and I'm really falling behind. Perhaps you've seen my strip, it's about a young woman and her life in the city."
"Yeah…! I think I know it! She's that stringy-haired girl who's always trying on bathing suits with her mom, right?"
"No, that's 'Cathy'."
"Oops…"
"Never mind, Richard. Anyway, I can see from your painting that you're quite talented. Overqualified for the job, really. Are you sure you won't mind working for me?"
Richard replied disparagingly "I was a gift wrapper and an elf yesterday."
Caroline chuckled. "Okay, then… I work out of my apartment. Tomorrow's Friday, why don't you be there at nine o'clock. Here's the address." Caroline wrote down her address and handed it to Richard.
Then, trying not to be too obvious, she added "You must've been working at Macy's to earn a little extra cash for the holidays. Would you like an advance on your first paycheck?" Richard nodded, Caroline wrote out the check and handed it to him.
"Yes…!" Richard thought ecstatically – but he remained calm, his demeanor did not betray him. "Thanks, I appreciate this."
Caroline offered her hand, they shook as she was leaving. "I look forward to working with you, Richard."
"Okay, then. I'll see you tomorrow… boss."